9Lilly excused herself to go to the bathroom. She was gone for quite a bit. Scratch decided to see if Horace had any beer in the icebox. Sure enough, two bottles of Blue Ribbon sat not far from a dish of cold cuts. Scratch took down a plate. He fixed a sandwich for himself and Lilly. He carried the plate and the beer with him as he searched for Lilly.
She wasn't in the bathroom anymore. The light was on, but the door was wide open. By now, the Grandfather clock in the living room said it was nine forty-five. He searched the study. Lilly wasn't there. He searched the guest bedroom. She wasn't there either. Scratch went upstairs.
Hanging around the top of the stair, in the hallway, he heard Lilly in the bedroom on the left. Scratch made as little noise as he drew closer to the partly open
