“Pita stands for pain in the ass.” Wayne closes the door behind us and sets the dog down. “You do have to watch her getting outside from the front. There’s a gap in the corner over there that opens onto the side of the house. Path leads to the beach. She takes off for it, and once she hits the sand… Man. Even though she’s a fat little thing, she’s hard to catch. She loves that beach.”

Sullivan’s house befits an exorbitantly wealthy man. The foyer ceiling rises two stories high above marble floors and pristine white walls. A large glass elevator shaft centers the back wall, allowing unfettered views of the ocean. White orchids sit atop a round table in an ornate porcelain bowl. Everything is ornate. Lots of scrolls, gold, and flowers.

“Jack asked me to take you to your rooms. There are two rooms on the street side of the house. They don’t offer a view, but they each have their own bathroom, and there’s a small kitchen and den. The only way you can access it is through the side staircase that’s right over there. There’s another bedroom that’s on the main floor with fantastic views. It’s beside Sophia’s room. There’s a basement bedroom with access to the pool. It’s off the game room. Jack said to give you the choice.”

“The two rooms in the back next to each other will work.”

Alex’s answer takes me by surprise. If she and Jack had anything going on, she wouldn’t want a room next to mine. But, given I prefer to keep my team together, I can’t fault her logic. Not that she’s on my team. If this goes well, we won’t even stay the night.

“Come on, guys. I’ve got to get back to the office.” We obediently follow Wayne as he strolls through the house.

“What do you do?” Alex asks Wayne.

“Oh, I’m marketing, but I’m a wearer of all the hats. I’ve worked with the Sullivans for a long time. Once you guys get settled in, feel free to explore the house.”

“Where is Sophia’s bedroom? That’s where I’d like to start,” Dr. Rolfe says.

“Walk past the dining room, kitchen, and all that, and there are two bedrooms off to the side. The master bedroom is on the third floor, same as you, but you can only access the master through the front staircase. The only way you can get up to his level is to go down to the main level, then back up that front staircase. Or the elevator. Every floor opens up onto a deck. I’d give you the tour, but I’ve really got to skedaddle.”

“Do you know, does he have security cameras?”

“I think he does.” Wayne sniffs. Both hands rest on his hips. “I’d assume he does. You’d have to ask him.”

“Any other employees on the grounds?”

Wayne chuckles. “Yeah, you’d expect a butler or something, right? Nah, that’s not Jack’s speed. There are some rooms in this house that feel like an old lady lives here, but it’s just because he bought it furnished and hasn’t been around enough to prioritize decorating. The library. The formal living room. You’ll know you’re in a room they spend time in if it’s not overdone. My wife keeps asking when he’s gonna remodel the kitchen. It’s French country. Looks fine to me, but my wife says it dates the place. Anyway, you guys can take a look around and form your own opinions.” Two steps later, Wayne stops. “He has a cleaning service. I don’t know when they’re scheduled, but they do have a key. And there’s a gardener. If he’s like mine, he shows up whenever. And a pool cleaner. I use his pool cleaner. He referred him to me. Good guy. Small company. I think he hired someone to cook for a while, but I seem to remember she quit. I could be wrong. Anyway, Jack’ll be home as soon as he can.”