Page 62 of Death in the Family
Jade snatched a piece of salami from the plate. When Norton smiled at her, his cheeks plumped up and his eyes turned into crescent moons. Miles said, “Say it like that. Lump us together withthem.”
I wrinkled my brow. “You’ve been part of the family for how long now?”
“Long enough to know it’s a bad thing to be. We’re leaving. I already told you that.”
“You did. But for the moment you’re still here, and as long as you’re on this island, you’re as much a part of this as they are. Now, what can I do for you two?”
Neither his fresh shirt nor his smart tweed jacket could make Miles look composed anymore. “I have a request,” he said, and I thought,Again?His voice quavered and he cleared his throat. “I want your assurance you can keep my daughter safe. I want you to protect her. No matter what.”
“What exactly are you expecting to happen?”
“You saw what went on in there. They’re all crazy, literally out of their minds. She’s a child,” he said. “Promise me.”
I turned to Jade, nibbling mouselike at the meat in her hands, and felt my annoyance with the girl ebb. The skin around her eyes was puffy and red. Shewasa child, and for the first time since I’dmet her, she actually looked it. “I promise,” I told her directly. “This is going to be tough on you, huh? I know you and Jasper were close. It may not feel like it now, but you’ll be okay.”
Jade said, “It’s not like I didn’t know.”
Norton’s bald head snapped up. “Excuse me?” I said, equally startled.
“Daddy told me, like, a month ago? And I’ll still be able to see him. We all live in the city. Jas and I can still hang out.”
I glanced sidelong at Miles. Discomfort issued from his body like a heat haze. “I don’t—” I began, but he cut me off.
“She’s talking about the divorce. I wanted to give her plenty of time to get used to the idea. That’s important with children this age. You can’t spring things on them. It’s very upsetting.”
“Jade, I’m not sure you understand,” I said. “A horrific thing happened here tonight, and Jasper’s still missing. There’s evidence he was seriously hurt. I’m sorry to have to tell you this”—why hasn’t Miles told her?—“but there’s a chance Jasper’s not coming back.”
“Um, no, you’re wrong,” Jade said, but there was uncertainty in her tone. She might not have confided in her girlfriends, but she was still a typical teenager. She wanted to believe what she was saying, but wasn’t wholly convinced.
“I hope I am wrong.” I turned back to Miles. “You’ve known you were leaving Bebe for a month?”
“It wasn’t a snap decision.”
“It’s no big secret,” said Jade. “They fight all the time. They were fighting last night.”
“There’s a child involved,” Miles was quick to remind me. “My main concern is making sure Jade’s okay.”
I said, “I got the impression you’d only just found out about... you know.”
“You can be blunt. Jade’s well aware of her stepmother’s indiscretions.” Miles snorted. “Everyone is.”
“Everyone except Flynn. Up until an hour ago he had no idea. It sounds likeyoudid, though. So if you knew about the affair before today, why didn’t you leave Bebe sooner?”
“You aren’t paying attention. For all intents and purposes Bebe and I have been separated for weeks.”
“So she’s been sleeping with Ned for weeks?” I confirmed. “And you’re still living together?”
“It’s an arrangement of convenience. We don’t even share a bed.”
“What about last night?” I said. “I thought you both slept upstairs, in the room next to Jade. Did Norton put you up in the library or something?”
“Correct.” Miles nodded in the caretaker’s direction. “He made up a bed on the couch in the library after the others went to sleep. I didn’t want to upset Camilla. We’retransitioning, do you understand?”
“Is that true?” I asked Norton, thinking back to my interview with Ned. “Did Miles sleep in the library last night?”
Norton’s head was bowed over the platter again. Leisurely, he looked up. “That’s right. All set here.” He grabbed a handful of cloth napkins from a drawer, hoisted up the platter of appetizers, and pasted on a smile.
“You all can go back to the parlor,” I said. “And don’t worry. Wellington and I are perfectly capable of keeping you safe tonight. The rest of our team will be here before you know it, and then we’ll get you back to shore.”
