Never Sleep With Strangers by Heather Graham Page B

sink, a refrigerator, a coffee urn and a microwave. The ultramodern entertainment center at the rear of the bar, complete with big-screen TV, somehow blended artistically with the antique stained glass.
    â€œThis is living,” V.J. commented with a soft sigh. “I do love Jon’s invitations to come here. It was such a shame that something so terrible had to happen last time. I’m so glad he’s decided to rejoin the world of the living. Imagine, a swimming pool in a dungeon!”
    Sabrina had to admit that she was amazed as well. The castle had so many sides, so many faces. It was so incredibly historical that it was possible at times to walk along its hallways and imagine that hundreds of years had faded away. Yet she had yet to smell any mustiness or even feel a draft.
    â€œIt must cost an arm and a leg to keep this place up,” V.J. said, whispering suddenly as if someone might overhear.
    â€œI’m sure. But Jon must make really good money with his books, don’t you think?” Sabrina queried.
    â€œWell, yes, he is really at the top of the commercial heap. And I understand he’s also a smart businessman. He played the stock market extremely well, getting in very early on a number of computer and internet companies among other things. How on earth Cassie managed not to be happy with him is hard to imagine.”
    Sabrina looked around, certain that others—Brett, for one—would be coming down to enjoy the amenities soon. But at the moment they were all alone in the big rec room. Two billiard tables and a Ping-Pong table separated the pool area from the two-lane bowling alley and some comfortable chairs and love seats cozily set up around a woodburning stove. It all looked so innocent, so fun. Yet Sabrina wondered if, despite the contemporary atmosphere in this part of the dungeon, she’d feel so comfortable in the castle depths if V.J. weren’t with her.
    â€œI thought that Cassandra actually did love Jon,” she finally replied. “I got the impression they had one of those passionate artistic marriages, that they were very much in love despite their quarrels.”
    V.J. shrugged. “There’s only so many mysteries one can solve in a week,” she said gaily. “Let’s forget bowling; shall we? This pool looks just too delicious. I’m going in.”
    She slipped out of her terry cover-up and headed for the deep end. Still elegant with her long legs and trim, toned figure, she executed a beautiful dive and emerged at the far end. “It’s wonderful in here!” she called to Sabrina.
    â€œLook at that!” Sabrina called back. The television in the entertainment center was on, and though the volume was low, she could see that much of the country was being blanketed in snow.
    V.J. swam to the edge of the pool and rested her chin on her arms on the tiled rim to watch. “Imagine! All that cold weather out there, and here I am, swimming in eighty-degree luxury. Indeed, our boy does know how to live!”
    She pushed away from the ledge and continued swimming laps. Sabrina shed her own cover-up and dived in after her. She, too, swam laps for a while, then finally stopped to rest.
    V.J. joined her, picking up the thread of their earlier conversation. “Cassie couldn’t have been happy with Jon. All he had to do was say hello to someone, and she was instantly jealous and suspicious. She hated this place, hated it, and always came up with some excuse to try to make him leave it. Before she died…”
    V.J.’s voice trailed off, and Sabrina wanted to scream in frustration. “Before she died?” she prodded.
    V.J. shrugged her shoulders, smoothing back her wet hair. “They had an awful fight at breakfast. We were into the third or fourth day of the week, I believe. My character had already been killed off—a few of the others as well—and everyone was having a wonderful time. Susan was being a