sh of the ventilator the only sound in the room. She sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair, her hand restin

known Number, but she knew who it was. Only one per

wered.

onight. Th

cracking parchment-old, brittle,

," Claudia said tir

ther is. The car is d

ne wen

e enough, a sleek black Rolls Royce was idl

father's cold forehea

or thirty years, opened the door for her. The interior of the ca

d. The scent was suffocating. She rolled the window down, gulp

the Sanford Estate as the sun began to set over the ocean. The house was a mo

front doors. She was a severe woman with grey hair pulle

immediately to Claudia's midsection, linger

. Higgins saw everything. She counted the silverw

r high-backed velvet chair near the fireplace, a cane resting against her knee

. She just pointed a gnarle

ale. Gaunt. And Higgins tells me yo

ve a stomach bug. The str

your trash," Granddame continued, her eyes narrowing. "And she

ened her mouth to lie, to deny it, but

el str

e, his hair slightly messy. He had cle

aw them. "What is th

ily," Granddame said, her voice sharp. "S

elf a drink, ignoring his wife completely. "There is

aze back to Claudia. "Tell him, Clau

t Claudia, really looked at her, for the first tim

uel laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, Grandmother. We haven't slept together in mon

Granddame said softl

red. "It's a lie. She's desperate. Sh

g into her personal space. The sm

pregnant? Or is this just another one of your p