The mantle clock chimed the quarter hour and I jumped. Now consumed with guilt from touching a piece of Dr. Lodge’s collection, I quickly closed the gun case door. Until I released my breath, I wasn’t aware I’d been holding it. This was the behavior of a child who’d been caught in a forbidden place and I was embarrassed. Fortunately, no one knew about my infraction but me. I hurried outside. The sound of distant voices floated past me as I stepped down into the grass on the south side of the house, several yards from the edge of the patio. After a few strides, I came around the corner of the house and found myself in front of the wall of arbor vitae.

    The evergreen sentries looked ominous against the black blanket of night. A splash of buttermilk light spilled from the study windows onto the dark lawn. I stood still on the spongy sod, letting my eyes adjust.

    The night air was filled with scent and I inhaled deeply, letting the sweet perfume of roses conjure up romantic fantasies of lovers meeting secretly in walled gardens. Somewhere in the distance, I heard an owl hoot and I shivered. The temperature must have dropped because my blazer was no longer warm enough. I needed to work my way around to the front of the house and find that valet before I was thoroughly chilled.

    The sound of voices drew me along a stone path that I hoped would lead to the circular driveway at the front of the house. As I neared the edge of the garden, they became louder and I could tell that whoever was talking was no longer in a partying mood. Although I couldn’t make out the exact words, the tone was strident and caustic. After a few more forward steps, I made out human shapes tucked into the shadows, undoubtedly the source of the voices I heard. One was saying, "It was always money, you idiot. Not paperwork."

    I didn't want to meet whoever was so angry and debated going back to the study but I thought if I was caught retreating, they would suspect I had heard what had been said. I coughed purposely and the conversation halted immediately.

    "Hello," I said, trying to sound innocent. "Is there anyone out here?"

    One of the figures retreated to the other side of the hedge while another approached me.

    "Can I help you?"

    The man looked at me but in the dim light, I couldn’t make out his expression. I was quite sure I’d seen him in the study during Lodge’s pre-dinner dissertation but I didn’t know if he had been one of those speaking. Judging by the contour of the shape that had left, I thought it might have been Matthew Ellison. I hoped I was wrong. He seemed like such a quiet, gentle man that I didn’t want him to be on the receiving end of the anger I had just overheard. Of course, it was possible he had been dishing it out. I shuddered.

    "I’m escaping the party and I’m trying to get to the front of the house."

    "That way." He pointed in the direction I was heading and turned back toward the study without another word. As he moved away, a third person appeared from the shadows and continued walking toward the house with him.

    Wondering at the venom I had heard in that voice in the garden, I stood on the asphalt and watched as they reached the light from the study window to see if I would recognize anyone from earlier in the evening. Neither individual turned around so I saw only a stooped, broad-shouldered, lumbering silhouette against the window before the pair went through the doors. I couldn’t absolutely, positively confirm that it was Marvin Alltop, but I thought it was. There were a lot of people at this party but I hadn’t seen anyone that resembled the spheroid I knew as the big wheel of Lake County.

    Finally, I made my way to the valet, retrieved my car and headed south to the city, the bright lights of the Hancock building pointing the way home.