The building was shaped like a large, two-story block, but it completely lacked the most basic features of a house. James walked around the entire perimeter twice, running his hand along the cold stone. There was no front door, no back door, and no windows on the ground floor. The walls were a solid, unbroken barrier of gray masonry.
The only break in the architecture was located high up on the second floor, a single, wide rectangular opening cut into the stone, but it offered no easy glimpse inside. Thick, heavy iron bars were anchored deeply into the frame, sealing the opening tightly. It looked more like a fortress or a modern vault than a residence.
James stood in the quiet clearing, staring up at the iron bars. Why would anyone spend the time and money to build a pristine, high-quality stone structure deep in the woods, only to completely deny access to it? The lack of any entrance defied logic. He needed to know what lay behind those windowless walls, but getting up to the second floor would require a reckless gamble.