complicated than it appeared at the start. What do you
intend to do next?"
"I would very much like to learn more about Irene Toller. Her intense dislike of Delmont makes her an
excel-lent suspect, to my way of thinking. But I doubt that she will respond helpfully to direct questions,
especially if she has something to hide."
"You believe that she would lie to you?"
"I am more concerned that she will pack her bags and disappear if she thinks that she has been found
out," he said. "I do not want to scare her off until I know for certain whether or not she is involved in this
affair."
"What will you do?"
"If she is the one who killed Elizabeth Delmont and stole the diary, it is likely that she has the journal
hidden somewhere in her house," he mused. "I believe my next step is to conduct a search of the
premises."
She unfolded her arms very quickly. "You intend to break into her house? Good heavens, you cannot
take such a risk, sir. If she has already killed once, she will not hesitate to do so again."
He appeared bemused by her protest. Then a strangely quizzical expression darkened his eyes. "Are you
worried about my safety, Mrs. Fordyce?"
"I am merely trying to inject some common sense into your plan"
"A pity. For a moment, I dared to entertain the hope that you were concerned for my well-being."
"I do not appreciate being teased, Mr. Hardesty. Now, then, if you are determined upon this venture,
would it not make more sense to at least learn something about the plan of the house before you break
into it? Having some prior knowledge of that sort would enable you to conduct a more efficient search."
He gave her a speculative look. "What do you suggest?"
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You could schedule a séance," she said, thinking quickly. "Mrs. Toller made it obvious today that she
was attempting to use her public demonstrations to promote her private business."
'What an imaginative notion." His brows rose. "Brilliant, in fact. Entering the house for the purpose of a
séance would not only give me an opportunity to look around, it might provide me with other information
about Toller as well. Do you know, something tells me that having a sensation novelist for a consultant in
this affair is going to prove extremely useful."
His slow smile was as sensual and thrillingly intimate as it was unexpected. It transformed his
appearance, giving her a brief glimpse of the complex man beneath the enigmatic façade that he
presented to the world.
It also flustered her. She struggled to regain her composure.
"I must accompany you, of course," she said, trying to ignore the fluttery sensations in her stomach.
His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. The re-mote, cryptic expression returned.
"I do not think that will be necessary"
"I disagree, sir," she said as forcefully as she could manage. "My presence will help allay any suspicions
Mrs. Toller might have."
"What suspicions could she possibly entertain? Mrs. Toller and I have never met. Even if she does
possess the diary and even if she is aware that a gentleman named Adam Hardesty is a potential target
for blackmail, how could she recognize me as her intended victim?"
"She might have seen you at the demonstration today."
He moved one hand in an uninterested motion. "If she did, she will only know me as Mr. Grove, just as
Reed and Elsworth do. Irene Toller is in the business of giving séances. I will be just another client as far
as she is concerned."
Obviously she would have to come up with another argument to convince him that he must include her in
his plan. She had no intention of allowing him to pursue his inquiries
without her. Tread cautiously, she warned herself. Adam Hardesty would not appreciate any attempts
to manipulate him. But manipulate him, she must.
She cleared her throat. "No offense, sir, but there is, shall we say, a certain aspect about you that might
well make
intend to do next?"
"I would very much like to learn more about Irene Toller. Her intense dislike of Delmont makes her an
excel-lent suspect, to my way of thinking. But I doubt that she will respond helpfully to direct questions,
especially if she has something to hide."
"You believe that she would lie to you?"
"I am more concerned that she will pack her bags and disappear if she thinks that she has been found
out," he said. "I do not want to scare her off until I know for certain whether or not she is involved in this
affair."
"What will you do?"
"If she is the one who killed Elizabeth Delmont and stole the diary, it is likely that she has the journal
hidden somewhere in her house," he mused. "I believe my next step is to conduct a search of the
premises."
She unfolded her arms very quickly. "You intend to break into her house? Good heavens, you cannot
take such a risk, sir. If she has already killed once, she will not hesitate to do so again."
He appeared bemused by her protest. Then a strangely quizzical expression darkened his eyes. "Are you
worried about my safety, Mrs. Fordyce?"
"I am merely trying to inject some common sense into your plan"
"A pity. For a moment, I dared to entertain the hope that you were concerned for my well-being."
"I do not appreciate being teased, Mr. Hardesty. Now, then, if you are determined upon this venture,
would it not make more sense to at least learn something about the plan of the house before you break
into it? Having some prior knowledge of that sort would enable you to conduct a more efficient search."
He gave her a speculative look. "What do you suggest?"
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You could schedule a séance," she said, thinking quickly. "Mrs. Toller made it obvious today that she
was attempting to use her public demonstrations to promote her private business."
'What an imaginative notion." His brows rose. "Brilliant, in fact. Entering the house for the purpose of a
séance would not only give me an opportunity to look around, it might provide me with other information
about Toller as well. Do you know, something tells me that having a sensation novelist for a consultant in
this affair is going to prove extremely useful."
His slow smile was as sensual and thrillingly intimate as it was unexpected. It transformed his
appearance, giving her a brief glimpse of the complex man beneath the enigmatic façade that he
presented to the world.
It also flustered her. She struggled to regain her composure.
"I must accompany you, of course," she said, trying to ignore the fluttery sensations in her stomach.
His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. The re-mote, cryptic expression returned.
"I do not think that will be necessary"
"I disagree, sir," she said as forcefully as she could manage. "My presence will help allay any suspicions
Mrs. Toller might have."
"What suspicions could she possibly entertain? Mrs. Toller and I have never met. Even if she does
possess the diary and even if she is aware that a gentleman named Adam Hardesty is a potential target
for blackmail, how could she recognize me as her intended victim?"
"She might have seen you at the demonstration today."
He moved one hand in an uninterested motion. "If she did, she will only know me as Mr. Grove, just as
Reed and Elsworth do. Irene Toller is in the business of giving séances. I will be just another client as far
as she is concerned."
Obviously she would have to come up with another argument to convince him that he must include her in
his plan. She had no intention of allowing him to pursue his inquiries
without her. Tread cautiously, she warned herself. Adam Hardesty would not appreciate any attempts
to manipulate him. But manipulate him, she must.
She cleared her throat. "No offense, sir, but there is, shall we say, a certain aspect about you that might
well make
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