Page 12 of Wolfsbane Hall
“Not particularly, unless you count my mother trying to marry me off once again.” Vivian clicked her tongue. “The woman can’t accept that I don’t want anything to do with her plans.”
The conversation was cut off, because Everett had made his way over to question Vivian. Her alibi was poker, and about fifteen witnesses could corroborate that. So, finally, Everett’s gaze locked on his twin. “Where have you been?”
“Here and there.”
“Is that all you plan on saying?”
“Yes.” The side of his lips ticked up. “And this.” He held up both of his arms, showing off his intact cufflinks.
“Ah, that’s an excellent point. Lord Mountdrake, show me your jacket.”
Richard let out a long sigh, because everyone could see that he was no longer wearing his jacket. “I took it off to fuck the actress.”
It wasn’t true, but Celestine wasn’t going to correct him.
“Ah, righto. Well then, I think it’s time for a little scavenger hunt, don’t you all?” Everett stood quickly and addressed the entire room dramatically. “We shall all hunt through the house for his jacket, and the clothing the murderer changed out of as well.” When the entire audience remained stationary, Everett waved them out of the room. “On with you; it’s your time to be involved in the show.”
When most of them left, he sighed and sank into his chair again. “Murder is exhausting.”
Celestine couldn’t agree more.
Everett looked directly at Celestine and mouthed, “You want to meet me on the Upstairs Study Balcony?”
“Yes, very much so.”
4
Friday, November 3, 1939
Upstairs Study Balcony
“Say, how ya doing, darling?” Everett asked, leaning over the railing and looking out at the newly built Golden Gate Bridge, lit up in the darkness.
It was a sight to behold at night—a modern marvel. Celestine was glad Everett was merely looking at the bridge instead of drunkenly walking on it again. Celestine had once had to pull him off the railing. He had climbed up in a drunken stupor and balanced on it quite impressively—but it was unclear what his true intentions were.
The man was reckless.
“Fine.” She smiled with her teeth.
“You seem it.” Everett raised an unconvinced raven-black eyebrow and took a drag from his blunt. “Of all people, you can level with me. You stabbed James seventeen times, doll.Youdon’t walk away from a murder like that saying you’re fine.”
Celestine blinked twice, reeling. Everett rarely solved the crimes on his own. “When did you figure it out?”
“The first time you met my gaze.”
Celestine bit her lip and reached for the blunt, and when he handed it over, she took a long hit.
“It wasn’t the evidence that tipped me off. It was you.” Hewaved at her. “You might be able to pull the wool over everyone else’s eyes, but not mine. You’re coming undone, Celestial. And let’s get one thing straight: only one of us gets to fall apart tonight, and it’s not you.”
Everett had three nicknames for her that he cycled through. This one he only used when he was being affectionate.
Celestine let out a long breath. “Ah, so that’s why you offered me the smoke.”
“Oh doll, I never need an excuse to take you to cloud nine.” He winked. “But yes, I am the Ashbrook of distractions, and since you’re currently in an amorous relationship with my cousin, we will have to settle for drugs and not sex.”
“Everett.” Celestine playfully hit his arm. But he wasn’t wrong. He was her favorite Ashbrook because he was the fun one, but he was also gently blunt and honest, which she appreciated. Unlike James, who callously spoke his mind without hesitation.
He was also her favorite because he was the most open with her. Now, that didn’t mean he told her everything, far from it. All Ashbrooks kept secrets in a crypt with no name or discernible location. Nearly impossible to uncover. Everett was no exception, but at least he wasn’t cagey—like the other three.
