"It reeks! Did she poop in there and smear it on the walls?"
"Gross, gross, gross!"
He squatted down and dry-heaved twice, then scrambled to the window and gulped in mouthfuls of fresh air.
Sally glanced at the black water seeping through the crack under the door.
"Honey, that smell isn't right."
Terence walked over and leaned in to sniff. His brow furrowed, then smoothed out just as quickly.
"That coal stove burns cheap loose coal. Of course it stinks. The ash probably got soaked in water and started rotting."
He knocked twice on the door.
"Libby, put out the coal stove."
No response.
"Libby?"
Nothing.
Sally lowered her voice. "Maybe we should open the door and check?"
Terence pulled the handle. It didn't budge.
Harrison had locked it from the outside. But yesterday, he'd also sealed the entire doorframe with expanding foam sealant, plugging up even the keyhole.
"We'll need someone to come take it apart."
Terence sighed.
"It's the weekend. Locksmiths are hard to book."
He picked up his phone and scrolled through a few numbers.
"Earliest anyone can come is tonight."
Sally hesitated.