The sounds of the party barely reached us as we strolled through the third floor hallway. Henry's mansion was huge, almost offensively so, filled with anything a person could ever need. A person could live here in total comfort without ever having to go outside.

The absolute size of the place took me aback when I had first arrived at the party, but it made it easier to sneak up on Henry. At least, that was what I had first thought as I tried scheme after scheme to get close to him. But none of them had worked - the food was too closely guarded to poison, his friends were always surrounding him, and he never left the crowded ballroom. That is, until an hour after dessert, when I had scanned the room and found him absent.

I had tracked him to his bedroom and aimed a gun at his back - when he had turned around and discovered me with a disarming lack of surprise.

Now here we were, ambling through his darkened house like we were old friends.

"I was young and stupid when I married my wife," Henry began without preamble. "She was pretty and treated me well and I thought I was head over heels in love. So we married and her attitude" - he sighed - "quickly changed.

"She started picking fights with me, insulting my appearance or attitude towards certain things. The night she broke a plate over my head, I realized the woman I thought I had loved was a lie. I would have divorced her right then and there but then she would have gotten half of everything I owned. I just couldn't let her get away with it. So I stayed married to her for a few more soul-crushing years."

We passed a wall filled with portraits of Henry's ancestors. They watched us pass judgingly.

"She's been acting even more strange lately. Shooting me weird glances and acting kinder. It's all an act. I know she's good at lying. I won't fall for another one of her tricks. I figured something like this was coming. She thinks I've left everything to her in the will when in reality it's all going to my niece. I think she takes me for someone far more gullible than I actually am."

I shook my head, trying to process everything I was learning. We had slowed to a stop in front of a wide window looking out over Henry's expansive lands. "She decided that she couldn't force you to divorce her...so she hired me to murder you. Because she thinks she'll get your money."

Henry nodded. "You've got it."

I barked out laughter, holstering my gun. "And since she's not getting any money, she wouldn't be able to pay me even if she planned to. Which she isn't."

Henry snapped his fingers. "Bingo."

"Well, I think I've figured out what my next step is." We stopped walking as I turned to Henry. "Permission to murder your wife, Mr. Gallinger?"

Henry's lips twisted up in a smile and he glanced down at the floor as if collecting his thoughts. "No," he said finally, "as tempting as that sounds right now. I want you to frame her instead. Find or fabricate some evidence that she's cheating on me or abusing me - anything to void our stupid little...situation. Something so I can divorce her without losing half of everything I own."

"But won't she seek revenge?"

Henry threw back his head and laughed. "With what money?"

A slow smile spread over my lips. "Henry Gallinger," I said thoughtfully, "I am very glad I missed my window of opportunity to shoot you in the chest."

His dark-eyed gaze locked with mine. "You know what, I'm pretty glad about that myself."

My grin turned wider and I stuck out my hand. "Pay me what she offered to pay me and I'll get rid of that witch. Without murdering her."

He returned my smile, shaking my hand firmly. "You have yourself a deal."