With a nice set of bolt cutters, the police dismantled the front gate. They moved up the lawn as quietly as possible, Captain Carson directing them to surround the mansion. He went straight to the front door with Zinnia and a couple of other detectives.

Pounding on the door, he announced his presence, then kicked it in.

I ran around the back of the mansion to a rear door. Ash and I had already planned where to meet. He was waiting for me, the door half-open.

Inside, I ...