[Chapter 44: Iron Man Visits]
The Lutz couple, Kathy and George, pulled up in front of the haunted mansion, their excitement mingled with a palpable sense of dread as they hesitated outside the door. They sat in the car for a moment, stealing uneasy glances at the looming house ahead.
Finally, George broke the silence. "I'll go in first and check things out. If anything's wrong, you drive off immediately."
Kathy shook her head firmly. "No, we have to trust Mr. Cross. If he said the place is safe, then it should be safe. I'm coming in with you."
Summoning all their courage, they stepped into the courtyard. Nothing happened.
After a tense moment, they moved inside. The house was eerily still. The chilling air that had once inhabited these walls had vanished.
"It really does seem fine now," Kathy said, a note of surprise in her voice.
George smiled in relief. "Great! Let's see what else we need to grab."
They started packing their things. George suddenly remembered the tools he'd stored in the basement and cautiously went down.
Moments later, a startled shout echoed upstairs. Kathy's face turned pale as she rushed down to find George standing stunned before a broken section of the wall.
Through the hole, iron cells appeared to line the hidden chamber beyond.
Inside those grim cages were countless skeletons, yellowed and crumbled from years of entrapment.
Kathy covered her mouth, horrified. "No wonder we faced those horrors before. So many people died here."
George nodded grimly. "If it weren't for Mr. Cross buying this place, I wouldn't have dared live here, even if I knew it was safe."
"Should we notify the police?" Kathy asked.
George shook his head cautiously. "Mr. Cross must know about this already. He'll handle it. We shouldn't add to his burdens."
Kathy smiled with gratitude. "We're so lucky to have met someone like him."
George agreed wholeheartedly, "Yeah, he's our savior."
---
Daniel turned his gaze toward the man before him. Though sporting dark sunglasses, the figure was unmistakable.
It was Iron Man -- though this was a far cry from the legendary hero he'd become.
Back then, Robert Downey Jr. was a washed-up actor recently released from prison. Born into Hollywood royalty, he'd started as a child star, enjoying a promising career. But drug problems landed him in jail three times in a row, plummeting his star power.
Released in 2002, he struggled to reclaim his footing, reduced to taking minor roles with meager pay. His true comeback came with the film Iron Man.
Despite the movie's massive $140 million budget, he earned just $500,000 as the lead -- a stark sign of his diminished status.
"I am. What can I do for you?" Daniel nodded.
Robert Downey Jr. glanced at the still-closed Cross Hall. "How about we talk somewhere else? Dinner's on me."
"If it's about Exorcism, I have no problem," Daniel replied.
"Perfect," Robert Downey Jr. said. "That's exactly why I'm here."
...
Two cars rolled into the parking lot of an upscale restaurant.
Stepping out, Robert Downey Jr. praised the place. "I come here often. Lots of actors love this spot."
Daniel read the sign: Fire and Salt.
The interior was plush, ambiance refined -- clearly a high-end establishment -- and certainly not cheap.
Though down on his luck compared to his glory days, Robert Downey Jr. still had far more resources than an average person. This place was nothing to him.
They entered. The waiter immediately recognized Robert Downey Jr. but maintained a professional distance, escorting them to their table with practiced courtesy.
Once seated, Robert Downey Jr. expertly ordered dinner for both.
As the waiter walked away, Daniel asked, "So, this isn't about you personally, is it?"
Robert Downey Jr.'s surprise was clear. "I heard you're an excellent Exorcist, and it seems to be true. I didn't come for myself, I came for my girlfriend."
Daniel did a quick mental crosscheck. That would be Susan, his future wife.
His first wife had divorced him when he went to jail, taking their son.
"What's going on with your girlfriend?" Daniel asked.
"It's not really her problem -- it's a close friend of hers," Robert Downey Jr. explained. "My girlfriend's frantic over this, so I want to help her out."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "So she doesn't know you're talking to me yet?"
Robert Downey Jr. nodded. "I need to know you can fix this before I tell her. I don't want her thinking I'm unreliable."
"Trying for a surprise, huh?" Daniel smirked inwardly. 'So, I'm part of your game now?'
"Yeah," Robert Downey Jr. admitted awkwardly.
For the sake of the fee, Daniel didn't protest. "Fine. What exactly is the problem with your girlfriend's friend?"
Robert Downey Jr. took a deep breath. "It's complicated. Her name is Miranda. She used to be a brilliant psychiatrist. Until half a month ago, when her husband was murdered at home. She's been accused of the crime. Prosecutors are moving forward with charges. If convicted, she faces a lifetime in prison."
Daniel's instincts pricked. "Did she confess?"
"Of course not. I've met her a few times. She's brilliant, gentle -- nothing like a killer. Neither Susan nor I believe she's capable of murder."
Daniel probed further. "Is Miranda currently held at the psychiatric hospital she works at, being treated as mentally ill? Did her lawyer suggest she claim intermittent mental illness? Did she refuse?"
The more Daniel spoke, the wider Robert Downey Jr.'s eyes grew.
He removed his sunglasses, shock flickering across his face. "How do you know all that? Have you really gotten this powerful?"
Daniel pressed on. "Did Miranda say she nearly hit a girl with her car on the night her husband died?"
Robert Downey Jr. stood suddenly, arms crossed, unsettled. "You're starting to freak me out. What else do you know?"
*****
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