I sucked in a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut. The last turning of the path through the trees on Ted Bloom's estate had just revealed a trap door in the ground, standing open, its ground camouflage on one side looking odd when vertical.
Maverick stopped as he felt me freeze. He turned to look at my face, gave my hand a squeeze, and said quietly, "Wynn, it's okay. We're on Ted Bloom's property. Andrew isn't anywhere around. Bill is right here. We've got cell phones. Nothing's going to happen."
I breathed out slowly and tried to throw off my funk. "I know that. Just give me a minute." Bill stood quietly behind us, holding a huge case full of equipment and supplies.
Larry, who had reached the trap door, came back to us with a puzzled frown. "Everything okay? Bill, is there anything here that shouldn't be here?"
I waved him off. "Sorry, sorry. I'll be okay in a sec. It just hit me the wrong way."
Larry looked back at the trap door, then suddenly understood. "Oh! Right. I'm sorry, Wynn, I should have asked if this was going to mess you up." He bit his lip. "Do you need to... go back?"
"No! There is no way in the world I'd miss this." I managed a smile, and reached out to stroke Larry's Zeke-face. "But you better realize, there's no better way to show how much I love you than following you down into that hole."
Larry suddenly teared up, and threw his arms around me. "I know, I know. Thank you so much! You being here means the world to me."
Maverick cleared his throat. "We've got about sixty minutes."
Larry let go, wiped his eyes, and kissed me. He looked back at the trap door, and the light was back in his eyes again. "Let me go down first, and follow me after about a minute. I want to have just a little time by myself down there." He grinned at me. "I'll let you know if there are any traps."
I laughed, and waved him on. "You go ahead. I'm okay, really."
I watched as Larry stepped down onto the first of the concrete steps revealed by the open trap door, then paused, turning in place on the step. I could tell that Larry was taking in the world one last time. His last sight of sunlight, filtering through the branches of the trees. His last taste of fresh outdoor air, sweetened by the leaves whispering in the light breeze.
He finally turned and continued down the steps. I watched Larry's bobbing head sink into the ground as he descended into his personal dungeon.
I leaned against Maverick and laughed weakly. "I think I'm more nervous than he is. I hope Ted gets what he needs out of this."
Maverick smiled. "If he doesn't, it won't be Larry's fault."
I looked around. It felt as if I, too, were taking in the lasts sights of the outside world. I still felt hesitant to go down through the trap door, but Maverick was right. There wasn't any danger. I was happy, though, to give Larry a little extra alone-time in the place of his final, long-anticipated show.
After a few minutes, I shook myself, took a step forward with a grunt of effort, and walked to the entrance. I kept an extra-tight grip on Maverick's hand, though, as he walked down the steps with me. Bill followed us and pulled the trap door closed.
I blinked at the sight of the room, brightly lit by recessed lighting along the ceiling. This was the anteroom. I hadn't quite anticipated it looking like this.
Larry was closing the door of a large refrigerator, laughing. "Well, I guess he's got everything he needs. He must live a classic bachelor life." Larry gestured at the microwave oven. "Lots of stuff in the fridge to go in there. Think I'll get any of it?"
I shrugged. "He never did say much about just what his fantasy consisted of. Maybe he'll feed you steadily for two days till you say, 'Just hang me, I can't eat anymore.' "
All three of us laughed, and continued looking around. In addition to the kitchen equipment, the anteroom also sported a recliner with a floor lamp beside it, with a table and several books on the other side. Maverick fingered the volumes. "I figured he'd be a reader. I guess he'll be out here relaxing while you're in the dungeon stewing."
"Speaking of which, let's take a look!" Larry was at the heavy metal door opposite the concrete step entrance, through which Bill had already gone. He looked into the room beyond. "Wow!"
I came up behind Larry, and rested my hand on Larry's shoulder as he looked in.
