Chapter 18

“Can we go upstairs?”

“The second floor isn’t really safe to walk around on at the moment, at least, not without wearing a hard hat. The insurance company would have a fit. Give it another week or ten days, and we can have a look.”

“No problem.”

“I think the owner might have had some sort of office in the far corner of this floor,” Carlton said. “At least that’s the impression I got before we exposed the walls.”

“Show me.”

“Sure,” he said. “Follow me.”

Carlton led Eric to what was the northeast corner of the first floor, and they were immediately hit by a wave of cold air that stopped them in their tracks.

* * * *

1857

Winfield Raleigh, his three sons, and the plantation bookkeeper were having a meeting, and as usual, things had quickly gotten more than a bit contentious.

“You’re spoiling your slaves, Wade,” Winfield said.