The mood in the room grows somber. Brynn leans her head on Marcella’s shoulder. Sydney sniffles. It’s not the same without Annalise.
We just miss our girl.
I take a car service into the country toward Rosemarie’s cottage, and I have the driver drop me off at the end of the long driveway. I take a moment to look around Rosemarie’s property, noting again how beautiful it is. The kind of natural beauty that I’m drawn to. I wonder if that’s purposeful or just something we have in common.
As I walk the stone path to her door, I admire the flowers again. Their beauty is nothing compared to their potential. I respect how dangerous they are.
I don’t even have to knock before the screen door opens. Rosemarie stands in a multicolored housecoat, smiling warmly as she wipes her hands on a dish towel.
“I saw you through the window,” she says. “I’m so happy you’re here, Philomena. Please, come in and join us.”
Us.
So Lennon Rose is here.
“I know it’s been a stressful few days for you,” Rosemarie adds as I step inside the house. There’s an earthy smell in the living room that I find very comforting. Very grounding.
“It’s been more than a few days of stress, Rosemarie,” I reply,gazing around at the thriving plants in the room.
“Yes,” she says like her heart is bleeding for me. “It sure has.”
She’s really laying it on thick. I don’t believe her for a second.
Rosemarie leads me toward the kitchen, looking back over her shoulder as she walks. “I hear you found Claire,” she says. “I’ve always wondered where she ended up.” She pauses at the kitchen door, her smile fading. “Where is she now?”
The sudden coldness in her voice cuts right through me. The fact that she already knew about the investor and Claire is even more troublesome. “She … uh, I believe she’s at Winston’s,” I say. “She needed repairs.”
Rosemarie tilts her head. “She can’t be repaired,” she replies. “But it’s nice of them to try, I suppose.” She turns and walks into the kitchen. “Come on in, Philomena,” she calls.
When I step inside the kitchen, I’m caught off guard when I find Leandra Petrov sitting alone at the kitchen table. Leandra motions for me to join her as the teakettle whistles from the stove.
“Where’s Lennon Rose?” I ask as I sit down.
“Oh, she’ll be along shortly,” Rosemarie says, busying herself by pouring a cup of tea.
“You did it, Mena,” Leandra says, smiling at me. Despite the fact that she’s not at the academy, Leandra looks as put together as always. She’s wearing an impeccable white blouse with a black bow at the collar, long red nails.
“You found the investor,” she adds. “I knew you could.”
Rosemarie comes to set a plate of cookies in front of Leandra. Leandra eyes them for a moment but declines to take one.
“Did you speak with Mr. Goodwin?” Rosemarie asks me.
“Yes, we all did,” I reply, feeling odd because it’s clear she already knows this. She’s leading me into something.
Rosemarie offers me a cup of tea, and I thank her. She pours me one and returns to the table.
“And he listened to reason?” she asks. “This Mr. Goodwin?”
“He did, actually,” I say. “He told me that Anton’s been blackmailing him.” I sip from the tea, but it’s hot and burns my upper lip. I set the cup down. “Mr. Goodwin ran up a debt to keep Claire operational,” I say. “Anton used that to get more money for the academy. And then he used it to get Mr. Goodwin to find us,” I add nervously. Rosemarie tsks, shaking her head.
“That was very wicked of Anton,” Leandra says. “Keeping an investor all to himself. And did the analyst find you?”
“Not yet,” I say. “But he’s in town. What does he want, Leandra?” I ask. “He can’t think I’ll go back to the academy, not really. So what does he want from me?”
“Men,” Rosemarie muses, stirring a heaping scoop of sugar into her tea. “What do they all want? To possess you,” she says. “You’re his. He’s always thought so.”
It isn’t a reassuring answer, and I wrap my hands around the teacup, staring down into it.
