At a little after 6 pm Darlene arrived home laden with packages to find the house uncharacteristically in darkness. She thought it was odd since Jemima no Kate was home and said she was going to prepare dinner for them all since Darlene anticipated she would be late.

Struggling through to the kitchen the housekeeper flicked on the main overhead down lights and then nearly jumped out of her skin. Sitting on the lounge, with a half empty scotch glass in one hand and a likewise bottle of scotch on the coffee table, was a half way drunk Ethan.

'What's the celebration?' Darlene asked the slumped figure.

'Close call with hell.' came the cryptic reply.

'Well what's that supposed to mean and where's Kate?'

'Gon' back to wha'ever rock she crawled out from under.'

'What nonsense is that?'

Darlene had heard enough. A growing sense of unease saw her scurry up the stairs and along the dark hall flicking light switches on as she went to Kate's room. It had obviously been left in a hurry. Wardrobe doors and drawers were open and the bed was rumpled. The wardrobe was practically empty, most of the clothes she had bought without Kate's knowledge were no where to be seen. With relief though, the assorted items of a more personal nature that Ethan had thoughtfully bought for Kate were still on the dressing table.

It was then that she saw the envelope propped up on the dressing table with her name on it. With a sense of foreboding Darlene opened the envelope. Its contents made her fly down the stairs and back into the family room ready for battle.

'What's the meaning of this then?' She demanded as she waved the note under Ethan's nose.

'The meaning of wha'? I can' read the dam thin' if you keep on wav'n it at me like thad?'

'This note that Kate left. That's what.'

'Oh, she leffa note did she? How thorful.' Sarcasm dripping from his furry tongue.

'What in Gods name were you thinking when you threw her out? Who'd she kill?' Darlene paused obviously expecting an answer. 'How could you accuse her of stealing? She's the most honest person I know with more integrity and veracity than most. And that includes you!'

'You know thad? After only 2 weeks?' was Ethan's snide reply.

'Sometimes you just know these things. You'd know it too if you'd just sober up. Why do you think she has been stealing from you?'

Ethan, his voice ragged with pain and disappointment, as he quickly sobered up with a pot of black coffee told Darlene about the credit card statement, the photos, the investigators report - even the phone call.




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