Page 72 of A Scandal in Homeroom
“I knew Heath had run a betting ring at Thornfield Home. Not over virginity or anything like that, but the concept was the same. So did I think it might be him? Yeah. But he’s friends with Fitz, and you and Fitz were doing your thing and…I pretended like I didn’t know it could be him. That’s on me.”
Beth nodded. “I get it. Truthfully, if you’d told me up front Heath was behind it, I don’t know that Fitz or I would have believed you without proof. It would have seemed so ridiculous that the List was coming from Heath. Or who everyonethoughtHeath was. But obviously you guys knew him better.”
“Heath’s not a good guy. I…know things about him. But when he’s best friends with the most popular guy in school, you tend to keep that shit quiet. There was always the possibility that being away from Thornfield changed him. Made him a better person because he was with fosters who really cared about him.”
“Who still care,” Janie said quietly. “They are besides themselves because he’s missing.”
I knew he’d taken off Sunday after our confrontation. Despite avoiding everyone at school yesterday, the place was filled with the gossip and possible scenarios surrounding Heath’s sudden disappearance. There was no way I couldn’t have known. I just didn’t know what to think about it.
Gulping, I took another deep breath. Because this secret might have even been worse.
“Beth, there is something you need to know about your father. He’s back in town.”
She flinched. “I know that. Wait. How do you know that?”
“What do you mean, you know?”
“It happened Sunday night. Roger just reappeared. Poof. Like a magician. But how did you know that?”
“Okay guys. So this is the part where I tell you about the poker game.”
* * *
Locke
“There areseveral teenage girls in my home,” Croft announced.
He was sipping his tea, a piece of buttered toast on a plate in front of him. We were in the kitchen together having breakfast, while the girls worked things out upstairs.
“I’m a bit of a stud, it would seem,” I told him.
“How long is all this going to take?”
“Not too long, I should think.”
“Does this mean you’re going to start throwing parties and such?” he asked me.
I huffed out a laugh. “Unlikely. I’m not the party-going sort unless I’m looking for information.”
Croft nodded. “Yes, yes. I imagine Father and I have raised you in the fine Holmes tradition of eschewing all fun.”
I looked up from my mobile, where I was reading a bit of interesting detail about Coyle and his family. Croft’s expression was oddly wistful.
“Croft,” I asked. “Are you about to say something very un-Holmesian?”
“You’re a brilliant mind, Sherlock. An astute observer, a keen mathematician, and, most importantly, an utterly logical thinker. Which makes your deductive powers nearly unmatched. Almost as great, I dare say, as my own.”
“This fountain of praise is coming from where, exactly?”
“All those things I said are true. But you’re also, well, maybe too singular in your focus. I can’t call you a boy, but you’re not a man yet, either, and as something in between, you might want to consider…having a little fun.”
“Fun.”
“Yes, I said it. It exists. There are girls upstairs. I believe giggling is happening, if I’m hearing them correctly. One of them appears to fancy you. So maybe have a little fun. While you’re wrapping up whatever trouble she’s involved with, of course.”
“Has something happened to your brain?” I asked my brother. “Have you fallen and hit your head recently? A month ago, you were telling me to keep my focus and to not bedistractedby pretty girls.”
He harrumphed and set down his mug of tea. “I realize that. It’s why I’m correcting myself now. I never had a bunch of teenage girls in my home before. Certainly not when I was a teenager. Maybe if Father had given me this advice earlier in life I wouldn’t be all work and no play, if you get my drift.”