The lighting in the dungeon was completely different from the anteroom. One spotlight shone on the wall across from the entrance, which was equipped as one would expect in a dungeon. Heavy metal chains and shackles hung from iron rings were embedded in the rough brick wall. I hadn't expected the large four-poster bed, the small lamp on a table beside it, and the small, cloth-covered dining table with two soft-looking leather chairs on opposite sides of it. There were candles on the tablecloth. To the left sat a large, very comfortable-looking overstuffed chair.
In the far corner of the right-hand wall stood a familiar sight: a hanging platform. I smiled. At the end of Larry's three years of training, here was Larry's place to stand alone, to give his life the ending he had dreamed of. Seeing it reminded me that I was moving daily toward the same fate.
There was a door in the near side of the left-hand wall, leading to a bathroom with a toilet, basin, shower, and bathtub. Whether Larry would be allowed to use the facilities was unknown.
The air in the dungeon seemed fresh, and unexpectedly dry for an underground room. I wasn't sure, at first, where the air conditioning vents were. Then I noticed a gap between the ceiling and the tops of the walls. Standing on one of the chairs to reach high enough, I could barely detect the movement of air from the gap. There was no sound from the air movement.
I stepped down, looked again at the bed, and laughed. "Well, we know what Zeke will be doing part of the time, anyway."
Facing the shackle wall stood a digital video camera on a tripod, which Bill was checking out. He turned and vanished into one of the two side rooms. The camera began panning to various angles, making a soft whirring sound. I looked into the room, and saw that a black semicircular floor-to-ceiling curtain hid most of the room from view. Behind the curtain, Bill sat at a console, experimenting with the camera controls.
The door to the room was darkly smoked glass with a pebbly texture, crossed by vertical and horizontal lines in imitation of the pattern on the bricks of the wall. All the light in the room was focused on the wall with the shackles. The door would be nearly invisible when closed, just as Larry had suggested at the original meeting. The curtain prevented light from the room from seeping out into the dungeon proper.
Directly across from it, in the right-hand wall, was a similar room that Maverick and I would share for the next two days. Maverick and Larry had already gone in. I followed and found Maverick checking out a console identical to the one in Bill's room. He was sitting in one of the two softly-padded leather seats in front of the console. A large high-definition monitor in the console showed an image of the four-poster bed. Maverick nodded to me. "It's working. There's a little delay when I first touch the controls, when it's taking over. After that it's pretty smooth." The occupants of the two rooms would have to sleep sometimes, so the camera could be operated from either console. Whoever first saw a need to change the camera settings could do so.
Most importantly, the camera would be switched off at the beginning of Larry's hanging. The Dean had been firm, as always, about the rule against recording a hanging, but had agreed to allow Ted to preserve a video record of any non-hanging activities.
Larry lay on his back on Maverick's and my bed, moving his arms and legs as if making a snow angel. He giggled. "I think my bed out there is nicer."
I laughed. "What makes you think it's your bed? I think it's for Edward's comfort while he watches you suffer."
"Bet you anything I'll get to sleep in it. Snuggled up with Edward."
"What have you got to bet with?"
Larry laughed. "Touché."
Maverick looked back at Larry. "Zeke, can we do a sound check?" He gestured toward the door leading into the dungeon.
Larry sighed, and levered himself off the bed. "So much for my last chance to relax."
I smiled. "Couple more days and you can relax forever."
Larry grinned. "I'll earn it."
Maverick snorted. "No kidding."
I pushed the door closed behind Larry. It sealed snugly against a rubber gasket, and required some force to close it. It finally latched with a sharp click. I came back to the console and watched the monitor as Larry wandered randomly around the room, saying whatever came into his head. The camera followed him under Bill's control. Larry's aimless chatter came clearly through the console speakers. I twisted the volume knob all the way to "Off," and suddenly there no sound at all from Larry. I was impressed with the soundproofing — I couldn't hear anything from the dungeon without the electronic assistance. Ted obviously would not be able to hear whatever small sounds Maverick and I might make. Anyway, we didn't intend to make a lot of noise.
