Free 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick Page A

Let us return to your immediate situation. What precautions have you taken?”
    She hesitated. “After the tear-catcher arrived we all assumed that there had been some mistake and that it had been sent to the wrong address. But when the jet-and-crystal-locket ring appeared on my bed—”
    â€œYour
bed
?” He was shocked, in spite of himself. “This is worse than I thought. Whoever is doing this to you was actually able to acquire access to your bedroom?”
    â€œYes.” She crossed her arms again as though she had felt a cold draft of air. “As I was saying, since that incident, Mr. Sykes and Andrew have been very careful to check the locks on the windows and doors throughout the entire house each night. I have begun to do the same.”
    â€œHow did someone get into your bedroom without being seen?”
    â€œWe believe he came in disguised as one of the tradesmen who brought in supplies for the weekly salon,” Calista said. “We suspect he used the old lift concealed in the wall to gain access to my bedroom.”
    He thought about that. “Did the intruder take anything?”
    â€œYes, as a matter of fact.” She appeared surprised by the question. “A framed photograph that hung on the wall of my bedroom. It was a picture of Andrew and me and our parents. How did you know?”
    â€œIt just seemed likely that he might have wanted some token to mark his bold move into your private space. He was no doubt consumed with an unwholesome excitement at that moment. After all, he had taken a great risk.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought of it that way.” She shook her head in dismay. “That is very insightful of you, sir. Your theory has a terrible kind of logic.”
    â€œMiss Langley, what you are telling me is beyond unnerving. No wonder you are on edge. Any idea of how the intruder might have learned of the concealed lift?”
    â€œI have no notion, but it is hardly a great secret. Mr. and Mrs. Sykes are aware of it, of course, and so is anyone who ever worked in Cranleigh Hall. Over the years there have been a number of maidsand tradesmen who have made use of the lift to move heavy items to various floors.”
    â€œDo you make use of the lift?”
    â€œNo, never.” Calista shuddered. “I hate the thing. The interior is quite close and dark and the thought of getting trapped inside is enough to keep me out of it, I assure you. It bears a striking resemblance to a coffin.”
    â€œI assume you have taken steps to secure access to it?”
    â€œYes, of course. The little room on the ground floor where the lift door is located is kept locked at all times now.”
    He moved to the window, clasped his hands behind his back, and studied the elegant gardens that surrounded the big house.
    â€œWhen you consider the matter closely,” he said after a time, “we do have some information about this person who has fixed his attention on you. Given a few more details, we should be able to come up with a list of suspects who can then be investigated individually.”
    There was a short, tense silence behind him. Then he heard Calista’s skirts and petticoats rustle softly. He turned around and saw that she had taken a step closer to him.
    â€œDo you really think so?” she said.
    â€œYes,” he said.
    He should not make promises he was not certain that he could keep, he told himself. But he could not bear to dash the wary hope he saw in her eyes.
    â€œOne of the many things that concerns me is what to do with the villain if I do manage to learn his identity,” she said. “It is hardly a crime to send memento mori gifts and there is no way to prove that someone intruded into my bedroom, let alone stole a photograph.”
    â€œWe will deal with that problem after we find the individual who is playing this wicked game.”
    â€œI do have a theory,” she admitted with some hesitation.
    â€œWhat