He and Mai had seen Grotto’s open door and considered it an invitation. They ran through the rain, up the steps of the front porch. Weapons drawn, they surged into the building. A light emanated from the end of the hall where voices rose in an argument that could be heard over the rise of the wind and the slamming rain.

Mai signaled to him to stay back, that she would handle it, but he was right beside her, hearing every word of the conversation, hearing Kristi’s name and mention of tunnels running from Wagner House. Grotto’s statement, “They could still be alive,” propelled him. Glock raised, he pushed open the door.

Bang!

A gunshot boomed through the house.

Thud!

“FBI!” Mai yelled, rushing the room behind him. “Drop your weapon!”

Bang!

Jay watched helplessly, yelling to no avail, as Lucretia fell to the floor. The weapon slipped from her fingers, blood oozing from a self-inflicted wound to her head.

Grotto was down, bleeding from the chest, a red stain spreading over the carpet. His eyes were open, staring blankly toward the ceiling.

Jay punched 9-1-1 on his phone as he knelt beside Grotto. “He’s still alive!” he yelled, finding a pulse as the emergency dispatcher answered.

“She’s gone.” Mai removed her fingers from Lucretia’s neck and came to Grotto’s side.

Jay stayed on the line with the operator, giving the address, explaining what happened.

“Stay with me, Dr. Grotto,” Mai said. “Hang in there.”

Sirens shrieked over the keening wind, and through the window Jay, still talking to the operator, watched police vehicles, lights flashing, screech to a halt in front of the house. An ambulance and fire truck arrived in tandem.

“They’re here,” Jay said into the phone, his mind still racing. “Thanks!” He dropped to a knee as footsteps thundered through the hallways.

“Back here!” Mai yelled.

“Where is she?” Jay demanded, leaning over Grotto, his face only inches from that of the wounded man. “Where’s Kristi?”

“With…Preston…”

“Where?” Jay demanded.

“Tunnels…” Grotto wheezed, his voice faint.

“Out of the way. Step back.” An EMT muscled in, taking over, trying to save the bastard’s life. “Get these people out of here!”

Frustrated, Jay backed away from the wounded man, his fear for Kristi more acute than ever. He stepped into the hallway—right into the path of Rick Bentz.

“Where the hell is Kristi?” Bentz demanded.

“With Preston.”

“Who’s he?”

“Dr. Charles Preston. A professor at the college, English Department,” Jay explained. “Grotto says Preston has her, maybe somewhere in Wagner House. I’m guessing the basement, which is always locked. It leads to old tunnels, at least that’s what Grotto claims. Kristi was convinced there were some kind of weird vampire rituals taking place there.”

Mai Kwan joined them. “Those tunnels have been sealed for a century. I know. I checked. We’ve looked into Wagner House.”