Nana Doofenshmirtz came in, skirts swishing. Roger followed close behind.

"Where is she? Where's Mother?"

"Frau Doofenshmirtz, Frau Schmitt needs rest."

"Who are you?" asked Roger.

Herr Merkel intorduced himself. When Mother Doofenshmirtz learned he was a lawyer she hissed in anger. "You come to meddle!"

"Indeed not madam. My meddling, as you call it, is done and all legal papers have been filed away."

"You dare rob my son of his inheritance?"

Oma spoke up weakly from her sickbed. "Your son has already received his inheritance, child."

"Lies! I know you leave Roger nothing!"

Heinz looked at Vanessa and mouthed two words. Out. Now.

She opened her mouth to protest but snapped it shut when he gave her a sharp look. Usually it was her mother who gave her that sort of eyes-only warning, but if her father, mellow as he was in comparison, was giving her one, prudence dictated she obey.

She turned and went out through the kitchen, thinking to visit the goat pens. One of the nanny goats had given birth out of season that year and the kid was just old enough to start nibbling on vegetable scraps. Carrot tops in hand, she went to wait there until she was called back in.

The little brown and white kid nibbled eagerly from her hand, then butted her playfully. Vanessa rubbed its head and it bleated happily.

"Ah, that's what you really wanted, isn't it, baby?"

The kid bleated and ran off to its mother. She realized why when an unctuous voice spoke behind her.

"Ah, Fraulein Doofenshmirtz, how are you on this lovely day?"

She turned to see Kenny's ugly, bearded face leering at her. "I'm well, Herr..." what was his last name? "Kessler." Yes, that was it.

She fervently wished for him to drop dead of a stroke.

"How is Frau Schmitt doing? I wanted to stop in to say hello."

"She's awake but my grandmother and uncle have just arrived. They're... discussing some family matters."

"I... see." He licked his lips. "In that case I won't bother them." He reached out suddenly and grabbed her hair, yanking her head back. "You'll do for company."

Heinz and Roger were standing aside while Frau Doofenshmirtz raged at Oma and Herr Merkel. Heinz had taken the sword out of its case again to show to Roger, who didn't care about fencing but was desperate for an excuse to ignore their mother's ranting. The sword was scabbarded and about to go into its case once more when Vanessa's scream reached them.

"DADDY!"

Heinz ran toward the goat pens, the sword still in his hand. Roger was close behind.

Frau Doofenshmirtz was so busy feeding her rant that she never noticed.

Vanessa knew she would have a bruise. Kenny had hit her across the cheekbone with the handle of the machete he'd been holding behind his back when he'd approached her. The blow had knocked her to the ground, stunned, and Kenny had grabbed her by the hair again to drag her into an empty stall. He had just shoved her in, deliberately knocking her head against the side wall when she heard her father call her as if from very far away.

She managed to call out again. "Daddy!"

Kenny slapped her again, cursing in German. Heinz had seen him. He picked up the machete and went to kill himself a garden gnome.