up befor

nd ran the numbers over and over. Alexander's investigator would reac

nd tiptoed through the nursery to find Mrs. Hale was already

I'll be back before he wakes.

ut of her hand and gave her a look so mild it was almo

on the

e slowed. The cook was perched on a stool with a pencil, and three of the footmen s

ook, writing. "That's

gest footman. "Miss Hartwell

pause. "She's goo

Mrs. Hale

won't

They are be

back door before anyo

exactly as s

rill, a broad man with forearms like hams and a gray mustache was slap

ou

"Sinclair. Thought yo

ed a

N

t know wh

k me to do something I'll regret." He flipped the bac

"Ivy!" she shrieked, nearly dropping the tray and hurled herself across the counter in a hug

ing in an hour. A private investigator, I think. He's going to ask about a customer who came in about five m

ent wide. "Di

N

ile

ou to say

down his

, he

ou

ave never lied to the law, the landlord, or my wif

tory. If he thinks I lied,

Her mouth s

" Dani

e burned. "The- the b

en he sighed, a deep, gravelly, put-upo

re lots of rainy nights. I'll say I get lots of

nk y

e. You owe me

l do

bbing the spatula at Da

on her heart.

at ten p

r with a dish towel over her head. She had not thought it throug

tie, and polished shoes walked up to the counter and laid a car

omer. Five months ago, a stormy night. A man in a black coat.

the counter for ten minutes, leaned in so f

k, Ivy's whole

mber him?" t

ge. Seven feet. Maybe

," said

monocle. And he arr

t, strangled no

," he

It's a

something down without

lars," Dani sa

," sa

gold-colored hund

her mouth. A tear of silent, horrif

"What the young lady means is, we get lots of rainy nights. Lots of o

t's po

s face was perfectly flat.

s

she saw his pen pause over the word cape. Then he closed his notebook, slid it

ell j

er went

dish towel still draped over her head li

that

pe, D

carried

onoc

ded te

dge of his nose. "I

ghing, and she was close to tears, an

whispered. "Both

ent. Then it softened. He reached out a

best girl I ever had at that counter. But I'm going t

wa

one day it'll get hungry, and it'll eat the people who fe

ened. She nodded a

pped onto the pavement and let out a long, shud

ked away with nothing but a cape, a monocle and a lot of va

left to get home

ards the bus s

ver car with tinted windows. It had not been

, the rear win

sy smile. A hand with perfect pale-pin

d Vanessa Hartwell.

ood turn

y, and opened the car door. "We'