Max didn't need a book or a class to teach him about body language. Having lived for over five hundred years, he had witnessed firsthand all the tics and tells associated with a person’s mood. Max knew when someone was happy or sad. He knew when they were confused or grieving, and Max knew when someone was forthright…and when someone had something to hide.

Simeon had arrived late Friday evening. Boastful and imperious, his voice boomed through the house as he greeted Max. His movements were fluid, and his spirits were high, yet a few hours later, it was clear something had changed.

After a scrumptious dinner and a feed courtesy of Max’s limited staff, Simeon, Max, and Angelique settled in the great room around eight o’clock. Simeon stretched out across a sofa while Angelique perched in a chair, and the conversation had been light and friendly until Simeon’s phone rang. Max noticed Simeon paled within seconds, and then suddenly, the man was on his feet and hurrying out of the room to take the call in private. When he returned, he appeared cheerful, and dropping onto the sofa, he told a few off-color jokes, but as the laughter died down, Simeon turned quiet. Sipping on his drink, he stared off into space, his smile wavering for a few moments before it gave up and became a frown. As the minutes passed, Simeon’s expression grew darker, and as it did, he began to fidget. He shifted on the sofa and then shifted again, placing his drink on the table only to pick it up seconds later, and Max lost count of how many times the man had crossed his legs, only to cross them again the other way.

Angelique and Max exchanged a quizzical glance, and Angelique answered Max’s silent question with an infinitesimal shake of her head. She had witnessed all of Simeon’s moods, and while Angelique didn’t know why the man was anxious, she knew he was. A cat on a hot tin roof had nothing on Simeon at the moment.

Max was a breath away from inquiring about the phone call that had changed Simeon’s demeanor when the man suddenly jumped to his feet. Avoiding all eye contact, he abruptly announced he was retiring for the evening. Angelique and Max turned toward the clock in the room in unison, confirming what both already knew. It was only a quarter to eight, and by the time they’d turned back around to question the need for such an early bedtime, Simeon was already bolting up the stairs.