Tintin and the Will of Hartley Manor

by crayonsruletheworld

Tintin is given a new assignment - the will of Mr. Hartley. His money and estate was supposed to have gone almost entirely to charity, but distant cousins are now the sole inheritants. Is there a later will? Why are there men tailing Tintin? And what does the beautiful girl who just moved in across the hall have to do with this?

17. Chapter 17

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Chapter 17 – The Wait

Suddenly, they heard a noise. In their excitement, they had forgotten to close the door to the second study.

Thankfully, as the door to the first study opened, the door to the second silently closed. They both held their breath as they heard voices in the next room.

It must be rigged to close if the first door opens, Tintin thought.

Despite the thick walls, they could hear everything in the next room perfectly.

"They're gone, you fools! How could you let them get out?"

"Sir, they didn't come past us – and the window is still locked."

"Then they must be in here somewhere – go, look!"

Shuffling could be heard in the next room, and Tintin stayed perfectly still. He felt Eva's fingers grasp at his, and he squeezed them hard without breathing.

The search may have lasted seconds or lifetimes, but Eva and the journalist were both completely frozen, only their clasped hands revealing that they were holding on for dear life.

A voice from the other room cut through them, but they didn't move. "They're not here, boss."

"Very well. Get everyone controlling the perimeter – if they can't leave the house, we still win. As for me," the next sentence was punctuated by the creak of a well-loved chair, "I will wait here. If they haven't been found by morning, we'll let the house go down with them inside it."

The footsteps of the hired hands got farther and farther away, and soon everything was silent with only the occasional sound of a page turning from the first study.

The frozen, cutting silence wasn't broken until Eva slipped her hand out of his. Tintin turned to her, and found her with a finger to her lips. If we could hear them, they may be able to hear us. He nodded, understanding, and gave Snowy a silent command.

Moving silently to the desk, Eva had a paper and pen in seconds.

What now? She had written.

Taking the pen, he wrote We wait.

He paused, pen in hand. Tintin looked to the side, at Eva who was there, so delicate and brave, holding her father's real will. He again put pen to paper.

Then, when he leaves, to the roof.