The Terracotta Palace
Where is Vanessa Malimbrosa? Juliet Holdroyd wants to know...and nothing the very strange, very rich Malimbrosa family can do will keep her from the twisted truth hidden in a fabulous villa in Rome.

The dream faded...I saw Malimbrosa!

Under a northern sky the place would have seemed garish, its hot color almost an offense. Here, with the ultramarine sky crowning it, it was spectacular, proud and shuttered and enclosed. Two leopards sat on pillars on either side of the wrought-iron gates.

The place looked deserted...Perhaps...they no longer lived at Malimbrosa...I pushed at the gates but they were tightly closed...

Just as I was turning away, the gates began to open very slowly and then,when there was just enough space for me to walk through, they stopped.I went past them,turned and saw them close behind me...