e Goodw

tra-exclusive private dining club perched

ril, his face paled, and he escorted us directly to a secluded, glass

ing around at the antique crystal ch

ve corporate membership," Cyril sai

ool room, I ordered a medium-well Beef Wellington and a s

ucted in his deep baritone. "And a

entirely on the steak, which was seared for mere seconds on the outside and bleeding red on the inside. He sliced i

in a long, rhythmic swallow, his eyes closing for a brief se

ked food, do you?" I asked

g his crystal glass down without making a sound. "My me

lted my head, smiling wryly. "If I didn't kn

t, enigmatic smile. "Nature cre

bout the Gloria Beaumont contract, the rare manuscripts I was analyzing, and eventually, the

er. "I filed police reports, but the local precinct takes fo

le, Cyril's po

der the table, I heard a faint, sharp crunch. I glanced down and noticed he had casually ben

?" I b

t fork onto the napkin with practiced nonchalance. "Chea

tte-black metallic card embossed with intricate, starry co

ngely cool, carrying a subtle, tingling vibration

set spending limit. Use it for your studio renovations, hire t

ushed it back. "We agreed

My wife being harassed by petty vermin reflects poorly on my standing. Use the card, Joseline. C

e strange, comforting weight of it. "Thank y

wish," he s

and Joseline went to sleep, I stood on the open terr

y voice dripping w

My L

hem on the steps of the police station. And call in Arthur Goodwin's mortg