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"I don’t know," Tara said "Yes, wait, I do know At the least, there is a cold-blooded murderer out there soet into the house" Ann stared at her and nodded solemnly

Then, as one, they opened their doors and started to bolt for the house As they neared the entry, they saw that the door was open

"What ?" Annthe doorway And even at the chateau, where light was always shining on the drive at night, shadows seeain Cold, penetrating Evil

A breeze was not evil! It was autu, and a cold breeze si, I tell you!"

Katia was speaking in French, but she was deter each word

"I cannot let you in "

Tara blinked and sahat she hadn’t seen before A wo in the entrance, next to the outer wall, and framed by ivy Shadows fell over her from the balconies above, which hy they hadn’t seen her at first

"But then again " Katia said suddenly, a herthe woain, as if it could paralyze her

Ann wasn’tat all

The woman was nearly in the house Tara suddenly knew that she couldn’t allow it She raced to the door, spinning to stare at the woman

For a moment, she was speechless herself And dear Lord, she didn’t knohy

The wo beauty Hair alreen as emeralds

Her suit was impeccably tailored, the latest fashion It was fitted, and she wore it very well The skirt was short Her heels were spikes

She extended a hand toward Tara Automatically, Tara accepted it

"Hello, I’m from the social services departrandfather It’s so we try to do with all our patients, especially when they are elderly We like towell in their hoely tempted to invite the woman in Her smile was so sincere

And yet

Tara’s hand, when she shook that of the other woman, felt like ice

And yet

At the same tirandfather," she said firmly "He sleeps at this hour If you wish to see hi the day"

In a flashand only for a flash--so quickly that Tara ined it--the woman’s face vanished The pleasant, hypnotic smile vanished She betrayed a fury, a hideous expression of anger so deep and vile that Tara fell back a step

And then

She was sain, so pleasantly, her eyes on Ann, who had nearly reached the door

"I am so sorry, it is late I hadn’t realized how late ine the hours ork It’s just dreadful There’s not really much I need to do Perhaps, if you were just to invite randfather and see that he was sleeping in cos I’m aware of his faood and loving relatives It would be such a relief to have one patient offunder the sahtened

It was as if she had suddenly become aware of a touch of ice in the air

"NeverI will be back"

She started down the steps

"But--" Ann called after her

The wo back to stare at the two of them "Oh, don’t worry I will be back" For a flash, a subliminal second--Tara saw the horrid ain

But it wasn’t there She was s the to life and began scolding Ann and Tara

"Come in, come in, come in! I don’t knohat possessed ht, suddenly And we’d been having a renewed burst of summer in the midst of fall! In the house, in the house, in the house! Coirls There is ayet"

They were ushered in Katia closed and locked the door fir in the hearth in the hall "Girls, would you like hot chocolate?" Tara gave herself a shake Inside the house, everything see It was not just war the saave Katia a rueful sh, I’ll take ht, Katia I hope the police find the killer soon This is quite ridiculous We were both terrified out there tonight Walking under lights that seemedthis nervous The police ht! And so silly "

"Silly?" Tara said suddenly She looked at Katia

"How long was that wo to visit an elderly ht"

"She said that she did not realize the hour," Katia told her