ng. In, out. In, out. She was on a mandatory "tour of the grounds" wit

he air. A black Maybach rolled through

near the front portico, bending dow

to wait for the second

n't see inside, but she knew who was there. She could

They're here!" Claudine came running dow

opened the rear passenger door. A r

heeled him out.

His head was tilted slightly to the side, his eyes open but unfocused, a thin line of spittle

e wiped her hands

touching him. "Ellery! Darling! You came!" She glared at Arla. "W

over Claudine, over the house

. A microscopic, momentary sharpening o

ated shock flashed in the depths of his eyes be

long. She smiled, a crooked, dangero

d, her voice dripping with a faux, syr

ust under his ear, gav

e turning behind the vacant fac

The two y

s a performance of confusion, but Arl

las said smoothly, stepping in to s

of the handles. "Oh, you poo

p back. She smo

ire into the decaying mansion. Her heart ha

had jus