“Half-sister,” I corrected without thinking.
“Silly girl. I don’t care about demantics.”
Oof. That was a tough one.
“Semantics?” I dared to correct.
“Details or semantics, neither matter in family affairs,” Savilla said. “Family is what you make it, and I make you my full-hearted sister.”
I knew how Punnett squares tracked genotypes, and none of what she was saying made scientific sense. Savilla’s kindness was endearing though.
“Look, I appreciate your generous… welcome, but this weekend has been a lot. I have no idea what comes next for me, much less how to figure out who…”
Savilla’s ears perked up as she finished my sentence. “… who killed Brett?”
“Well, yeah,” I said. “I wasn’t sure if you actually believed there was a murderer with what you told your mom and stepmom.”
Savilla waved a hand. “I didn’t want to upset them until we know something for sure. They can be… fragile.”
That description did not add up with what I’d seen of Glenda and Katie. Erratic, perhaps. Unstable, even. But not fragile. Perhaps this was thedemanticsof which Savilla spoke.
“Glenda said that Brett was like a son to your father. Did he help him get his start? Produce the music video? Get him on the reality show?”
“Yep, they were close. Daddy started Petal Productions, his last madcap attempt to make us rich and thrust Brett into the spotlight.” Savilla nodded as if she could hardly believe the truth herself. “But I had nothing to do with it. I wasn’t even here when they filmed the music video or the home visit.” Concern crossed her features. “Did you think I had something to do with Brett’s death?”
“No,” I said, because I didn’t. Not really. I didn’t want to think badly of Savilla, but despite my personal desires, she had made her way onto my suspect list—even if it was in such a low spot that I hadn’t even named her to Charlie.
“Good. Because I was as shocked as you,” Savilla said. She bit at her lip, thinking. “I hate to say it because he’s always seemed like a good guy, but Joe had the most beef with Brett. And he seems strangely close to Presley, don’t you think?”
I did think that.
“How did your chat with him go last night?” she asked, stretching as if working out the tension of the last hour.
“Okay. Something’s definitely happening between him and Presley, which means something likely happened between him and Brett—even beyond Brett sabotaging his college experience and ultimately his career.”
I considered mentioning Lacy’s dilemma but thought better of it. I had about eleven hours to help her figure out Brett’s password, and perhaps Savilla could help me solve that when the time came, but for now, I’d let it rest.
Savilla grabbed her purse and put an arm through mine. “It would be good to actually locate the Rose Diamond,” she commented, almost as an afterthought.
I looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“The diamond, the one Brett was supposed to inherit,” she explained. “It’s been missing since the 2023 pageant.”
That was an important detail.
“Honestly, at first I thought Brett had somehow stolen it, but he never seemed to have a huge influx of cash. Then I thought Daddy had sold it to keep the estate afloat, but now… I’m not sure.”
There was a lot there to unpack, but Mr. Froble’s assistant came to the door, opened it, and politely gestured that we should leave.
“Coffee?” Savilla suggested again, as we exited the building onto Main Street.
I glanced at my watch, considering the best use of my time. I was pretty sure that Savilla knew things that I didn’t even know I needed to know.
“Sure,” I agreed, sending Lacy a quick text. She didn’t respond immediately like she normally did, and I only hoped she wasn’t pacing the mansion anxiously.
Savilla grinned at me as she took my arm. “We’ll never be apart ever, ever again,” she breathed, studying my face like she was memorizing every detail.
My chest tightened, and I reminded myself that I had a new sister, not a new limb. It would be fine. Besides, maybe Savilla knew something she would now share with me, her bloodrelation, her own kin. Something that could help solve Brett’s murder.
