Page 67 of Kill Me Sweetly

The three of us followed the men into the house. The main room as we entered had plush couches, a large-screen television, and bookshelves filled with books. I was glad it wasn’t pink and even happier that if this was where Gabe would be sitting, he’d be near the exit and able to get to us should we scream bloody murder.

“Beatrice, dear, Conner will be sitting here while Penny gives the Columbuses a tour. Please be sure to offer refreshments,” the younger man said, and I noticed that Beatrice was maybe around the same age as Four.

“Yes, sir.” She rose from her chair that was behind an ornate oak desk. She walked over to Gabe, who had just sat. “Mr. Conner, sir. Would you like coffee, tea, something cold, perhaps?”

“Let’s leave them to it, shall we? Penny asked us to bring you to her office.”

Gabe wasn’t regarding us in the slightest—he sat talking to Beatrice, but I knew he was watching us out of the corner of his eye.

We took a spiral staircase up to the second floor. As we were led, I took in as much as I could of my surroundings. It was a Victorian home, definitely older but well maintained. The woodwork on the banister was exquisite, the dimly lit sconces similar to ones my grandmother used to have in her house. Simple but elegant. There weren’t any photos of the girls of the house but a lot of artwork, paintings. Some small sculptures but nothing that screamed too rich to me.

The hallway was long, and every single door we passed was shut. Quiet…it was so very quiet. Were the girls even here at all?

“Here we are.” The older man knocked, and Penny’s voice rang out clearly.

“Come in.”

The woman behind the desk was in her late sixties easily. Her blond hair was streaked with gray and up in a severe bun. She wore a light-pink blouse with black pants. Glasses were perched on the tip of her nose, and a strand of pearls rested on her chest.

“Hello, Mr. and Mr. Columbus. I’m Penny Ballard, so great to meet you.” She tilted her chin to the men behind us. “That’ll be all, John.”

Once both men left and it was just the three of us, Penny motioned toward the two tufted chairs in front of her desk.

“I thought perhaps we could chat a bit. A few of the girls are setting up tea in the garden, so I don’t want to get in anyone’s way.” It seemed innocuous, though I was sure it wasn’t.

“That fine.” Mason grinned, and we took our seats.

“So, tell me, what ventures do the two of you often invest in?”

Wow. A powerhouse question right out of the gate. I blinked but didn’t want to stall, so I answered the question. “Pretty much in things that keep the world turning. We won’t invest in anything that could cut our fortunes short, if you catch my drift.” I’d pat myself on the back for answering that question so well, but it would look odd.

I was sure Noel and Nick were cackling at how uncomfortable this whole thing was.Assholes.

“Understandable, and what made you choose Alicia House?” Penny folded her hands on top of the desk.

“Mr. Reese explained that it was a suffering project, but with all the good it was doing for our female youth, Clark and I decided we’d love to help breathe life into it.”Well done, Mason.We were kicking ass.

She chuckled, and was that a blush? “Mr. Reese is quite convincing, and charming.”

Okay, eew.But I mean, sure, he was sort of a silver fox, but she was…No, eew I can’t.

“He sure is.” I plastered on a smile and died a little inside.

“Okay, let us take a walk, and then afterward we can discuss where we are most in need of help.”

“Sounds like a plan.” We stood and followed Penny out.

This time, all the doors along the corridor were open. “These are some of the bedrooms the girls stay in.” Penny kept walking at a fast pace.

I tried to see as much as I could, but nothing screamed creepy torture rooms. They all looked like little girls’ bedrooms.

We went downstairs. Gabe was sitting on the couch with what looked to be lemonade. There was a charcuterie board on the table in front of him and a football game playing on the big screen.

He shrugged as we passed by, and I didn’t need to see Mason’s face to know he was totally glaring at his man.

Penny showed us reading rooms, playrooms, the kitchen, quiet rooms for those who preferred them. Literally, everything was perfect. It all appeared to be a good and decent house.

“Let’s head to the garden.”

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