Page 4 of My Mountain Man Rescuer

By the time the sun had set, a long line formed outside the entrance. I met the employees and familiarized myself with their names and costumes. Each staff member worked in specific rooms in the haunted manor, each with its own theme. Everything from a creepy lab to an underground set of jail cells. The attraction lured people inside and through all the floors, multiple rooms, the basement, and finally outside to the backyard, where they would exit. One entrance. One exit. No backtracking. I liked that the line only moved one way and kept ushering people through without rushing them. Made my job a little easier.

My only concern was the hidden staircase inside the walls of the house. The massive gothic mansion had been rebuilt about twenty years earlier when Greg’s family purchased it, adding the hidden staircase for employees to use without exposing them to the public. It started with a small break room on the first floor with a door off the kitchen that Greg assured me remained locked during operating hours. Staff accessed the stairs through the second doorway in the break room and used them to stop at any floor, including the basement. So, one floor down, two to the upper floors, and then access to the roof.

If the killer accessed the staircase, he could move around undetected. I didn’t like that idea.

Pulling Greg aside before he opened the doors, I expressed my concern. “That staircase could be an issue. I’d like access to the feed while I’m here tonight.”

“Oh, no problem. My wife usually stays in the control room and monitors the feed. She’s good at spotting trouble before it starts. It’s the one place I forgot to show you. Follow me.”

When Greg led me back inside and to the break room, I didn’t expect him to push aside a metal shelving unit and expose a hidden door. He punched in a code, and it unlocked, swinging open to reveal a woman sitting at a long desk with a row of monitors.

She turned to greet me. “You must be from Equinox.”

“I am. Beau Coleman. Good to meet you.”

“Same. I’m Penny. I’ll be here all night. Could we exchange numbers? I figure the fastest way to reach one another is text. If I give you one of the walkie-talkies, it’ll be loud enough to alert anyone around you.”

Good call. “You beat me to it. I don’t like using them in dangerous situations. Not with a killer hunting venues like this one.”

She shivered. “Let’s hope he overlooks this one.”

I exchanged my number with Greg and Penny. “Watch the crowd closely. If anyone seems off or suspicious, let me know right away.”

“I will.”

Once we had a plan in place, I left with Greg. He covered the door with the shelving unit again.

“None of the staff have the access code to the control room. Only Penny and me. It’s the best way to ensure she stays safe.”

“You’re right.”

We left the break room and exited out the first door, opposite the stairs. Greg shut it, and then I heard the lock click into place. Once we stood outdoors, he ticked his chin toward the entrance.

“The crowds are growing bigger every night closer to Halloween. I keep telling myself it’s excitement for the holiday and not morbid curiosity about a serial killer.”

“You’ve done all you can to ensure the safety of everyone. All we can do is remain vigilant.” I didn’t say closing the doors would be the only way to ensure no one died on his property. Greg had a business to run. His family lived off the profits he made during the fall season. I understood his reasons for remaining open. Were the risks worth it? He’d find out if the killer showed up tonight.

About an hour after opening, I had made three rounds through the house and all the floors. Starting another, I walked out into the backyard, spinning my machete in my hand and chuckling as a crowd of teens screamed and backed away from me. I watched them run for the exit as I turned toward the house, scanning the windows and exterior. So far, everything had stayed calm. Or as much as it could be, with speakers playing loud, haunting melodies and ghostly sounds. An occasional scream would pierce the night. Nothing out of the ordinary.

In the slight lull before a new soundtrack played, I heard a woman’s voice. She was talking to someone on her phone, and she wasn’t moving toward the exit that spilled into the parking lot. I followed the sound of her husky, sweet tone, surprised to find that she’d walked toward a large shed at the back of the property where Greg said he kept extra props and equipment. I checked the lock earlier. The building wasn’t accessible. Now the door stood open, with no sign of the lock as I dragged my gaze over the muddy ground.

Who the hell opened the shed? All the staff knew to leave it alone.

Fuck.

I heard a rustle by the fence and scanned the shadows, worried for the woman who paced and ignored her surroundings. We weren’t alone.

Rushing inside, I strode toward her with a mix of annoyance and concern. “You shouldn’t have come in here.”

Wide, green eyes stared up at me before she glanced at my machete. . . and screamed.

Chapter 3 Carly

“Tell me which locations you’ve photographed so far.”

“The waterfall and the cemetery. A little of the mountains and foliage. Not much else.”

Dale grunted.