Chapter 12. Swernbach House

This house was the biggest she’d ever stepped into. Everything looked like it belonged in a museum and she was too scared to touch anything. She couldn’t afford to pay for anything if it broke.

“Come on. What are you standing at the door for? The dining room is this way.”

Melvin stood a few feet in front of her. She had slowed down when he opened the main door. He went in before her. A part of her had expected him to wait by the door for her to come in before he shut it. She rubbed her temple. She was here on business and not a rendezvous.

The narrow hallway branched off in three directions. On the left side was the large oval bottom of a curving staircase. Straight ahead, the polished wooden floor widened to a receiving area and there was a huge door post on the right.

Overhead, a dainty chandelier lit the room, enhancing the golden look of the wall paper with a shimmering effect. She stepped closer to the wallpaper that revealed tiny glittering crosses.