sia'

drian Virelli's m

ord since picking me up from the small hotel Adrian had arranged for me to stay in the night after the auct

car turned onto

ity cameras. The driver rolled down the window slightly and spoke

m was a lo

at the end of it

the entrance. The driver ste

ere, Mis

er. Everything I owned now fit inside it. The rest of my belongings were still back

s opened befor

ed to be in her fifties, with silver streaks running t

Miss Romano

es

port. I manage

aside, allow

ntimidating than the exterior. The foyer al

as spotless

a house where

she led me farther inside. "But he instructed us to

en me the opportunity to ask much about Ava,

ig

lway lined with framed paintings and

ll be yo

ened a

he wall, covered in crisp white sheets. There was a desk near the

elivered earlier today," sh

urse

hing else, a small voic

re the n

urn

at the end of

eminded me immediately of her father. She wore a simple sweater and jeans

ad to

d gently. "I

loser, study

ook bo

lin

ng outside you're ballet c

chalantly, the action reminding me very mu

his month." Mrs davenpo

y cried on the

d you make

head, consideri

ay

throat. "Miss Ava, Mr. Vire

beha

t sound c

d suddenly. "I'll

d, she turned and wal

nport sig

"Good luck, you're going to need it." She looked at

ied af

a set of stairs. I had the growing suspicion she was

ched the second floor, "

ee y

seconds passed befo

stays that long." she said

, I do really

me susp

pay almost a billi

didn't"

e,I overheard it from one of the s

what you t

d and went further down the corri

," she said casually, pointing t

n up with wealth like hers but I certainly not poor

ou to ask question

ng like an ei

nded myself as I

." I said, fo

he doorknob, a hand c

a

asp

wing?" Adrian Virelli's v

ne of her dolls." I said w

was