Victoria Winters came down the stairs into the kitchen and passed through the dining room on her way to the drawing room. Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard was at the desk working on the monthly bills as she looked up.

"Mrs. Stoddard," Vicki started. "I can't find David anywhere to start his lessons. I'm afraid he may be down at the Old House annoying your cousin Barnabus."

"I'm sorry, Vicki," Liz sighed as lamented her nephew's behavior. "I'll try to have a talk with him."

"Well, look here," Jason McGuire entered through the foyeur. "I have never seen two more lovelier ladies !" Liz and Vicki turned their heads in disgust at his transparent compliments.

"Vicki, excuse me," Liz spoke up. "I want a chance to talk to Jason."

"Yes, ma'am." The lovely ingenue closed the doors to them as she crossed to the coat rack behind the front door and took down her coat for the walk to the Old House. She was pulling her long dark locks out from under her collar as she heard the door and turned to open it.

"Hello," Two people stood on the front portico outside Collinwood. "I'm Susan Hilton, my partner Maxwell Smart. We're private investigators trying to track down a Paul Stoddard."

"Mrs. Stoddard's husband ?" Vicki understood. "I'll see if she is available." She turned to the drawing room doors as Smart noticed the picture of Barnabus Collins on the wall near the front exit.

"What is it, Max ?"

"99, I've seen this man before." Smart narrowed his eyes. "But I can't remember where."

"That's impossible, Max." She revealed. "It's a very old portrait."

"Miss Hilton," Vicki showed the way as Jason eyed the two guests nervously.

He glanced over the two investigators inqiring on Paul as Vicki started to turn to leave then stopped.

"Miss Hilton," Vicki continued, "Where are you from ?"

"Idaho, why ?"

"I was wondering if we could be related. I thought we had a resemblence." Vicki answered with the soft innocence of a child and continued on her way.

Jason watched the female investigator enter the drawing room. He wanted to eavesdrop but for the other one.

"So," Smart slapped his hands together and then calmly lit a cigarette. "You're Jason McGuire." He braced dramaticly to lean against the table but touched upon empty space and crashed to the floor.

"Yes, " Jason replied in his Irish brogue. "What's your interest in Paul Stoddard ?"

"I'll ask the questions." Smart dusted himself off with his burning cigarette tip broken. "How well did you know Paul Stoddard ?"

"Oh," Jason grinned connivingly. "We were in the Air Force together."

"Second Battalion, Third Company, The Screaming Nighthawks." Smart knew their flying team. "Up until you were court-martialed for selling supplies on the Black Market........"

"I was framed !" McGuire snapped. "Lefty Horowitz hired me to move boxes. I had no idea where they were going !"

"You were in Collinsport too when Stoddard vanished." Smart went on. "Do you know what happened to him ?"

"Is that what this is about ?" Jason grinned. "I haven't a clue."

"Did he see anyone that night ?"

"I don't know, lemme think," Jason folded his arms and thought. "We had drinks at the Blue Whale, he said he was going past the bridges and I didn't see him alive after that. Liz later called me to say he was missing the next day."

"The Bridges ?" Smart noticed his broken cigarette. "Friends ? A location ?"

"Who knows ?" Jason winced as Smart aimed for the ashtray and snuffed his cigarette on his hand.

"Sorry about that, McGuire."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.