“Oh!” Light broke upon Penny. “So you heard our conversation! You were listening!”
“I happened to be standing in the loading dock. I know you have the letter. Hand it over.”
Penny backed a few steps away toward her father’s office. “So you admit you wrote it?” she challenged.
“I admit nothing. But I want that letter.”
“You’ll not get it,” Penny defied him. “Peter Fenestra, you were the one who put that warning note on my desk a few days ago! And I know why, too! You were afraid I’d learn too much about the octopus tattoo. Well, I’ve learned plenty!”
Fenestra’s face became contorted with rage. He choked, “You’ve been down in the cave!” and started toward Penny.
Thoroughly frightened, she eluded his grasp. Running into her father’s office, she slammed the door. Bracing her body against it, she managed to turn the key before Fenestra could force it open.
“Come out of there!” he shouted furiously. “Come out, I say!”
“And I say I won’t!” retorted Penny. “Just try to get in!”
She pushed her father’s heavy desk across the room, placing it in front of the door.