Maverick looked up suddenly as if remembering something, and turned to reach for the bag he'd brought with him. I looked at him questioningly; Maverick explained, "Cell phone."
"Oh! Right." I nodded.
Maverick flipped open the phone, and showed me the bars. We had a good signal. The two side rooms had minimal covering above them, at ground level, so that phone communication would be possible — another requirement set by the Dean, so that his representatives at the hanging would not be cut off from communication with the Academy. Maverick punched in the number for the Dean's secretary, talked with her briefly to verify we had arrived, and hung up.
Maverick looked around wonderingly. "How much money do you suppose Ted put into this place?"
"I don't even want to imagine. I mean, my dad could do it, but he wouldn't. Not for something he was only going to use once."
Maverick nodded. "This whole scene really means a lot to Ted."
I laughed. "I think we all knew that already."
I pushed past the curtain and pulled the door open. "Everything's fine, Zeke."
Larry nodded and came back to the room. "I could use a little snack. Let me see what you've got in there." He walked past the console and knelt by the minifridge. After a moment's consideration, he pulled out an apple and a small pack of cold cuts. He frowned. "Is there any bread?"
Maverick pointed. "Probably that cupboard."
Larry opened up. "Oh, yeah." He pulled out a loaf, opened it and extracted a couple of slices. He found a knife, spread on some mustard and relish from the fridge. As he took his first bite, he closed his eyes and savored the taste. "Pretty damn good for packaged lunchmeat. I didn't know it came this good. He offered me the meat package. "Want some?"
I shook my head. "Not hungry yet." I still felt too nervous to be hungry. I was glad Larry wasn't, but couldn't understand why.
As Larry finished off the apple, Maverick said, "About thirty minutes now. We should start getting you secured."
Larry nodded. "Let me pee first. I don't know if or when Edward's going to let me do that." He went into the small bathroom that was part of our suite.
Maverick called to him, "We'll be in the dungeon. Come out there when you're ready." I followed Maverick out.
By the time I could walk to the shackle wall, Maverick was already kneeling there, examining the shackles. "I can't tell if these are the same ones Ted sent us to test out. Look the same, anyway."
The toilet flushed, and a few seconds later Larry emerged from behind the curtain. He grinned. "I'm all set." He looked excited, determined not to delay his adventure any longer. His eyes flicked over the arrangement of restraints. "I must be supposed to sit on the floor, with my back against the wall."
He made a move to sit, and I said quickly, "Wait! Let me at least give you a hug, you goof!" I wrapped my arms tightly around Larry, rubbing my cheek against Larry's.
I squeezed my eyes shut. "You've always been the best friend I could have, the best person I could ever imagine. I'll think about you every day."
Larry sighed and rubbed my back. "You rat. You stole most of what I was going to say to you. I'll just say I love you, I love you, I love you. Thank you so much for everything."
I backed away at last, enough to kiss Larry. "Have a great time, honey."
Larry grinned. "I know I will."
He turned to Maverick, who was already spreading his arms for his own hug. Holding Maverick, he said, "I feel so lucky I got to know you. And so glad you and Wynn found each other. You were meant to be together from the day you were born."
Maverick responded, "You were always such a great example for me to follow. I learned a lot from you."
Larry laughed. "Ditto, for sure. I love you."
Maverick whispered a heartfelt, "I love you too," and kissed him.
Larry reluctantly let go of Maverick. A laugh of pure joy bubbled up out of him, and he spun and sank down against the wall. "Now! Let's get started!"
I knelt next to him. "Move your butt out just a little, hon. I need room to work behind you."
Larry scooted forward, and I took hold of the wrist shackles. Each had several metal rings around its periphery, and they were joined to each other by a padlock through a ring on each. Each also had another padlock, securing a heavy chain, just a few inches long, to one of the rings, the other end of the chain running back to another ring embedded in the wall behind Larry.
