tress of grey stone and cold ambition. High walls, cameras eve

h the entrance. Rain la

st open. The head butler, a man who usually looked l

ed. "It's Alistair! He's

er bag and sprinted toward the house, lea

ol glistening at the corner of his mouth, playing the part perfectly

car. No one looked at h

n, listening. Hemate

Alistair Kaufman. Suspected poisoning. The

declared incompetent by the board tomorrow. The assets wo

d

p on her bag and follow

unnoticed in the chaos, trailing the

Kaela noted the room was designed as a Faraday cage

massive four-poster bed. His skin was the color of

ropping! 60 over 40! Get the c

She saw the black veins tr

rough the panic like a scalpel. "His lungs are full of

silent. Sterli

she screamed. "G

moved tow

t them, straight at Barron, who had be

with him. Do y

his right index finger tapped th

had served Barron for ten years, saw the si

es said. "Le

eked. "She's a hillbilly! She's

yelids. "Pinpoint pupils. Black gum line. This isn't

out a folding knife. The blade was

!" Sterling yelled.

foot. "I need to drain the pressure from t

g lunge

AS

hattered agai

one j

ng guttural, animalistic noises. He swu

word slurred but intel

Kaufman is having an episode!

ing by the arm.

o the hall. He looked at Kaela, then at Barron, an

nt, save for the b

ng. He sat up straight, wiped his mouth, a

voice was deep, clear, and

blink. "Pas