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closed the upper door behind him, he was in the dark, except for a thin light coming under the door at the bottom of the stairs. Musty air in the passage made him doubt that it was still in use, and he feared that the door at the bottom might be locked. When he reached it, his hand curved around the old doorknob, and it resisted his pressure, but at last the door opened with a squeak.
    He saw that a narrow passage in one direction led to the kitchen, the other to a narrow outside door. No one was in sight as he quickly let himself out of the house and hurried toward the back terrace.
    He was congratulating himself on making it back to Carolyn unseen when he realized that she was no longer sitting alone at the table.
    A young man with curly chestnut hair that stuck out from under his captain’s cap occupied the chair next to her, and both of them looked up when he came into view.
    As Adam came toward them, he knew the moment had come when the curtain was going up on a very dangerous pretense.

Chapter Five
    Carolyn had been about to get up from the table and return to their suite when her attention was drawn to a white cabin cruiser coming across the water with a foamy wake, and heading for the mansion’s private boathouse and dock.
    She watched as the craft eased into a berth, and a young man emerged from the cabin. After tying the bow line, he came sauntering up the path with a leisurely gait.
    Carolyn knew instantly who he was. Buddy Denison. From the few things Adam and Bancroft had told her, she had already formed an impression of him. He was a young man who sponged off his mother and filled his time pursuing his own interests. Boating must be one of them, Carolyn thought, as he approached the terrace. He was medium height, well-built, and his light brown eyes rounded as he saw Carolyn sitting there, watching him.
    “Well, I’ll be. It’s the rich girl, herself. Mom told me you’d be here today.” He gave her an embarrassed grin. “She warned me to make myself presentable. I guess it’s too late now.”
    His relaxed manner put her at ease. “You lookvery presentable, Buddy,” she assured him, nodding approval of his fashionable whites. “I’m Carolyn.” She extended her hand.
    He wiped his hands on his trousers before taking it. “Nice to know you…I mean…” He faltered, obviously searching for the right greeting for someone who might boot him out of the house at any time.
    “It’s a weird situation, isn’t it?” she said, truthfully. “Please sit down.”
    “Is it really true you’re a doctor?” he asked as he plopped into the chair that Adam had vacated. “You don’t look like one.”
    “I only just graduated,” she said lightly. “That’s a nice boat you have.”
    He instantly brightened. “She’s a honey. The Suncrest doesn’t go with the house. She’s mine.” There was a warning in his tone. “You can’t take her.”
    Before Carolyn could respond, their attention was drawn to a movement below the terrace as Adam suddenly appeared from around the corner of the house.
    “I see you found some company while I took my walk,” Adam said pleasantly as he took a chair opposite Buddy.
    “This is my husband, Adam Lawrence,” Carolyn said. Relief that he was back made her reach over and impulsively squeeze his hand. “Darling, Buddy was just telling me about his boat.”
    Where the conversation would have gone from there, she didn’t know, because his mother’s voice intruded into the conversation. “Buddy, I didn’t know you were back. I thought you said you’d be out all day.” Della stepped out onto the terrace.

    “No, that’s what you said your plans were. What brought you back early?” He grinned at her. “Couldn’t wait to see for yourself what the rich girl looked like, I’ll bet.”
    “Mind your manners, Buddy.” Before she could say anything more, a startled gasp jerked everyone’s eyes to the doorway behind her.
    A tall, thin man with slightly stooped