In the hall outside the parlour, she can hear Richard at the piano playing a song that reminds her of a lullaby. Between the notes she can hear the wooden ticking of the grandfather clock by the door. She waits until the song is done and she can hear clapping, which means that Moses Todds hands are occupied, and then she throws open the door and advances forward with the gun aimed steady at his head.

He is as big as she remembers, thick as a tree and craggy as one too. His dark beard is untrimmed, and his greasy hair is swept back from his forehead.

He continues to sit, unmoving, when he sees her, but a smile emerges on his lips.

My goodness! Mrs Grierson gasps, putting a hand to her mouth.

Whats happening? Richard says.

Hello, girl, Moses Todd says, and he rises to his feet stretching himself to his full Paul Bunyan height.

Ill kill you if you take a step, Temple says.

You certainly will not, Mrs Grierson says. I dont know what this is about, but

Richard, James says, take Grandmother upstairs.

But whats happening? Richard says again.

Goddamnit, Richard, just do it.

Richard shrinks into an anxious knot like a snarling badger, but he goes to his grandmother and takes her by the arm and leads her out of the room.

They listen to the footsteps ascend the stairs.

It aint nice to point guns at guests, Moses Todd says.

Youre my guest, James says. Not hers. And shes the one with the gun.

Thats a true thing, Moses nods in acknowledgement.

Move over there, Temple says, pointing to a dark wooden chair with a seat cushion made of patterned satin. Go slow.

Moses Todd sits in the chair and James gets some rope from the basement and ties his wrists to the arms and his ankles to the legs.

How you know youre on the right side here? Moses Todd asks James while hes knotting the rope.

Shes been in this house eight days and hasnt killed anyone yet, James says. And you have a troublesome look about you.

Fair enough, Moses says. But did she tell you she killed my brother? And she did it with her bare hands, like an animal. Is that something she mentioned over your evenin vittles?

James casts a brief look in her direction, but doesnt wait for either confirmation or denial.

I guess you two have some things to talk about, he says. Ill be in the next room. Youll call out if you need anything?

Temple nods.

How you been, girl? Moses says once James is gone.

I been fine.

He sucks in his lips, and his whole beard changes shape like a sea urchin, and she can see his white tongue moistening the corners of his mouth as if hes settling in for a long speech.

Nice accommodations you found for yourself, he says and uses his head to gesture all around him.