Page 55 of Crown of Smoke

She has a sweet smile as I leave her. I grab the list of the deceased from the fire that she compiled on my way out.

I stop at my apartment to shower and change and then head to Phoenix’s place. Blaise and Ash are already there.

“I’m just curious what the fuck you all are doing while I’m skulking around the Keans?” I ask, going straight to the coffee machine to brew a cup of joe.

Phoenix arches a brow. “You don’t think we’re doing our part?”

“Lucy has a list of all who died in the fire and was hoping that I, as thecopinvestigating the case, would know who is missing on it. Who would have been at the house but escaped.”

“So?” Blaise asks in a bored voice from where he lounges on the couch.

“So why don’t we know that? I mean besides us, at least one other person escaped. The person who let the Keans in the house and now works for them. Why don’t we know that?” I take a sip of coffee, not really needing the jolt of caffeine to wake me. I’m already keyed up, ready to finish this mission so I can move on.

“You’re the one skulking around the Keans. Why don’t you know it?” Blaise retorts.

I look at Phoenix, wishing he’d whap Blaise.

“What is the point of that?” Ash asks from the table where he’s drinking coffee and dealing with some sort of paperwork.

I stare at him wondering if he’s lost his mind. “Aren’t we still out for revenge?”

“Against the Keans, yes. Knowing who survived the fire doesn’t help?—”

“The one who helped them deserves our wrath too,” I say. “So what are you doing about it?”

“We’re doing our part.” Blaise’s disinterested tone is now gone, replaced with annoyance. “You’re just pissed because doing your job is taking away from your hot journalist.”

“Let’s not devolve into children.” Phoenix rolls his eyes at Blaise. Then he turns to me. “We each have our roles, Flint. You know that. But we need to focus on the Keans, not dig up our past."

"Someone in the house betrayed us. Someone we all trusted."

"We know who betrayed us," Phoenix cuts in. "Hampton Kean?—”

"No." I lean forward, getting in his face. "Kean was the enemy. I'm talking about a traitor. Someone who knew our security protocols, the guard rotations, the layout of the house. The Keans couldn't have gotten in without inside help."

"You're obsessing," Blaise says. "A traitor, an informant, what's the difference? They're all marked for death."

"The difference is someone from our family is working with Kean. Think about it. Who's not accounted for that night? They not only deserve our attention, but they could be a way in.”

Ash looks up at us. "He has a point, Phoenix."

I grab the list Lucy compiled. "Look at these names. There must be half a dozen names missing or presumed dead. But what if they're not? What if they're helping the Keans maintain power right now?"

Phoenix's expression darkens. "Then we find them. If anyone survived and sided with the Keans, I want to know."

“I’ve been tracking everyone," Ash says, his tone measured as always, "and I don’t recognize any as being ours, but then again, I wasn’t looking for a traitor. I can cross-reference old crew lists with current Kean associates."

Phoenix nods. “Do it.”

“Also, there’s Detective Marshall,” I say.

“We know he’s in Hampton’s pocket.” Blaise is back to sounding bored.

“Right, but is it because he switched when he saw the writing on the wall, or did he betray us too? Lucy has an article where he’s in front of what’s left of the house while the smoke is still rising, calling the fire a tragic accident.”

“The fire alone could make him change loyalties,” Phoenix says. “He’s no dummy. With Dad gone, he’d know Kean would kill him if he didn’t toe the line.”

“Or he could have been part of the plan all along,” I offer. “Just like whoever worked for us and betrayed us.”

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