Terry took the pin and pushed in the swinging door that led to the dining room.
“Come, finish your dinner,” Mrs. Landry said. “What happened to Melissa?”
“She’s out in the kitchen,” Terry replied and put a warning finger to her lips. “Don’t let her hear you. I just wanted to show this to Mr. Uzlov.” She held the pin out to Serge. “Isn’t this your brother’s?”
Serge took it and examined it closely.
“I gave it to Dimitri years ago,” he said. “He always liked it. I don’t believe he would have parted with it willingly.”
“We didn’t think so, either,” Arden remarked, taking what small satisfaction there was in the fact.
“Go back to her, Terry,” Mrs. Landry directed, “and talk to her a bit. See if she will tell you anything. But don’t frighten her,” she cautioned, and then to Serge she explained, “Melissa is like some woodland creature. She runs at the first hint of danger. Poor child! The girls have done all they can to help her, but she doesn’t trust anyone.”
Terry, taking the pin, they all having decided it would excite Melissa if they kept it, returned to the kitchen.
Ida, the maid, was rattling pans and knives in the sink, but Melissa was gone.
“Where’s Melissa?” Terry asked.