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Everyone but Hildi stayed frozen in place "Mother!" Hildi pulled Venus to her, patting her back, stroking her hair, cooing like a dove in her ear

Sherlock watched every face react to Venus’s breakdown She saw consternation on Guthrie’s face, a bit of contempt on Alexander’s, and Glynis’s face was a study in embarrassment Veronica had already juainst Hildi She sank back into her chair, her expression angry and worried

Savich and Sherlock waited, watching Hildi fuss, watching Isabel silently press a fresh cup of tea into Venus’s hand Was it all a performance?

Venus took the cup of tea and slowly raised her head Sherlock saw her eyes were bright with the sheen of tears Then the weeping old lady becaize for that Now, listen We have to face the facts as they are, children Someone who lives or works in this house is very likely responsible for trying to kill h to poison me Whoever that is, whether they are in this room or not, I want them to knoill not let this fanize that I’m old But you knohat? I do not want to depart this earth until I’ood and ready" She looked at each of theh money for two lifetimes If one of you is in trouble and you see your inheritance as your only way out, you need to coive you, and I promise I will do ent Savich shows up at your door" Venus turned her laser-beaaze onto Alexander "And if any of you think you’re s"

Savich turned to Venus "Have you told the fa Rob?"

Savich heard a quick intake of breath from Guthrie, who stared at his mother, stunned "What? You tracked down Rob, Mother? Is he all right? Where is he?"

Venus gave Savich a long look and slowly nodded "Of course he’s all right, Guthrie, and if you had cared, you could easily have found your son yourself He’s been living in Peterborough, Maryland, for the past three years He owns a construction co in the black this year And he has a girlfriend Her name is Marsia Gay, and believe it or not, she’s an artist, and very successful Evidently Marsia worships your grandmother’s work, Dillon, which predisposes led his name, but before I could contact him, Rob emailed me, wonderful coincidence We round"

"How long has this been going on?" Alexander asked, his voice strained

"About three months Alexander, your brother is thirty-one, he’s ether He told me how ain"

Alexander said, both his face and his voice expressionless, "Don’t you think it’sto poison you, Grandmother? Unlike any of us, he’s actually co"

Venus arched a perfect eyebrow "Then your brother would have to be a ician, would he not? He’d have to have slipped into two different restaurants unnoticed, and then the third time, into this house, and somehow put arsenic into my food or drink