“Yeah, but don’t worry. I didn’t hear much of your conversation.”
“I was talking to Grace’s stepfather,” he explains. “Everything okay?”
“You could have left me where I fell asleep.”
“On the sofa?” Hiram folds his arms.
“Yeah.”
He gives her a look that needs no response, one brow lifted. She tries not to think about the fact that he carried her to his bed, took off her shoes, and tucked her in. She’s a chronically light sleeper. She must have been exhausted, because she didn’t wake once.
“Is Antaris still asleep?” she asks.
“He gets up in an hour. The nameless cat is in a food coma after meowing at me until I fed him.” True to his word, the kitten is curled up in his little play area. Hiram is already in the process of making everyone else breakfast, too. The talisman’s chime draws a confused look from him before he excuses himself to answer the door.
“What are you doing here?”
His icy greeting makes Veda creep down the hall to the foyer, where a furious Hiram is speaking to an older, taller man. “Did you miss the part where I told you to leave? Mother—”
“Doesn’t know I’m here.”
Veda knows more about Barrett Ellis than she cares to, but this is the first time she’s seen him in person. Hiram has his eyes.
“Hiram ...” Barrett sounds like someone who will burn a house down and claim not to understand why the owner is angry. “I’m here to talk about you.”
“I wasn’t aware that talking was your strong suit.”
“It’s not, but you were right. What you said weeks ago. I’ve turned a blind eye to so much, and I’m tired of keeping everyone’s secrets. Did you look at the boxes? Did you see?”
If Hiram has any feelings about that comment, he doesn’t let on. “I did.”
“The picture—”
“That wasyou?” He recoils. “What do you know?”
“I’ve been trying to talk to you since you got involved—”
“A man who’s made his career on speaking can’t talk to his own son.” Hiram chuckles bitterly. “The irony is astounding.”
“I know—”
Veda’s shoe squeaks on the wood, and both men turn to her. “Sorry, I was—”
“Andyou are?” Barrett asks, looking between them.
“Veda Thorne.” She makes no move to shake his hand.
Barrett gestures between her and Hiram. “Are you two together?”
Veda is too stunned to properly react.
Hiram remains impassive. “What did you want to tell me about the picture?”
“We should talk inside.”
They arrange themselves around the great room, waiting in silence until his father finally says, “I know more about the Botanist case than I’ve admitted. The Botanist is—”
“Ariadne Byers.”
