# XII explained — Terror Keep

> Chapter companion for Terror Keep by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Mr. Reeder prepares for the night, hides Detective Brill in a cupboard, and joins a tense bridge game with Daver's suspicious guests. After the game, he is locked in his room and attacked with an air pistol. He signals for help with a flare, leading to a police raid that finds Daver and Mrs. Burton but no trace of the missing guests or Brill. Later, news arrives that a gold lorry has vanished.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Betrayal

Daver's false innocence and the hidden identities of the guests highlight layers of deceit.

### Isolation and Entrapment

Reeder is locked in his room and attacked, symbolizing his entrapment within Larmes Keep.

### Crime and Criminality

The Flack confederation's operations, including the gold lorry heist, underscore organized crime.

## Character check-ins

### J. G. Reeder

Sets up a rope ladder, hides Brill, plays bridge, signals for help, and investigates the disappearance of Brill and the guests.

### Detective Brill

Climbs into Reeder's room via rope ladder and hides in a cupboard, but later goes missing.

### Mr. Daver

Invites Reeder to bridge, later claims ignorance of Flack's associates, but Reeder suspects his involvement.

### Margaret Belman

Mentioned as having been sent to London by Reeder; Daver brought her to Larmes Keep as a hostage.

### Big Bill Gordon

Leads the police raid, interviews Daver, and later informs Reeder about the missing gold lorry.

### Mrs. Burton

Present at Larmes Keep, briefly seen by Reeder, and remains after the raid.

## Key lines

> “I am rather glad,” said Mr. Reeder, speaking his thoughts aloud, “that Miss⁠—um⁠—Margaret is on her way to London!”

Reeder expresses relief that Margaret has left Larmes Keep.

_Shows Reeder's concern for Margaret's safety and his awareness of danger._

> “Daver’s in it,” said Mr. Reeder. “He was not the knife-thrower; his job was to locate me on behalf of the Colonel. But Daver brought Miss Belman down here in preparation for Flack’s escape.”

Reeder asserts that Daver is involved in the conspiracy, having brought Margaret as a hostage.

_Reveals Reeder's deduction of Daver's role in Flack's plan._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/terror_keep_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/terror_keep_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/terror_keep_se/chapters