It took four days. She heard the crunch of car wheels on the loose stones out at the front of the lake-house. She jumped up from her book, checked herself in the mirror, the sat again in her chair.
He knocked on the wooden door; it rapped through the house – a strong, purposeful knock. “Hello?” he said, calling out to the house. She thought she detected a hint of pleading in his voice – certainly uncertainty. She went to the door and stood there.
“Ariadne? Are you there? I know you are, your car’s here.”
Still she didn’t answer, but turned and rested her back against the wood. The floor created as she turned. “Open the door.” The handle jumped as he tried it. “What is all this? What’s going on?”
She spoke to him through the door, “I am here. You know that, you’ve followed my clues, made it through.”
“Made it through what?”
She laughed, “my note, the maze I laid for you.”
“What maze. I thought you’d be here, you weren’t at home, car gone, case gone. Open the door.”
She turned the key with a clunk and stepped away from the door. She heard it open behind her, followed by his steps inside.