Free Crimson Twilight by Heather Graham Page B

castle will be left to posterity. It will go to the village and be run by a trust and a group of directors.”
    “But she’d still make out all right,” Logan said.
    Emil waved a hand in the air. “She’d get a few million.”
    “Oh, Emil!” Jane said. “People have died for far less than a few million.”
    “But—Denise,” Emil said.
    Jane turned to Sloan. “Where was she when you all went running after the figure into the night?”
    “We woke up Mr. Green and Mrs. Avery,” Logan said.
    “But both took their time answering their doors,” Sloan said.
    “Which, of course, is more than possible when you’re sound asleep,” Kelsey said.
    “This can’t be—real,” Emil said.
    “We didn’t imagine the figure we chased away,” Sloan said flatly.
    “So what do I do?” Emil asked.
    “You sit tight,” Logan said firmly. “We’re waiting on some answers from our home office, and the M.E.’s report. We’ll have that info in the morning. For tonight, sit tight. One of us will stay in the hall through the next few hours. When the sun comes up, you’ll be with one of us through the day until we get to the bottom of this.”
    “Really?” Scully asked. “I mean, the police said that it was an accident when the reverend fell. And someone was running around the halls? It could have been the ghost.”
    “It wasn’t a ghost,” Sloan said flatly. “It was flesh and blood that tried to get to you tonight, Emil. Dressed in black, sneaking around. And a man died here less than twenty-four hours ago. Let’s be smart about this.”
    Emil nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
    “Let’s do what we can with the rest of the night,” Logan said. “I’ll take the hall first.” He glanced at his watch. “Each of us takes an hour and a half. That gives everyone a few hours of sleep before morning. Kelsey, you relieve me. Sloan and Jane, you’ll be up last.”
    “I meant to go home,” Scully murmured.
    “You can’t now,” Kelsey said flatly.
    “But I’ll be in the same clothing and Mrs. Avery—”
    “I do own the place,” Emil said again.
    “You’re a little shorter than Kelsey, but about the same size,” Sloan said. “We’ll get you some clothing. For tonight, sit tight.”
    They left Emil Roth and Scully Adair and adjourned to the hall.
    “You know, we’re forgetting people,” Jane pointed out. “Chef lives over the old stables. I’m not sure where that is. And Phoebe Martin is up in the attic.”
    “The stables are down the hill and to the right of the gatehouse,” Sloan said. “And the attic, you walked Phoebe up there tonight, right?”
    “Doesn’t mean she stayed there,” Jane pointed out.
    “But what would Phoebe or Chef have to gain from hurting Emil Roth?” Kelsey asked.
    “The only one to benefit would be Denise Avery,” Sloan said.
    “But she was there, down at the gatehouse, when you banged on her door, right?” Jane asked.
    “Oh, yes, spitting fire, warning us that she had the right to throw us out,” Logan said.
    “Let’s get through the night,” Sloan said. “And hope we get something to go on in the morning.”
    Logan turned to Kelsey. “Get some sleep. I’ll wake you in a bit. And you two,” he said to Jane and Sloan. “Go on in and—whatever. You have three hours.”
    Sloan slipped his hand to the base of Jane’s spine and urged her toward their door. They entered and he waited for the click. He cupped her head between his hands and kissed her tenderly, the feel of his fingers feathering against the softness of her flesh an arousing touch. He had a talent for the right move at the right time. He could walk into a room and cast his head in one direction and she would just see that he was there and want him. He could be a joker. He could walk naked from a shower and tease and play and tell her that the offer was evident.
    But, right now, he wasn’t sure what was on her mind. He could always make her long for him.
    “She’s been here.”
    “What?” he