Keepers of the Cave Read Online Free PDF

nodded. “Yes. And I agree with Howley’s term of compound. This place is like a prison.”
    “I think that is the intention,” CJ said. “Because if these girls weren’t here, a lot of them might be in juvy.”
    “Oh, that’s pretty,” she said, spotting the small lake to their left. “Do you think they let the girls out here?” She pointed. “Look. Picnic tables.”
    “I don’t know how much freedom they get. The whole place is five hundred acres. That’s a lot to fence off securely. I can’t imagine the girls would have run of the place.”
    Paige took the map that CJ had tossed on the dash. She had already downloaded the one that was on their website, but she hadn’t studied it much. She knew the cabins for the staff were located well away from the dorms. That led her to believe that the girls did have some access to the grounds. She knew from her research that some of them were allowed to have bikes but no vehicles. She actually found the hike and bike trail appealing and had to remind herself that she was working, not vacationing.
    The security guard must have announced their arrival. The door to the admin building opened and another security guard was waiting.
    “Right this way,” he said.
    CJ nodded at him, then politely let Paige go in first. She just barely resisted rolling her eyes as she reminded herself they were playing roles. An older man with graying hair stood in a doorway, a smile on his face.
     
    ***
     
    He hadn’t quite known what to expect of the two agents they were sending him. He had assumed they would be older, but these two looked to be in their early thirties. They would fit in well with the other teachers.     
    “Good afternoon. I’m Director Avery.” He held his hand out to them, and they both shook it. “I see you found it,” he said.
    “It’s definitely back in the woods. I’m CJ Johnston,” the dark-haired one said. “This is Paige Riley.”
    “Nice to meet you. Come inside, please.” He nodded to the security guard. “Thank you, Richard.”
    “Sure thing. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
    Once the door was closed, Avery let out a breath. “I’m glad you’re finally here,” he said. “I was afraid they weren’t ready to move on it yet.”
    “No. We’re ready to move. I just think no one knows who or what to move against,” CJ said.
    “That’s true. I trust you’ve both read my notes?”
    “Yes,” Paige said. “Thoroughly.”
    “Well, like I reported, the community is isolated. They keep the school isolated from them as well. From what I’ve seen, everything goes through Ester Hogan. Everything.”
    “She’s the...matriarch, right?”
    “Yes. She also owns the café. Well, I guess she pretty much owns everything. The little grocery store and the service station.” He motioned to the visitors’ chairs. “Please sit.” He waited until they were both sitting before resuming his position behind the desk.
    “Are staff from the school welcome there at the café?” CJ asked.
    “Not welcome, no. As far as I know, I don’t believe anyone from school ever goes there.”
    “You said in your notes that it was an old community,” Paige said. “Can you elaborate?”
    “I haven’t seen any kids. Ever.” He sat back in his chair, watching them, wondering at their line of questioning. “Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t some. I would say the age of most of the residents is above fifty, maybe closer to sixty. You don’t see young people, like twenties and thirties.”
    “So people move away and don’t return. That’s not unusual for a community like this,” Paige said. “I wouldn’t imagine there’s much to hold people here.”
    He shook his head. “That was my assumption at first,” he said. “But the longer I’ve been here, I don’t think that’s the case. I wouldn’t imagine anyone would be allowed to leave without approval.”
    “Approved by whom?”
    “I would assume Ester Hogan.”
    CJ laughed. “Oh,