The door clacked and swung slowly inward, and Riley held his breath, so convinced was he that Garrick had come to tuck him in for a Highgate nap. But it was not the magician; instead the half-clothed lass who had locked him in stood framed in the doorway.

“Step back from the door, kid,” said the girl. “Lie on the bed with your hands behind your head.”

Her tone was amiable enough, but there was a large pistol in her delicate fingers, and in Riley’s opinion, this particular pistol seemed capable of shooting the bullet and perhaps digging the grave as well. This was not a pistol one argued with, so Riley did as he was told and looked sharp about it.

The girl seemed satisfied and stepped inside the room, leaving a tantalizing wedge of freedom on display behind her. Riley briefly considered bolting for the outside world, but then light glinted on the gun’s barrel, and the boy decided he could wait for the next opportunity.

“Miss,” said Riley. “Have I come to rest in a traveling Wild West Show? You appear to be a savage Injun.”

Chevie glared down at the boy along the sights of her weapon. “We don’t use the term savage Injun anymore. Some people take issue with being described as savages. Go figure.”

“I saw Buffalo Bill’s Extravaganza a while back. You have the look of an Apache.”

Chevie half smiled. “Shawnee, if you have a burning need to know. Now, enough small talk. There’s a bar behind your head; grab it with your right hand.”

Riley did was he was told, and having an inkling of what was coming, spread his grip to widen the span of his wrist, but to no avail.

“Sure, kid. Oldest trick in the book. What? You think I graduated from Idiot College last semester?”

“Why do you refer to me as ‘kid’? We are of the same age or thereabouts.”

Chevie leaned across Riley and snapped a metal cuff over his wrist.

“Yeah? Well, I’m seventeen, actually. And you don’t look a day over twelve.” She ratcheted the cuff tight, hooking the other end on the bed railing.

“I am four and ten,” retorted Riley. “And due a stretch any day. This time next year I’ll be towering over you, miss.”

“I am thrilled to hear that, kid. Until that great day dawns, you’ve got one hand for eating and scratching your behind, though I recommend you eat first.”

Now that the boy was secured, Chevie wedged the door open with a chair so she could keep an eye on the pod room, just in case something else decided to come through.

Riley jerked his chain a few times to test its strength and Chevie grinned.