Valerie frowned. “He’s working late again. He’s at that office all the time. They make a lot of money there.” She took another bite of the cake on her plate and chewed happily. “But he brings me those paper things, oh, what are they called?”
“Books?” Carlotta supplied.
“That’s right—books,” Valerie said, then she angled her head at Carlotta. “Do I know you?”
“Yes. We’ve met before. My name is Carlotta.”
“Oh, my daughter’s name is Carlotta.” Valerie looked at Priscilla. “Carlotta, say hello to this nice young woman. Her name is also…” She looked back to Carlotta and her eyes dimmed, then she took another bite of cake. “Randolph and I are thinking about having another baby, and if it’s a boy, we’ll name him Wesley.”
“Wesley is a wonderful name,” Carlotta agreed. She swung her gaze up to Jack. His expression was unreadable.
“Jack, do you want a piece of cake?” Priscilla asked.
“Not this time, Prissy. Next time, I promise.”
“Mom,” Priscilla said, “I’m going to marry Jack.”
Valerie laughed merrily. “Oh, Carlotta, you’re not going to marry Jack. You’re going to marry…” She stopped, then shrugged. “Someone else.”
Carlotta pressed her lips together. How true.
“I’m going to let you all enjoy your cake,” Jack said. “Bye, everyone.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Carlotta said.
When they got to the door, he made an anguished noise. “I’m so sorry about your mother. You finally find her, and now…”
“I know. But it also explains a lot.”
“Priscilla is your sister, I assume?”
She nodded. “I’m guessing Valerie was pregnant when they left.”
“Wow.”
“What are you going to do, Jack?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Wait to see if Randolph recovers…or not. If he doesn’t recover, then I can bring Mom out of hiding. If he does, then I hope the D.A. and all the victims recognize she doesn’t pose a threat to anyone.”
Jack pulled on his chin. “But if Randolph is in custody, why would someone be trying to get to your mom?”
“Randolph told me he had evidence that would exonerate him. I think someone else knows what that evidence is, and they believe my mother knows, too, and that she might be keeping it safe for him.”
Jack frowned. “Wait—when did you talk to your father?”
She winced. “Hannah and I sort of broke into the prison, and I got to talk to him for, like, a minute.”
His mouth opened, but no sound came out for a full ten seconds. “You and Hannah broke into the federal penitentiary?”
“‘Broke into’ is probably the wrong phrase. More like, smuggled ourselves in.”
A vein bulged in his neck. “Really? You’re debating semantics?” He pressed his palms into his eyes and made a strangled noise. “I can’t know about this, any of this.”
“What are you saying, Jack?”
“I’m saying I was never here.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Don’t—” His mouth tightened, then he opened the door and walked out.
Carlotta closed the door, smiled to herself, then backtracked to the kitchen to have a piece of cake.
“Was that Randolph at the door?” Valerie asked.
“No, Mom. He’s away,” Carlotta said.
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Before he left, did Dad give you anything to keep for him?” she asked, thinking this time, Valerie might remember more.
“Oh, just those paper things,” Valerie said. “He’s always bringing home those paper things.”
“Right,” Carlotta said. “Books.” She ate another bite of cake and glanced around the room. “Does the door lead to a backyard?”
“A small one,” Birch said. “But we have to keep the door deadbolted to prevent Melanie from…traveling.”
Carlotta nodded. Good to know for the future. She gestured to the doggie door. “You have a dog?”
“No,” Priscilla said glumly, then her eyes lit up. “But I’d like one.”
Hm—also good to know for the future.
“The previous owners must’ve had a dog,” Birch said. “But we’ve got our hands full around here, already, don’t we, Prissy?”
Priscilla nodded, and Carlotta felt another pang for the girl’s missed childhood. Still, overall, she seemed well-adjusted and bright. She chatted about the views from the Eiffel Tower Experience, and the bride and groom on the observation deck.