Page 61 of Devil and the Deep Blue Fish

“Brick and a Molotov cocktail,” Jackson said, indicating the two objects the boy had thrown through the window. “I think the brick was to crash through and the cocktail was to set the place on fire. Why did you let Jade park him in the duplexnext doorto where she lives, again?”

Ellery glared at him. “It was her idea,” he said for the umpteenth time. “And I think she did it for the same reason you turned Cowboy over to Sean and Billy—to keep the kid out of the system. This kid would have doneanythingnot to go back to Moms for Clean Living, and I don’t know how he ended up there, but he started to tear up when Jade mentioned his parents. So like Cowboy, he needs food and a bath and a haircut, and he needs some peace, and he needs to not be badgered for a little while. Jade also offered him a chance to work off the damage, and he seemed pretty excited about that.” Ellery shrugged, some of the starch leaching from his shorts. “I don’t know what to tell you, Jackson. This kid just… needed someplace to land. I think Jade trusted the kids next door more than she trusted protective services. Givenyourexperience in the system, I can’t say I blame her.”

Jackson grunted. “I imagine the system has cleaned up a little since I was a kid,” he said, “but I see your point. Yeah—Jade probably had the right of it. And Geordie and Nilas are good kids. They’ll probably be thrilled to have a baby to care for, and Otto—”

Jackson stopped short.

“What?” Ellery asked.

“Otto!” Jackson pulled out his phone where he’d taken notes from his day’s adventures. “Otto is one of the kids who escaped with Cowboy—Cowboy thought he’d gotten hurt and had needed to be returned to the compound. Okay, then. Let’s hope this kid is there tomorrow. I’ll go talk to him with Jade.”

“He will be,” Ellery said softly. “Jackson, he… he was almost grateful to be caught. God, what these kids are being put through—”

A darkness flickered in Jackson’s green eyes that made Ellery draw up short. “What?” he asked.

Jackson shook his head. “Nothing. A hunch. I’ve….” He let out a breath. “I’ve got a lot to tell you, but Cody and I were going to scout out the mansion first. Can you wait?”

Ellery narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t those the last words before the hero goes out and gets killed or maimed or something? Jackson, it’s nearly four in the afternoon. Aren’t you ready to quit yet?”

Jackson grimaced and nodded his chin to Cody Gabriel, who had changed into cleanfittedjeans and a T-shirt and navy hoodie.

“Ellery, he cleaned up and everything. And he’s helping to fix our window—” Jackson paused. “By the way, I had no idea Killian was Lewis’s boyfriend. Aren’t they adorable?”

Ellery gave him a flat look. “And you know Killian from…?”

Jackson smiled toothily and then relented, his cheeks turning pink. “I had to fish somewhere, Ellery—Killian’s a bartender from one of my favorite fishbowls. You know, Catches?”

Ellery tried not to groan. So… many… puns…. “Yes,” he said primly. “I know the place. I’m apparently defending their friend Nick—”

“Nicky,” Jackson corrected. “Hey, don’t glare at me—he’s the bouncer.”

“—pro bono,” Ellery finished smoothly. “And I’m grateful for the help.” He sighed and was honest. “And for the company. With Jade gone, it’s only me in the office.” He sighed again. “It’s been quiet today. Yelling at that Bertha Dunkel woman was the most exciting thing that had happened—”

“Until she offered young Otto food to bomb the place,” Jackson supplied dryly before sobering.

“Well, yes.” Ellery gave him a sideways glance. “What is it? What are you thinking about?”

“Something Henry said,” Jackson told him grimly. “About Shitbag Retty having a getaway driver—that she calledBertie.Can’t prove anything but…”

Ellery looked grim. “Oh, but we’ve got one more link, don’t we.”

“There’s more,” Jackson said, “but do go on about being bored.”

Ellery gave him a half-embarrassed look at his needling tone, but he couldn’t put a front on it—not today. “I… I hadn’t realized how much richer Henry and Galen have made our lives. Can you at least tell me more about your visit to see Henry before you go?”

Jackson gave him a quick, tender touch on the cheek, one that possibly got by under the radar of the now-bustling office, and said, “He was alert enough to tell me what had happened, and to give me a description that matched Cowboy’s of Shitbag Retty. I managed to track Retty to a rehab center in North Sac—she was wounded and blackmailing the director for help. We might have to jump in and lobby for the place to get their funding, Twitty—Melanie—”

“Schnarf,” Ellery said at the same time Jackson did, and they grinned at each other.

“So we both got that little tidbit,” Jackson said, looking pleased. “Yes—well, Twitty wasn’t happy that Retty had gotten shot and let Cowboy get away. She apparently sent two goons to fetch her.”

“Oh my God!” Ellery gasped. “Seriously?”

“It’s fine,” Jackson said, waving a hand. “I got to listen to their conversation from a convenient hidey hole. It was great. Cody went to a meeting, we made a couple of new friends, and I heard something really important.”

Ellery stilled. “What?”

“They—and I don’t know who they are yet—butsomeonewas ‘waiting for a package,’ Ellery. And now Retty is the package.”

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