Page 92 of The Body in the Backyard

“Duck.”

She just managed to drag Mrs. Penny and Mr. Willicott to the floor when Josie and the grumpy housekeeper appeared just outside the window above the second sink. Josie spotted them inside, rolled her eyes, then pointed dramatically in the opposite direction, drawing the housekeeper’s attention.

“Let’s go,” Riley hissed and began to crawl for the door to the hallway.

Mrs. Penny followed in a surprisingly flexible duck walk.

Mr. Willicott, who had never gotten around well to Riley’s knowledge, speed crawled around Mrs. Penny’s gas emissions and joined Riley in the mad dash for the door.

Somewhere in the kitchen, a door opened and closed, then a cheerful whistling started. Riley chanced a peek over the marble counter and saw a guy in an apron and chef’s hat turning the water on in the third sink. The dogs were still barking, and the pantry door was wide open. It was only a matter of time before he looked up.

“Go!”she mouthed, pushing her two charges through the swinging door as silently as she could.

They miraculously made it through the door without being spotted and started down the hallway, limping and jogging toward what Riley hoped was the foyer and the freedom of the front door.

“Let’s split up and see if we can find some evidence,” Mrs. Penny said.

“I told you damn dogs to shut the hell up. I refused to give you back to your mother to teach her a lesson, but that doesn’t mean I won’t take you on my next hunting trip. You wouldn’t make it back alive,” Ingram shouted drunkenly from somewhere. The echoing off the walls made it sound like his voice could be coming from anywhere.

But Riley’s spirit guides knew he was close.

“Hide.”

“In a hallway? Seriously?” she muttered.

Panicked, she pushed Mr. Willicott behind a tapestry of a bloody hunting scene. His shoes stuck out, but there wasn’t really anything that could be done about that. “Stay there. Don’t move. Don’t talk,” she ordered.

Mrs. Penny snatched a short club off the display of primitive weapons.

“What are you doing?” Riley hissed, grabbing her arm.

“Hide. Now.”

“If we have to fight our way out, I want to be prepared,” Mrs. Penny said.

“Hide. Hide. Hide.”

“Oh my God. We’re not fighting. We’re hiding.” Riley dragged Mrs. Penny to the closest door as footsteps drew nearer. She flung it open, stuffed Mrs. Penny inside, and then followed. She was just pulling the door shut behind her as Ingram stormed into the hall.

It was pitch-black inside. A closet of some sort, she guessed.

“Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.”

Riley held her breath and slapped a hand over Mrs. Penny’s mouth as the footsteps came closer and closer.

“Damn woman can’t even be bothered to close a door. They’re all the same. Useless,” he muttered as he came into view through the open crack. An ugly, angry vibe pushed at Riley’s consciousness.

Damn it.Was this how it was all going to end? Nick was going to be royally pissed if she ended up as a Cold Burrito.

Mrs. Penny wiggled against her grip, but Riley held firm.

Suddenly, there was a cacophony of shouting and then a crash. A deepwoofechoed through the house, followed immediately by an excited chorus of yips.

Swearing under his breath, Ingram changed course and stormed off in the direction of the kitchen. “Wash going on in here, and where’s my scotch?” he bellowed.

“Go.”

Riley let out the breath she’d been holding and dragged Mrs. Penny back into the hallway.