The front door opened, and Franz held it for her. Arianne stepped inside.
The house was quiet. The twins were asleep in the east wing, their door would be closed, and Aunt Estella's light was off. The hallway was dark except for the gray light coming through the windows. Dawn was breaking, and the sky was pale and tired.
Arianne stopped in the foyer and looked around. The staircase that led to the east wing, her wing, her study, her bedroom, and the twins' rooms.
She'd walked through this foyer a hundred times, but right now it felt different. Like she was seeing it for the first time.
Franz closed the door behind them, and the lock clicked.
He stood there waiting.
She didn't say anything.
He started talking.
He told her about the calls, the entertainment outlets, and the threats to kill the stories. He told her about the cease and desist from his personal lawyer, and he told her about the Rochefort Group statement.
He talked fast.
