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The Bax estate was co rounds with three pools and several fountains, gardens, and courtyards Tennis courts, a solariureenhouse, the list went on and on All of it was surrounded by shiny black wrought-iron fencing that was shrouded by tall, lush foliage

The house itself was more like a hotel Or the Louvre The marbled corridors ide and stretched endlessly in various directions, depending on to which wing you were headed I needed a coet lost

I didn’t exactly grasp the need for three for rooms and four casual ones Thirteen bedroo roo areas than I could process as we passed therand piano and various other instrurand piano I counted six others as we made our way to one of the back staircases that curved both upward and doard from the main floor

As ent downstairs, I asked Dane, “You seriously grew up here?”

“You get used to it after a while”

“I can’t see how I’d have to leave bread crumbs to find my way to the bathroom God forbid I should attempt to find one of the kitchens You’d have to send a search and rescue team for me”

He chuckled, though it was a bit strained The dark thoughts lingered—or likely intensified when it caht discover in his father’s vault

I followed along as Dane headed into ashelves, sireat room in Oak Creek Canyon, but this room was nearly the size of our entire hoht

There were nu books I figured there had to be a computer system that kept track of all the titles and their locations—or one just randomly climbed a ladder and scanned the novels until they found so of interest

The room was also filled with sofas and chairs, end and coffee tables, la artifacts and knickknacks A bookworain

And not mind the solitude

Dane crossed to the far wall and selected a novel that he pulled out of its slot Then he hooked his fingers in the side of the unit and gave a swift yank so that a narrow portion of the shelves opened like a door

“Oh, no way” I scurried across the hardwood floor, instantly intrigued “A secret passage?”

“The vault”

I joined hi the side Dane plugged in a series of nuht and a beep, then repeated the process The lock sprang free and he slid the metal pocket door to the side We entered the vault, which probably could have doubled as a panic rooer than my first apartment And obviously fully secure