Chapter 19

She gave that some thought for a second before settling on a grin and said, "Phil Marty, come in, and welcome."

Following her into the house with a sardonic look, he walked across a tiled entryway, into a living room furnished in earth tones, and down a broad corridor lined on both sides with family photographs. All of these locations were within the house. They went through a number of rooms with the doors closed before entering a lounge that was paneled in a deep, dark mahogany.

Phil positioned her bag so that it was next to the entrance of the room, and then he stood there with his arms crossed over his chest while he surveyed the space.

There was an old rolltop desk against one wall, and a bookcase that went all the way to the ceiling against the opposite wall. In one of the nooks there was a collection of what appeared to be four comfortable chairs as well as a pair of love seats, all of which were upholstered in a deep red cloth.

Gwen's father sat down on one of the love chairs,