Thirty-Nine

VALERIA

"... brought back this evening. See to it that it's in good condition."

"Yes sir."

"And if there is anything needed here, you know who to contact of course."

"I do sir."

"And remember that Valeria must stay in today to get a lot of rest."

I took two steps down the stairs and peered over the banisters to see Dimitri giving parting instructions to Amelia. She murmured something in reply that I didn't catch. Dimitri looked up towards the stairs and I whipped my head back out of sight in time.

"Maybe I should go up there to remind her that she has to stay in."

Dimitri's voice got closer as he spoke. I took off my shoes and fled up the stairs.

"She may still be asleep now," Amelia said.

I stood at the door of the guest room, listening intently. Amelia's words seemed to have stopped him in his tracks. If he came up here, I had already decided that I would lock myself in my room and wouldn't answer his knocks. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of giving me instructions to