“Look!” We’d pulled up in front of my house but Liz was pointing across the street to the Hart Brake Inn where a large black SUV was hulking like a malevolent water bug in the inn’s driveway. Three doors clicked open at the same time, disgorging two men in identical navy blue suits, both so tall and blond and similar in features they might have been twins. Each carried a long furled black umbrella. The third occupant of the car was a silver-haired woman dressed impeccably in a St. John’s knit suit and carrying an oxblood Birkin bag.

My heart sank. “I didn’t know my grandmother was going to stay at the inn … it’s not exactly her style.”

“I didn’t know either. She must have made the reservation under a different name. Diana will be beside herself.”

We both watched in horror as my grandmother led the way up the path, glancing disdainfully at the ceramic gnome at the foot of the porch steps. She said something to one of the men and he touched the tip of his umbrella to the offending gnome. The red capped figure began to vibrate, then rock back and forth on his stubby feet, then, with a high pitched whine, he exploded.

In the car Liz flinched and cried out, “Oh no, poor Aethelready! He’s been with Diana since she moved to Fairwick.”

Adelaide brushed powdered plaster off her suit jacket and proceeded up the steps, followed by her gnome-smashing minions.

“I’d better go help Diana cope with them,” Liz said, flustered. “Don’t worry about tonight. I’ll organize the plan to trap Lorelei. In the meantime, try to … um … fend off Duncan Laird, if you know what I mean.”

“I had no intention …” A bang from inside the inn made both of us jump.

“I really must be off,” Liz said.

I got out of the car and hurried up my front path, swooping up Mr. Rukowski and bringing him and my spare key into the house.

“There you are,” I said putting the statue down in the foyer and locking the door. “You’ll be safe here.”

But would I? As Liz had pointed out, my threshold had already been breached. I might already have let an incubus into my house. Who knew what else might be coming?

I hurried upstairs and into Liam’s old study to get a view of the inn. I caught sight of Diana hurrying out onto the porch with a basketful of bric-a-brac. Her face looked pinched and pale. A series of pops, crackles and loud bangs from the house made her look over her shoulder. A trail of smoke wiggled out of a second floor window.