“As if you had one in the first place.” Juliet smirked. “But please, continue your self-righteous routine. Just don’t scare the axolotls.”

I was standing beside an aquarium that housed a pair of pale ghosts, who were resting at the bottom of the tank. Each was six inches long, with gills and tails like a fish, yet they also had four lizard-like legs. Their broad, rounded faces had eyes so far apart they were on opposite sides of their heads, the hallmark of a beast of prey. “What are they?”

“They’re a type of spooky salamander,” Juliet said. “Meet Dewey and Louie.”

“Where’s Huey?”

“Those two ganged up and ate him,” Juliet said. “Siblings are the worst.”

I stepped away from the glass. “You missed the service at Green-Wood.”

“I went to the church, Theo. And the luncheon. I don’t have the luxury of spending all day at a funeral.” Juliet sat down behind her desk. “Besides, there was more than enough drama at the church. Between you punching out that tabloid sleaze and Deirdre getting into it with a security guard, people really got their price of admission.”

“What happened with Deirdre?”

“A new hire got aggressive about demanding her invitation.” She shook her head. “Security was shown photos of every family member. It’s not like Deirdre isn’t distinctive looking. He had no excuse.”

“You fired him?” It wasn’t really a question. Firing staff was Juliet’s hobby.

“Of course I did.”

That exhausted our limited supply of small talk. “I need to talk to you about something important.”

“I knew you weren’t here just to check out my amphibious office mates.” She eyed me with the careful attention of a crocodile sizing up its lunch. “Go ahead, ask me anything.”

“Did you tell Caroline about my first wife?”

Juliet stared at me in what appeared to be unfeigned astonishment. Then she started to laugh. Her face flushed and her shoulders shook.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Juliet wiped her eyes. “I just realized what a great conversation starter it would be: ‘You know, this reminds me of the night Theo murdered his first bride . . . ’ Think of all the situations it could work in.”

“You’re not funny.”

“Did you mention Mirelle to Caroline?”

“I can promise you, I never uttered Mirelle’s name to her.”

I turned to leave Juliet’s office, then stopped dead. The ancient Egyptians believed in a female demon named Ammut, who was equal parts lion, hippopotamus, and crocodile. Ammut wasn’t worshipped, but she was feared. After death, in the Hall of Two Truths, she devoured impure hearts, preventing those souls from ever resting. Whenever I encountered Juliet, I speculated on the possibility of a demon from antiquity being reincarnated as a sadistic socialite with a penchant for gold jewelry, strappy sandals, and sashimi.

“You never uttered Mirelle’s name,” I said slowly. “But you told Caroline something about her.”