“Mm. I see. I believe Adam’s break was good for him, as well. Even though it wasn’t by his choice.”
I nod, but I don’t really follow. I haven’t kept up with Hollywood gossip since I started my break, needing a mental separation from everyone and everything. Adam, Peter’s brother, has been a Hollywood staple for a few years. Has he not been acting either?
“But now that he’s done the movie with Isabelle,” Agatha continues, “he seems to be happier than ever. Although that’s probably more Isabelle’s doing than anything.”
I’m really lost, but before I can ask what she means, Gwen steps in to join us. “Agatha! How are you today?”
Agatha grins at Gwen. “Doing well, thank you dear.”
Gwen points at me. “Are you guys talking about what happened at the tower today?”
“What tower?” Agatha asks.
I try to make eyes at Gwen that say, “stop talking,” but she doesn’t get the hint. “Oh, the kids were playing in the fountain today and thought they heard something strange in your tower.” Gwen shakes her head, likeoh, those kids. “And so Ryder offered to?—”
“Go check what it was,” I cut Gwen off before she could tell Agatha I climbed the tower and went inside. “So I knocked on the door but no one was home.”
Gwen gives me a puzzled look, and Agatha looks slightly alarmed, then schools her expression back to neutral. “Ah. Well, I use that tower for storage. You know, all my costumes and things. It’s possible a cat or something got up there. I’ll…have to go check on that.”
I hold back a laugh at Agatha’s use of the same excuse Lilymade for the noise in the closet. Who knew stray cats were running rampant in Brookhaven? “Yeah, maybe you should,” I say.
Agatha checks her nonexistent watch and chuckles. “Well, I’d better be off. Might as well check on that cat!” She waves a fringed sleeve at us. “I’ll see you both later…partners!” She tilts her head, thinking. “Although I’ll have to change that soon. We’ll see what Grace chooses for our next book theme.”
Gwen and I nod and wave goodbye, and as soon as Agatha is gone, Gwen hisses in my ear, “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Wait until we get home,” I reply.
Gwen has a fantastic memory, because the second we walk in her front door, she tosses her keys on the table and says, “Okay, WHAT is happening with Agatha’s tower?”
I swore I wouldn’t tell anyone, but Gwen isn’t just anyone. She’s basically the only family I’ve ever known and loved. I run my hands through my hair and confess. “I did climb the tower. And I found…Lily Stone.”
Gwen’s reaction is immediate and intense. Her mouth drops open, and she says, “Shut. Up.”
I shake my head.
“But no one has seen her since…well…” Her eyes glaze over, and she looks past me, deep in thought.
“Yeah, can you fill me in? She seemed to think I would know what’s going on with her, but how would I know?”
“Well, you’d think Peter would tell you. But beyond that,everyoneknows what happened with Lily and Tristan.”
“Tristan who?”
She rolls her eyes and opens her laptop that’s sitting on thekitchen table. “I can’t believe I have to show this to you. Of all people, I’d think you would know.”
Again, the commentof all people.But I’m tired of looking like an idiot today, so I let Gwen navigate to YouTube and pull up a video.
Of Lily.
Sitting and facing the camera, her long hair unbraided around her and her blue eyes staring directly at the camera lens. She smiles and says, “Hi, everyone. My name is Lily Stone, and I’m going to tell you the story of how Tristan Jackson ruined my life.”
Tristan Jackson.
Those two words are enough to set a fire in my belly and a scowl on my face. Gwen notices and puts a hand on my shoulder.
“How long ago was this?” I ask.
“Last summer? Maybe the end of spring. I can’t remember for sure, but less than a year for sure. It created complete chaos. All the gossip sites blew up, and that’s why Tristan Jackson can’t get another job.”
