Rook

membership. She had mentioned that she could easily go back to the office and carry out her duties from there, but it was a sign of status at the club to have one’s aides waiting about, ready to dance attendance upon one. “The Rooks have called an emergency meeting of the Court. You’ll be gathering at Apex House right after sundown.”
    “I understand. I shall be right there,” he said with thick tones of false regret.
    “No, no, sir. You have several hours yet.”
    “Yes, absolutely. Have the car ready,” Wattleman replied. “Gentlemen, I’m terribly sorry, but it appears that I am needed. Duty calls. Right now.”
    T he Toblerone proved to have been well worth the wait, and Ingrid had shyly accepted a few of the little mountains. Now they both sat on the couch, one with impeccable purple-clad posture and one slumped back on the cushions with her stocking feet up on the coffee table.
    “So, Ingrid, what did you think of the interrogation?” Myfanwy asked.
    “Very interesting,” said Ingrid.
    “Oh, yeah? You know, Ingrid, I don’t think
interesting
is a suitable response from an intelligent person. It means ‘I have no idea, but I think I’d better say something.’ ” She looked at her secretary, whose cheeks were flushed. “Let’s be a little bit more specific: What did you think of poor Mr. Van Syoc’s responses?”
    Ingrid took a deep breath and looked down at her hands. “Well, Rook Thomas, I suppose that the most startling thing is the fact that the Grafters are sending operatives back into the British Isles. The second most startling thing is that the Grafters still exist. I was under the impression that their organization was dissolved and their leaders executed several hundred years ago.”
    “Yes, the Grafters,” said Myfanwy thoughtfully. “I was struck bythat too.” She surreptitiously underlined the
Grafters
notation in her notepad.
    “Although…” Ingrid hesitated.
    “Yes?” Myfanwy said quickly, eager to seize the informational opening.
    “I’m not entirely certain the rest of the audience was so shocked.” Ingrid paused, and Myfanwy gestured for her to continue. “I mean, they were appalled, but only Rook Gestalt gave the kind of reaction I would have expected.”
    “You would have expected him to strangle Dr. Crisp?” asked Myfanwy.
    “Well, no,” said Ingrid with a shudder. “Although it didn’t really surprise me. I mean, you know how short a temper Gestalt can have, and remember, the female Gestalt was in combat just this morning. Gestalt’s assistant told me that all the siblings were still fairly energized.” Myfanwy nodded, thinking of the twins’ unsteady walk as they’d left her office after recounting the antler-cult raid. “Plus, the Grafters are something of a bogeyman for graduates of the Estate, as you know yourself.”
    “Hmm,” said Myfanwy, at a complete loss. “I agree.” It was almost a relief when the phone rang and Ingrid got up to answer it.
    “Rook Thomas’s office, Ingrid speaking. Yes? Certainly. I’ll inform the Rook immediately. Good-bye.” Ingrid jotted something down, and looked over at Myfanwy. “Lady Farrier has requested that you still join her for dinner before the meeting at Apex House. You may wish to change your clothes.”
    “Why?” asked Myfanwy. “This is a designer suit.”
    “Oh, it’s quite respectable,” said Ingrid awkwardly, “but, well, you know how Lady Farrier likes women to dress at dinner.”
    “Yes, of course. Lady Farrier and her dress requirements,” said Myfanwy. “I guess you should arrange for a car to take me back to the house.”
    “You’re not going to use the residence?” Ingrid asked in surprise, gesturing toward the massive portraits on the wall.
    “Oh, um, yeah, good point,” fumbled Myfanwy. “I didn’t thinkthere was anything that I could wear to dinner, but now that you mention it, there may be. I’ll go and check. Maybe I’ll take a nap too. Thanks, Ingrid.”
    “Don’t forget, you have an appointment with the head of building security at three. Shall I page you when he arrives?”
    “Please.” Myfanwy watched as Ingrid left the room, then picked up her notepad and the purple binder and walked to the wall of portraits. She tried to peer behind the first one. Nothing. In the process, she nearly knocked the picture off the wall and was obliged to scrabble frantically to make sure it didn’t crush her. She almost had to call for help but eventually managed