The wall creaked and a door sprang open. The safe room was quite large and furnished comfortably. The two women sat on the floor and next to them was a box of letters, some pictures and what appeared to be a diary. Bijou looked as if she’d been crying. Even Saria looked as if she quickly blinked back tears when they entered.

“What are you doing here?” Bijou asked.

“Lookin’ for you as usual,” Remy replied.

Both women caught the scent of blood at the same time. Saria came to her feet instantly, a slight frown on her face. “Dash? What happened?”

“There’s an intruder in the house,” Remy replied, never taking his eyes off of Bijou. “You don’ seem to understand the word danger.”

She made a face at him. “I understand perfectly. The Rousseau brothers can’t hurt us. And what intruder? Dash, did you get hurt?”

Dash looked more mortified than ever as his sister fussed over the back of his head and Bijou jumped up to look at the cut as well.

“He snuck up on me. I was so into my game I wasn’t payin’ attention to my leopard.”

“He who?” Saria asked.

“Jason Durang,” Remy said, his tone grim. “I’m really showin’ restraint, Bijou. I’d like to shake you until you show good sense, if that’s even possible.”

“Jason Durang is in this house?” Saria asked. “We were in the safe room, and unless the intercom is on, you can’t hear anything. The room is sealed. Bijou guessed Bodrie kept her mother’s things in here.” She frowned again. “Who is Jason Durang, and what’s he doin’ in the house bashin’ Dash over the head?”

“Shouldn’t you be arrestin’ him for trespassin’?” Bijou asked Remy, a mixture of challenge and defiance in her voice.

Remy caught her arm and pulled her to him, needing to touch her more than he wanted to admit. The relief at finding her safe overshadowed his anger at her for not being more careful—by just a little bit—he told himself.

“I wouldn’t mind arrestin’ you,” he hissed at her. “You’re goin’ to give me gray hair if you keep this up. You knew Durang was still out there.”

“Actually, I didn’t think about it,” Bijou said. “I’m sorry, Remy, I shouldn’t have put Saria in danger, but I just got excited about findin’ out about my mother.”

“It was my suggestion,” Saria admitted. “I thought the threat was over and it seemed a good time to find her mother’s things. Who is Jason Durang and what does he want with Bijou?”