I had already practiced locking similar shackles around Larry's wrists and ankles before. They were padded with leather on the inside, though comfort was only a secondary issue. I snapped the self-locking wrist shackles closed, securing Larry's wrists to each other and to the wall behind him. Each ankle shackle was attached to a longer chain similarly secured to the wall, though not long enough for Larry to straighten his legs in front of him.
I looked at Larry and grinned. "Remember that time, a long time ago, when you tied Leo and me together, and I told you I'd get you back?"
Larry looked blank for a moment as he searched for the memory, then suddenly burst out laughing. After several attempts to speak, he finally sputtered, "Well, it took you long enough!"
Maverick was giving us a puzzled look. Still laughing, I told Maverick, "I'll tell you about it later."
I unfastened the choker Larry had been using as a slave collar, and reached behind him for one last thing — a heavy metal collar, at least a quarter-inch thick, with several attachment rings around its periphery, at present open in two semicircles hinged in the middle. Like all of the other articles of restraint, the collar was secured to the wall by a chain a few inches long. I closed the collar around Larry's neck, and locked it with one remaining padlock. "How's that feel?"
Larry wriggled his shoulders and swung his head from side to side. "Well, it's not like there's a choice, but it's fine. It'd rub my shoulders pretty raw if I had to wear it too long, but for a couple of days I can handle it."
Maverick looked him over. "Do you need anything before we get started?"
Larry bit his lip, thinking. "I ate, I peed. I think I'm set."
I took a deep breath and kissed him one more time, and Maverick did the same after. I stood. "If we start the camera recording about two minutes after we close the door, does that give you time to get in character?"
Larry nodded. "More than enough, but give me that whole time, okay?"
I nodded in return, and tried to think of anything more that needed to be done. At last I shrugged, and smiled. "Time for your show, Zeke."
Larry laughed. "Roll 'em!"
I mouthed "I love you" one more time. Maverick and I retreated to our suite, and pushed the door closed.
I watched on the video monitor. Larry had closed his eyes to compose himself, and leaned back against the wall, letting his head drop forward. He appeared to be asleep. That did seem a good place to start from, I decided. Drugged unconsciousness.
I looked at Maverick, who nodded. I reached out and flipped the toggle that started recording the images from the camera.
Larry remained motionless for several minutes. At last his head twitched, and he raised it and grunted, his eyes squeezed tightly shut and his brow furrowed, as if his head hurt. He shrugged his shoulders as if trying to raise his hands to his face, and suddenly twitched violently, causing a loud clink from all of the chains. He seemed astonished to find himself restrained. He fought briefly with the shackles, grunting, and looked around wildly, shouting "Hey!" He bent forward until the collar stopped him, and made a choking sound as it tightened across the front of his throat.
His expression settled into an angry scowl, as he pulled again on the wrist shackles, muttering "Damn it!" He suddenly stopped and looked around wide-eyed, as if aware for the first time of the features of the room.
"Is anybody there??" His imitation of Zeke's voice was perfect by now.
He muttered "Shit!" and started examining his restraints more methodically. Twisting, he brought his hands around his right hip as far as he could, visually examining the shackles, rotating his arms to various angles and a few times giving the shackles vicious yanks. He kicked his feet outward, trying fruitlessly to straighten his legs, then bent his right leg to bring his foot closer so he could see the ankle shackle better.
He suddenly looked up and shouted, "Marty! You asshole! This is your kind of stupid joking around. This isn't funny! Let me go right now if you ever want to see your ass in one piece again!" He kicked again, and strained his arms behind him trying once more to free his hands. "LET... ME... GO!!"
The sound of a bell inside our room startled me. "What's..." I looked at Maverick questioningly and then remembered. "Oh yeah." It was a signal that the trap door entry to the outer room had been opened. Ted was entering his underground bunker.