“Of course it is,” Evelyn said, glancing at her watch. “I don’t know what I was thinking, but let me make a quick phone call, and we’ll get this sorted out immediately.”

“You don’t have to rush.”

“Yes, I do,” Evelyn said, tickled by the woman’s naiveté. “So, why don’t you take a look around, and I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes? There’s nothing off limits down here, so feel free to open any door you’d like. Oh, except those two over there.”

Joanna looked over to where Evelyn was pointing and saw a set of arched-top double doors toward the front of the house. “O-kayyy?” Joanna said, squinting back at Evelyn.

“Nothing maniacal, I assure you,” Evelyn said with a little laugh. “They lead to a formal living area which hasn’t been used in decades.”

“Why not?”

“No need,” Evelyn said with a shrug. “Addison’s father never cared to open it up, and Addison cared even less, so it remains empty and well...rather dusty. You get the idea.” Not waiting for a response, Evelyn said, “And now I need to make a phone call.”

“Okay,” Joanna said, watching as Evelyn hurried off to make the call.

Taking a deep breath, Joanna stood in the middle of the entrance hall, having no idea which way to go. Pondering all the doors she could see, she walked over and opened the first one to her left. Flicking on the light, she found herself standing in a cloakroom larger than her kitchen at Burnt Oak. With only a half-dozen coats hanging from a wooden rod wrapping the room, there was nothing else to be seen, so shutting off the light, she proceeded to the next door in line. Opening it, she peered inside.

With walls covered in wood panels, and a massive desk and high-backed leather chair filling the space in front of an enormous triple window, it was obvious the room was Addison Kane’s study. Taking another step, Joanna could see a laptop situated perfectly in the middle of the desk, as well as three pens neatly lined up in a row atop a leather-edged desk pad. A small green-shaded lamp hovered at the ready, and below it, two newspapers were expertly folded, waiting to be read. Across from the desk were a pair of wing-back chairs and behind them, partially filling the wall, was a marble-topped credenza situated between two stately bookcases. Square crystal decanters filled with assorted liquors stood at the ready atop the variegated rock, and a highly-polished silver tray off to the side held six sparkling Royal Brierley tumblers.