Page 126 of The Girl Who Knew Too Much

Except that she hadn’t.

Irene picked up the phone again and dialed the number of Oliver’s office. Elena answered.

“Elena, this is Irene. Is Oliver there?”

“I’m afraid not,” Elena said. “He’s with Chester in the workshop. They’re testing a new alarm system, I believe.”

“I know where the workshop is. I’ll find him.”

“Mr. Ward said you weren’t to leave Casa del Mar without one of the security guards,” Elena said quickly.

“Don’t worry. There’s a guard out front. He can accompany me.”

“All right.”

Irene replaced the receiver, grabbed her handbag, and rushed to the door.

Henry Oakes was on the front step. He was dressed in workman’s clothes, complete with a tool belt. There was a knife in the belt.

He fixed her with his disturbing gaze.

“I’m sorry, Miss Glasson,” he said.

Irene tried to slam the door shut but Henry had one foot over the threshold.

“Wait,” he said. “You have to let me in.”

“Get away from me,” Irene said. “You’re crazy.”

“No,” Henry blurted. “You gotta let me explain. I got confused.”

Claudia Picton appeared, moving away from the side of the house where she had been concealed. She had a gun in one hand and a length of iron that looked a lot like a crowbar in the other.

“Yes, I’m afraid he’s very confused,” she said. “Nuts, actually. Inside, both of you.”

Irene retreated a few steps. Henry stumbled awkwardly into the foyer. He looked bewildered.

Claudia followed him into the villa and closed the door.

Henry gave Irene a pleading look. “I tried to warn you. I told you not to bother Mr. Tremayne.”

“Where’s the guard?” Irene said. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing.” Claudia smiled. “Henry took care of him for me, didn’t you, Henry?”

“I put him in the gardening shed,” Henry said. He looked andsounded utterly bewildered. “I had to get him out of the way. I needed to talk to you. But I didn’t understand—”

“You’re right, Henry,” Claudia said. “You don’t understand at all.”

In a lightning move Claudia raised her hand and slammed the butt of the gun against the back of Henry’s skull.

He dropped to his knees, grunting. Blood leaked from his head. Claudia struck him again. This time he collapsed, facedown.

Irene looked at Claudia. “You’ve had a lot of practice doing that, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” Rage glinted in Claudia’s eyes. “Yes, I have had some practice. And I’m going to get some more today. I knew you were going to be a problem for my star,” she said.

Chapter 62

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