Mistral gasps like she's just made the final breakthrough for fusion energy. "Maybe you could sell the story behindA Lettered Man's burning to a magazine or newspaper. That might get you some good exposure."
The idea is truly horrific. "Don't you dare," I say.
Jeanette laughs. "I don't think anyone would be interested in that. Would they?"
"It could backfire, I suppose," says Mistral. "People might be upset on that lady's behalf. The headmaster's daughter." She plucks at her black, patterned tights. "I'm not sure I'm feeling it anymore."
"Good," I say.
"And Bess would probably hate the idea," she continues unnecessarily, which raises my suspicions. Her eye has the hint of a gleam in it.
I tell her to remove the gleam with immediate effect. "No more doing underhand stuff. Didn't you learn a very valuable lesson the first time around?"
Mistral throws her hands in the air. "To be fair, Bess kind of sanctioned it." She looks at Jeanette. "Where is she, do you think?"
"She'll be somewhere she can do some feeling or thinking," says Jeanette. "Probably both. It's hard not to be worried about her, though. She's not at home. Or at least she's not answering her door. Carlos has just been around and Bess would never not open the door to Carlos."
"It's not good," says Mistral.
"No," agrees Jeanette.
Somewhere she can do some feeling or thinking.I grab my car keys. "I think I know where she might be."
Chapter forty-two
Ed
Bessissittingcrosslegged at the end of Basil Everett's plot. She has his back to him and is looking up at the woodland on the hill behind the cemetery.
"Hey."
She keeps her eyes on the trees. "Hey."
I stand beside her and look at the layers of rich, green foliage, at the ripples that sweep across the leaves with the breeze. I think I know why she's focusing on it. I'd be using it to take a mental breath, too, if I was in her shoes right now.
"Everyone's worried about you."
Bess doesn't respond.
I don't bother to ask how she is or if she's doing okay. The answer to that is obvious. Instead, I sit beside her. The same side as we always sit up on the roof.
"You haven't been answering your phone," I say gently.
"Journalists."
Of course. We were lucky none of them witnessed the events aroundA Lettered Man's demise thanks to Jeanette and Elly's door barring skills. But that hasn't stopped them trying to find out the story since. "What can I do to help right now?"
She shrugs. After several seconds, she says, "I told her all of it."
"Who?"
"Penny. Basil Everett's daughter."
"Oh." Everything tightens within me, even though I know this woman – Penny – is no longer a liability now the sculpture's been destroyed. "How...what was her response?"
"She was very sorry to hear about the way he treated me."
"I'm sure."
