Then he turns around—itisCarlos!
I hear another car drive up. The front door opens.
If this is a party, I hope that’s the caterer.
“I told you how it would go down,” Ray says to Ben. “I warned you. But you didn’t believe me, did you?”
“I, uh, I didn’t… didn’t think—” Ben stammers.
“No, you certainly didn’t, my friend,” Ray says. He smiles, revealing the whitest, most perfect teeth money can buy. “But now that we know the whole story—”
“What story?” Amber asks nervously.
“Not important,” Ray says to Amber with a wave of his hand, dismissing her.
“Oh, I think it is,” says another voice. We all look over. Someone new has walked into the room. His arms are crossed and he’s surveying the whole scene.
Oh. My. God.
It’s Metcalf.
Amber looks stunned. “Alan?” she asks. And then again:“Alan?”
“Hello, Amber,” he says. Then he looks at me. He smiles.
If he’s here to arrest Ben or Carlos or BenandCarlos, someone should tell him it looks like he left his handcuffs in the car.
And how does Amber know who he is?
“Hello, Elinor,” Metcalf says to me.
“I thought your name was Carol,” Amber says.
“No, it’s Caroline,” Hailey says.
“And I thought you worked for the FBI,” I say to Metcalf.
“No,” says Ray Taggart. “He works forme. So I guess that means you do too, Ellie.”
“Your name’s not Carol?” Amber asks.
Hailey rolls her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? It’s Caroline.”
“Well, itwas,” I tell them. “But actually it’s Elinor.”
“Then who’s Carol?” Amber asks again. She’s like a dog who won’t let go of the postman’s leg.
“There is no Carol,” I tell her. “There never was.”
She looks heartbroken. “I don’t understand any of this.”
Does she think I do??
Ray is not happy that he has lost the spotlight. “Allow me to continue,” he says. He turns to me. “I was the one who hired you to do a little snooping for us. Nice work, by the way. Had my doubts about you until today.”
“What’s this all about?” I ask.
“Your friend here,” Ray says, indicating Ben with his hand, “owes us something. Money. A painting, actually. But he says he doesn’t have it.”
