"What's wrong, Rosie?
   Isaac looked up from his books at the nervous maid that had been here longer than anybody else had. Her arthritic hands were twisting nervously in her apron, and her eyes were filled with tears as she sniffled and dabbed at them. "I have a confession, sir."
   Sitting back, Isaac knew this was important to her and he offered her one of the armchairs with a wave of his hand. "What is it, Rosie?"
   Thinking that she only burnt tonight's dinner or forgotten the dessert, he let part of his mind wander.
   "I saw Mister Syrus here, this morning." She whispered loudly, her eyes darting around her as if saying his name would conjure him up.
   Isaac nodded, "Yes, he wanted to … talk."
   Rosie's head bobbed hysterically. "See, sir, Mister Syrus… well he…" she took in a breath and abruptly burst into tears.
   Jumping to his feet, Isaac pulled a handful of tissues from its box and moved to the chair next to Rosie's and handed them to her. "It's okay, Rosie. He's left now. And I doubt if he will be coming back anytime soon."
   That assurance only seemed to make her cry harder, and Isaac patted her shoulder gently, trying to comfort her but unsure of just how to go about it.
   "What is it you wanted to tell me?" He questioned cautiously, after she calmed down, half-afraid of another flood of tears.
   She continued to dab at her eyes under her thick glasses and sniffle. "Mister Syrus bribed Herb, sir. That's why I kicked him out so long ago. He boasted to me about how he had tricked everyone here at the house."
   Isaac shook his head, "I don't think I'm following you, Rosie." Before he could even think of asking her to explain, she blurted out; "Herb was poisoning Miss Dahven!"
   The air left his lungs. As if he'd just been kicked in the gut by a rather large football player. "What?" He whispered, unable to make a louder sound.
   Rosie started wailing, "He was, sir! I didn't even know it until recently, and then I was so scared you were going to fire me as well, for thinking I helped him!"
   His head shook again, "I don't understand."
   "You have to get in contact with Herb's lawyer." Digging into one of the pockets of her apron, she pulled out a crumpled business card. "Herb always knew he was going to get in trouble with Mister Syrus if he had told anyone what he'd done. But he made copies of things and sent them to his lawyers." She blew her nose loudly. "He only told me about it, because he wanted me to go away with him. To stop working of other people, and have people work for me."
   She scoffed loudly. "Imagine me having people work for me!"
   Isaac stared dumbly down at the card and tried to get his brain to wrap around this confession. "His lawyer has all these copies of things, right?"
   Rosie nodded, her nose and eyes both swollen and red. "Yes, sir. He knows all about it. And if you contact him, he'll get you all that you need to know."
   "Wouldn't Herb mind if I did this?" Isaac questioned suspiciously.
   Her eyes filled once again, "He's dead, sir. That's how I know with whom you need to contact. I wasn't supposed to say anything until I knew he was dead."
   Closing his eyes, Isaac leaned back in his chair, and just sat there. His mind racing a mile a second, questions popping up and answers tangling inside into one giant mess.
   He stood. "Will you be letting me go now, sir?" Rosie asked quietly, her gaze stuck firmly on her hands, still twisting in her lap.
   "No, Rosie. I definitely want and need you to stay here. In fact, I'm going to call Arie now and have him and his family come here for a while as well while I contact this Mr. Whithington." Isaac announced formally as he moved towards the door.
   He looked up at her when she started to walk past him. "Would you tell Zac and Taylor to come and see me for a moment, please?"
   She nodded, "Of course, sir. Right away."
   "And Rosie?" He started, when she turned around, Isaac moved and hugged her. "Thank you."
   He pecked her cheek and moved back to his desk and starting shuffling things around trying to get everything he needed in order before he met with his brothers and called Mr. Whithington.
   Rosie's smile trembled. "You're welcome, sir." She whispered as she closed the doors behind her and started off to find the other master's.
   When his brothers were gathered around him, Isaac took in a deep breath then expelled it in a rush when Mackenzie burst in. His face red and flushed with anger.
   "You know, I really, for some odd reason, thought that you would all treat me with a little but more respect!"
   Isaac smiled, "Would you like to sit down?"
   Glaring at him, Mackenzie took the chair Zac vacated.
   "Something wrong, Ike?" Taylor asked as he sat down in one of the comfortable chairs. Giving up one of the arms so that Zac could have a seat as well.
   Isaac nodded deliberately, "Apparently, Syrus had a very large grudge against his wife and D." He started, his hands clenching as well as his teeth.
   He could see their confusion, and tasted his own. "Rosie didn't fire Herb for stealing. She fired him because he obviously admitted to helping D get sick by poisoning her with something. With what, we're not for sure yet. But it's most likely strychnine."
   Their faces paled then turned red with anger, and Isaac felt himself slightly relax at their taking offense as well.
   "What are we going to do, Ike?" Zac asked tightly, his jaw muscles working.
   Taylor and Mackenzie looked at Isaac as well, waiting for the battle plan to be announced so that their could start their attack.
   Isaac smiled grimly, "First off, Arie and his family is coming here. Rosie's basically getting rid of everything from the room Syrus stayed in, and most of the food as well." He leaned on the desk with his two hands and grinned, "Then, when I know my family is safe, we're going to tear him apart."
   Seeing the bloodlust in his brothers, Isaac could feel his adrenaline pumping strongly. "We're going to strip him of everything we can."
   They all nodded and agreed. It was the only right thing they could do. This battle was for D, and the only thing they could do was win.