The Visitor by Amanda Stevens Page A

violence that belied his angelic visage. His hair was a strange silvery gold and his eyes were so light they appeared transparent from a distance. His unusual features were at once arresting and unsettling, and I couldn’t seem to tear my gaze away.
    â€œMy great-nephew, Micah,” Nelda said softly. “You’re not the first to fall under his spell. He has a way about him, does he not?”
    â€œHe’s very striking,” I murmured.
    â€œHe was born with the face of an angel, but looks can be deceiving.” She was still holding my arm and I felt her grip tighten. “You should know that Micah is not at all in favor of a restoration.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œNot here,” she said again. “Just promise you’ll come see me in Isola.”
    I nodded, sliding my arm away as the hair on the back of my neck lifted. So many images swirled in my head as I watched her shuffle away.
    The stereogram of those strange girls...
    The arresting young man at the cemetery entrance...
    The hunchback entity I’d seen in the shadows... The noises in my wall... The nesting in my cellar...
    I had no idea how these events were connected, but like Nelda Toombs, I didn’t think any of them a coincidence.

Fourteen
    â€œT hat was certainly an odd visit,” I said a few minutes later when Dr. Shaw had rejoined me. I moved off the trail into the shade.
    â€œWasn’t it, though?” He chuckled as he followed me underneath the tree. “They are quite the eccentric pair,” he said, without a trace of irony. “It’s been a few years since my dealings with Mrs. Durant, so I was quite surprised when they turned up at the Institute this morning without an appointment. I hope you don’t mind that I invited them here to meet you.”
    I swatted a mosquito on the back of my arm. “I don’t mind. But are you telling me they just showed up out of the blue? Right after we had that long conversation about Kroll Cemetery?”
    â€œThe timing is curious,” he agreed. “But I don’t see how it can be anything other than happenstance. I never mentioned that conversation to anyone. Did you?”
    â€œI told Devlin. I had to. My house was broken into last night and I thought it might be related to the viewer.”
    â€œRelated how?”
    â€œBefore I came to the Institute yesterday, I took the stereoscope to a place on King Street called Dowling Curiosities. I was hoping they could be of some help in tracking down the owner since the piece came from that shop. The man I spoke to was named Owen Dowling. Probably my imagination, but I thought I saw him again later at the hospital.”
    â€œHospital?”
    â€œThere was a bit of a scuffle during the break-in, but I’m fine.”
    â€œWas the suspect apprehended?”
    â€œUnfortunately, no.”
    â€œOwen Dowling,” Dr. Shaw said thoughtfully. “What did he look like?”
    â€œTallish and slender. Dark blond hair. Midthirties. Why?”
    â€œA young man accompanied Mrs. Durant and Miss Toombs to the Institute this morning. He didn’t come in, but I saw him pacing in the parking area when I walked them out to their car. He was younger than the man you described. Early twenties, I would guess, and his hair was very pale.”
    â€œI know who you mean. He was here just a few minutes ago. You didn’t see him at the entrance? Nelda called him Micah. He’s her great-nephew, which would make him Louvenia’s grandson, I suppose.”
    â€œAh. Then that makes sense. Mrs. Durant mentioned earlier that her grandson had been away for a number of years but had recently returned to live with her on the farm. I gather he thinks a restoration would be a waste of her money.”
    â€œYes, Nelda said he was against it.”
    Dr. Shaw’s expression turned anxious. “That young man... His presence was extremely unnerving. It’s hard to explain, but I