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just looking for something new to eat, but my eyes glanced over the boxes and cans of food, searching for something out of place. I wasn’t sure why I thought Nina would keep drugs in her kitchen, but it was as good a place as any to start. I hadn’t realized that I’d made a conscious decision to do some exploring until I opened the door under the sink to see what kind of household cleaners she had. Everyone knew from the movies that if a person had rat poison in the house this is where they kept it.
    A wave of guilt washed over me. What did I think I was doing? Now I was just being ridiculous. Nina had invited us into her home when she didn’t have to, and I had no real proof that she’d done anything other than let some wine go to her head. Here I was, repaying her by snooping.
    Before I could get feeling too guilty or move my investigation to another part of the mansion, I heard the doorbell chime. I frowned as I straightened. I didn’t really feel right answering Nina’s door, especially considering how it would look, a man in casual clothes and no shoes at the house when the owner wasn’t there, but when the chime rang again, I started walking. If it was something important, I should get it. I didn’t want to look like an ungracious guest and Nina might wonder why I hadn’t answered. I slowed down my pace to a crawl, my bare feet sticking to the cool marble. I could lie and say I hadn’t heard it or that I was taking care of Chloe, but my wife would know I was lying and that would lead to awkward questions.
    Jesus! It rang again and I jumped, as I was right in front of the massive oak doors. I was starting to wonder if I’d be able to take another two weeks here. Maybe I could convince Chloe that we should get a hotel after Victoria was born. I’d use the excuse that the baby’s crying would disturb Nina. Judging by the size of the house, that idea might get laughed at, but I knew I’d have to at least try.
    I opened the door and found a bored-looking deliveryman holding a package. He shoved a clipboard in my direction and said, “Sign here.”
    “I’m not...”
    “Look, man, I don’t care if you’re Elvis. I have a hundred other packages I have to get delivered today. Just sign for it.”
    Considering the man’s sniffling, bloodshot eyes and unshaven appearance, I doubted it was deliveries on his mind, but I scribbled my name on the line and accepted the box. After I closed the door, I headed back to the kitchen. I didn’t know where Nina usually put her mail, but since I’d seen her spend time in the kitchen, I figured that was the best place to leave the package where she’d get it.
    I set it down, already thinking about whether or not I should just make lunch and go back to Chloe, or if I should at least take a look in the medicine cabinets of the downstairs bathrooms and see what I could find. Just as I turned to leave, something familiar caught my eyes. I turned back to take a better look at the return address on the package. My heart stopped when I read it.
    Anna Von Lamberg.
    I put my hand on the counter to steady myself as I shook my head. I squeezed my eyes closed. What the fuck? Was I seeing things? I was convinced Nina was screwing with us, so my mind had naturally conjured up the name of the woman who’d nearly torn Chloe and I apart. That’s all it was. The person who’d sent the package was probably named Ann or Annie, even Anna, but I prayed that when I looked again, the last name would be something like Lambert.
    I opened my eyes and forced myself to look at the return address one more time, slowly, reading across the name carefully, just to prove to myself that I’d been wrong the first time.
    I wasn’t.
    “Fuck.”
    I ran my hand through my hair. What the hell was Nina doing getting mail from the Baroness? Had Anna somehow managed to get ahold of my client list and was sending things to all of our clients just to mess with us? I dismissed that idea. Why would she send a