to my grandmother,

t firm, "is most effective when unseen. Let the

ey was a pawn, a particularly n

, Mr. Jenkins, bustled in then, a lo

fort reports. And... oh, Miss Evelyn. Good morning." He gave me a cursory

. "Daddy, Evelyn was just... being difficult. A

l, Miss Evelyn, perhaps the staff lounge

true position. To him, I was just a

enkins," I said, my voice even

"See, Daddy? She's disrespect

the charade continue a little lo

gagement to Ashley would be discussed – and require my silent,

said, picking up Duke's carrier. "Wouldn't wa

, victorious.

her father, "She's just jealous, Daddy.

e out of his carrier, and he immediat

other, a symbol of the leg

so carelessly, ignor

tapestry room, deep in concentratio

A yelp.

od ran

he corridor, toward

nies were there, near

f rusty pipe. One of her frie

nd, a small, st

u

sn't

escaped me. "Wha

"Just taking out the trash, Evelyn. This filthy thing sc

arm, displaying

scratches," I stammered

ust a cat. Get another one from the s

ody with the toe of

air crackled with a fur

, Ashley," I said, my

ay? For what? Pest control? Don't be so

ut he

ust signed he