Chloe reached the Stone estate just after the rain stopped. Her heels on the wet pavement driveway clicked. The air was still full of the aroma of pine and damp soil, with a hazy and dewy sky.
She glanced over in the side mirror - perfect, calm. She wore confidence like perfume- subtle but designed to linger- and made her way to the grand door.
It was the butler, Everett, who opened it.
“Ms. Goldstein,” he said with a surprised nod, stepping aside. “Good afternoon. Please, come in.”
"Thanks," she said, giving a gentle grin as she shook off water from her jacket while stepping into the fancy marble entrance. She looked around the area, quiet and motionless. Perfect.
Everett took her coat and motioned toward the sitting room. “I believe Miss Lydia is in the parlor.”
“Perfect timing,” C
