Chapter 4 - The Sound of Rain
The rain outside Malvern House had turned into a steady, rhythmic downpour, beating against the leaded glass windows of the north carriage house.
Sadie stood in the center of the spacious, newly furnished kitchen, staring in disbelief at the stainless-steel appliances, the granite countertops, and the warm oak flooring beneath her feet. It was cleaner, brighter, and larger than any home she had lived in since her parents died.
Toby sat at the kitchen island, completely transfixed by a small portable radio Gideon had thoughtfully provided, turning the dial back and forth to listen to the crisp, clear sounds of classical music and news broadcasts. For the first time in his life, he didn't have to press his ear against a speaker to catch a vibration; he could hear the instruments separate, distinct, and alive.
“Sadie?” Toby looked up, his bright eyes wide. “Is this really our house?”
“Yes, buddy,” Sadie murmured, walking over to wrap her arms around him, burying her face in his soft dark hair. “It’s ours.”
There was a knock at the side door.
Sadie’s heart skipped a beat. It was nearly nine o’clock at night. Who could possibly be visiting them here, away from the main estate?
She walked cautiously across the kitchen and unlocked the heavy wooden door.
Standing on the covered porch, holding a large cardboard box tied with string, was Gideon Voss. Water dripped from the brim of his dark trench coat, but he didn't seem to notice.
“Mr. Voss,” Sadie said, opening the door wider. “Is everything alright? Did Mr. Malvern send you?”
“Mr. Malvern is occupied with political trash in the main study,” Gideon grunted, stepping inside and kicking off his wet shoes with practiced efficiency. He placed the heavy box on the kitchen island, right next to Toby’s radio. “He instructed me to deliver this.”
“What is it?” Sadie asked, eyeing the box warily.
Gideon cut the twine with a small pocketknife and lifted the lid. Inside lay dozens of hardcover books—illustrated fairy tales, encyclopedias for children, science experiments, and a brand-new notebook with colored pencils.
“The boy needs to catch up on schooling,” Gideon said matter-of-factly. “Mr. Malvern noticed he spends too much time staring at blank walls.”
Toby immediately hopped off his stool, walking over to the box and pulling out a heavy book about dinosaurs. His eyes lit up as he traced the cover illustration with his fingers.
“Thank you, Mr. Voss,” Toby said clearly, his voice carrying better now that he was adjusting to the new hearing aids.
Gideon looked down at the boy for a fraction of a second, his hard, weathered features softening just a fraction—the kind of look a hardened soldier might give a stray puppy before making sure it was fed.
“Don't thank me, kid,” Gideon muttered, adjusting his cuffs. “Thank the boss. And Miss Rourke?”
“Yes?” Sadie asked.
“Lock your doors tonight. Senator Vance’s people aren't used to being told no by men like Ezra. They might try to look for leverage where they think it’s easy to find.”
May you like
With that ominous warning, Gideon turned, pulled his trench coat tighter around his shoulders, and stepped back out into the pouring rain, disappearing into the dark shadows of the estate grounds.
Sadies’ hands began to tremble. The warmth of the new kitchen suddenly felt thin, shielding them from a storm that was brewing far outside their control.
