“Sedated and bound somewhere in the Tom Tower,” the Pillar says.
I know I should object, but all I can think of is saving the girl. There are certainly no morals whatsoever when working with the Pillar.
I get on my knees and inspect the book. This fits the sequence; first the 'boor' who turned out to be Mr. Scrooge, then the 'book' about Lewis Carroll, and then 'look' inside the book.
"I'm looking inside the book. I imagine that should send me to the 'Lock,'” I tell the Pillar.
“Are there any messages from the Cheshire on the first page or the cover?”
“Yes,” I almost laugh when I read it. “It says: What is the Use of a Book, Without Pictures or Conversation.”
“And?”
“The answer is: holes.”
“I assume the book you have has holes in it, like Mr. Scrooge said.”
“Yes. The book has two big holes on each page," I tell the Pillar.
“What shapes are the holes?"
"They look like two tall rods, thicker at the bottom, and thinner as they stretch up. They have two heads at the ends that look like some kind of soldier with an unusual hat, I think. It could be a plate on their heads."
"I see." The Pillar's voice dims. "Damn that Cheshire. He was really playing with us from the beginning."
"You know what that is?"
"If you’re sitting, raise the book and look through at the East Wall.” I do as he says. “You should come across two brass firedogs in front of a fireplace. My guess is, if you stay right in the middle of the room at that level, you’ll see they fit the cut size in the book”
I do as he says, and he is right. I see the brass firedogs. They’re gold plated and very unique. In fact, they remind me of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland right away. I don’t know what it is, but they carry his sense of nonsense and humor.
“What are they supposed to mean? I don’t see a ‘lock.’” I feel out of time, and disappointed.
"You like the firedogs?" a voice sneaks up from behind me. I thought I was alone in the hall, or is it one of the Pillar’s assistants? When I turn around, it's Jack Diamonds.
Chapter 26
Jack has his backpack on one shoulder, and his curly hair falling down his forehead again. And of course, the attractive smirk.
"What are you doing here?" I snap.
Jack closes his eyes and puckers up his lips, as if we're about to kiss. "You owe me a kiss."
"What? You’re out of your mind." I can't even imagine this guy is for real. "How did you even get in here?"
"I'm a dangerous man," he opens his eyes and shapes his fingers into what makes them look like a gun. He starts to shoot like a cowboy. "Wanna go out on a date?"
"Ugh," I sigh. He is certainly a distraction. Where did he come from?
"Doesn't have to be a date then," he changes his mind. "I could drive you around Oxford in a limousine, and be your chauffeur for one night."
I shake my head. I wonder how the Pillar knows Jack. "Do you even own a limousine?"
"No, but I will steal one for you, buttercup," he pulls me closer from my waist so fast, I can't even shake myself free. "My name is Jack Diamonds, by the way." He whispers softly in my ear. "I'm a thief of hearts. Pun intended, of course."
"Let go of me," I pull away.
"Wow, you're good at squeezing yourself away from a man's arms," he looks admirably at his empty embrace.
"You haven't seen me with a straitjacket." The words spill out of my mouth spontaneously. It takes me a second to realize that I can't let him know I sleep in the asylum at night.
"Straitjacket?" He raises an eyebrow, "I didn't know you’re into bondage and stuff."
"Get rid of him," the Pillar says. "I told you he is a distraction."
I stare at the watch, and gaze back at Jack.
"Why are you always on the phone? He tilts his head and flashes his boyish dimples. Too boyish for a twenty year old. "Are talking to that old man who just walked out? You're not dating him, are you?"
"Shut up." I have one minute left, as I look back at those brass firedogs. "What about the firedogs? I have no time." I squeeze my headset, talking to the Pillar. I'll have to work even if Jack is still behind me.
The Pillar abandons me.
"You don't need a date, buttercup. You need a tour guide," Jack spreads his arms and bows his head, as in “I'm at your service.” "The firedogs are Lewis Carroll's inspiration for the long neck chapter, when she eats that cake and gets taller."
“Really?”
“Yeah, she keeps getting taller and shorter, and taller and…”
“I know the book,” I wave my hand in the air. "This is how the Cheshire was fooling us from the beginning." I click my fingers together, pretending Jack isn’t here. "When he wrote 'eat me' on the Cheshire Cheese, he was referring to the girl's hiding place," I tell myself, interpreting the last piece of the puzzle. Suddenly, I shriek. "It's the fireplace! He's locked the girl behind the fireplace!"
Thirty seconds left.