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The e of the security and go back inside the house The door clicks shut behindas the lock activates Two uard the door Another stands near the hallway

“Anything?” I ask as I approach him

“No, sir,” he says, looking straight ahead “The downstairs roo upstairs as we speak”

I have the house swept on a weekly basis and immediately after I’ve had visitors I trust Mikhail, but it can’t hurt to be cautious Especially in light of what has transpired

Making uest bathroo the floor She looks up when I stop in the doorframe

“Have you seen Katerina?” I ask

“No, sir Maybe she went upstairs”

On e, I check the library and e is eor converted into a makeshift clinic, but when I don’t find her there either, I make my way upstairs

The house is big Threethe second floor I pass them in the hallway and open our bedroom door

Empty

Crossing the floor with big strides, I enter the dressing room

No sign of her

I knock on the bathroom door “Katerina?”

No reply

A bad feeling grows in the pit ofwhat I’ll find

Nothing No one

Fuck

I yankfor the stairs When he picks up, I bark out, “Katerina is gone Search the house, the garden, and the barracks”

“Yes, sir”

“You,” I say, pointing at one of thethe front door

He jumps to attention

“Did Miss Morrell leave the house after Mr Turgenev and me?”