Pearl in the Mist (Landry 2)

the side entrance.

The house was very still when I entered. I went

around quietly and started up the stairs, which seemed

to creak extra loudly just because I was trying to be

discreet. I was nearly to the top when Daphne called

up to me. I turned and glared down at her. Bruce

Bristow was at her side.

"Where were you?" she demanded, her hands

on her hips. She wore one of her business suits, rouge,

lipstick, and eyeliner, but she had her hair unpinned. "I went to see Uncle Jean," I confessed. I had

made up my mind that I wouldn't lie if she caught me,

and anyway, I wanted to question why she had cut

back on the funds for Jean at the institution and had

him transferred.

"You did what? Get down here this instant," she

demanded, stabbing her right forefinger toward the

floor. She spun around and marched into the sitting

room behind her. Bruce gazed up at me, that

somewhat impish smile couched comfortably in the

corners of his mouth. Then he turned to follow

Daphne. I was nearly halfway down when Gisselle

called from the top of the stairway, where she had

wheeled herself to watch my confrontation with our

stepmother.

"I would have covered for you," she said, "but

you didn't even tell me where you were going." She

turned her head. "I couldn't even make anything up

when she came around looking for you."

"That's all right. I'm not happy about lying and

sneaking around anyway."