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He disappeared into Angus Tarleton’s study and quickly reappeared, holding the painting gingerly He set it against the sofa and hunkered down to look at it

"Good piece," he said

"But there’s nothing unusual about the painting, is there?" Tyler asked He stood beside Sean, studying the work He kneas the best shot in their crowd, that he could bail thee years, he also comprehended a fair amount of science and the preservation of evidence

But Sean was their expert on visual tricks, film and computers

Sean shook his head "It’s excellently done The artist was aeyes But…it’s a painting"

"I’ you, it moved--and it talked," Julian said "Or Beast Bradley did" He turned to Allison "I’m irresponsible and I’ve been an idiot lots of tis up Thehave been switched?" Tyler mused

"I don’t kno," Allison said "The board was herethe last tour"

"Yes, I was back in the house when they were leaving," Julian said He laughed dryly "I didn’t even have my musket and bayonet when I listened to theet it I wanted to be in full character when I tried to cajole you into forgiving ," he said sheepishly "Or proof of ht, so the board was here--the four of them--in the attic office They left You were on the second level?" Logan asked

"I was on the second level, yes, dodging between the two tours I followed Jason’s tour into the house and went upstairs while he was in the grand salon I was in Lucy Tarleton’s bedrooo downstairs After that I was up in the attic for a while By the way, that’s great stuff you’re doing on Lucy and herthe war, Allison Anyhohen the last tour went out and Jason and Allison were over in the pantry area behind the dining roous Tarleton’s study" He paused, eyes widening "Weird! I felt like soone up to the attic afterfollowed"

Allison shook her head "There aren’t any secret panels, hidden roo like that here," she said

"Yes, but I was running around the house with a couple of dozen people in it, and you didn’t find me," Julian reminded her

"That’s true," Allison murmured Then she looked up at theround floor to the second--through a servants’ stairway beyond a door in the pantry I don’t know if anyone’s ever taken it or not We never used it You can only access it through the pantry, which is our euests aren’t allowed in there The door on the second floor opens just beside the ested

"We can do that now," Logan said, glancing at his watch "Then we should finish unloading and setting up, have soet some rest"

They rose, but Julian sat stubbornly

"You’re not going to let this slide, are you? Decide that I was stoned or so and tell everyone it was an accident? I wasMy head was pushed down on that bayonet It happened while I was staring at the painting I was an said

"Were you stoned?" Kat asked him "I’ out your autopsy report to at Kat "I had a few tokes of pot Hey, I was at an audition! I wasn’t drinking or anything" He frowned "You’re an ME?"

She nodded

Julian shrugged "Well, I guess if so around with my body, I won’t mind so much if it’s you"

"Julian!" Allison chastised She turned back to the others "I’ll show you the back stairway"

She told the crew caile historic pieces

But when they followed her through the pantry, which was a tight squeeze with the seven of them and the spiritual remains of Julian Mitchell, they discovered that the servants’ stairas extremely dusty

"They haven’t been in here for a while," Allison said "We’ll have to go one at a tiht up the rear as they cli by a door, which opened into the hallway next to the an said "Well, we’re on the second floor We ht as well decide on bedrooet my stuff out There’s more room in there for you and Kelsey In fact, if no one has a problem with it, I’ll move into Lucy’s room"

Allison seemed tense as she watched thehtup to the attic Jane and Kat opted to stay together in Sophia Tarleton-Dandridge’s bedroom

"How are you?" Tyler asked

"Fine"

"She’s scared" Julian was standing behind Allison as if protecting her in a brotherly fashion