The new maid heard weeping beneath the mansion. Opening the heavy basement door, she found the missing wife, starved and chained. As gasps filled the dark room, the wife grabbed her hand, whispering, “Run before he hears you, or he’ll make you my replacement.” Suddenly, footsteps echoed on the stairs…

The gallery was empty. The house was quiet, save for the distant hum of the vacuum cleaners in the west wing. Driven by an instinct I couldn’t quite name, I dragged a heavy mahogany chair over to the wall. I climbed onto the velvet upholstery and reached for the top edge of the canvas.

Dust rained down as I pulled the cloth away, revealing the massive continue reading …