It was past midnight as Giuseppe returned to Gossington. He took a taxi from Much Benham, as the last train on the branch line to St. Mary-Mead had gone. He was in very good spirits. He had payed off the taxi at the gate, and took a short cut through the shrubbery. He opened the back door with his key. The house was dark and silent. Giuseppe shut and bolted the door. As he turned to the stair which led up to his own comfortable suite of bed and bath, he noticed there was a draught. A window open somewhere, perhaps. He decided not to bother. He went upstairs smiling and fitted a key into his door. He always kept his suite locked. As he turned the key and pushed the door open, he felt the pressure of a hard, round ring in his back. A voice said "Put your hands up and don't scream." Guisuppe threw his hands up quickly. He was taking no chances. There was no chance to take. The trigger was pressed-once-twice. Guisuppe fell forward....
Bianca lifted her head from the pillow. Was that a shot?...She was almost sure she had heard a shot....she waited some minutes. Then she decided she had been mistaken and lay down again.
