SIXTEEN

I prefer to interview people alone—no distractions, no intrusions. There are times, though, when tackling witnesses as a group has its perks. You can learn a lot from watching people interact. Some witnesses egg each other on, and I was hoping for that from Bebe and Miles. No, I was counting on it.

I knew interviewing Jasper’s sister would be a challenge. She gave off an air of superiority that implied she did what she pleased and gave zero fucks about anyone else. On the library’s butter-soft leather couch Bebe crossed her legs and stared at me with revulsion. When Miles sat down he left a foot of space between them. The energy in the room felt lethal.

I had just closed the door when my phone buzzed in my pocket. McIntyre. Had to be. She probably had something to report about our witnesses. I was dying to check the message, but with Miles and Bebe right in front of me and Abella waiting across the hall, it would have to wait.

“I’d like to make it clear I’m here under duress.” Bebe shot a glance at Miles as she said it. Before we sat down Norton had brought us each a coffee, and while Bebe’s sat on the table untouched, Miles took slow, noisy sips while eyeing her over the rim of his cup. “I have no interest whatsoever in speaking with you about my brother.”

“Duly noted. This is all standard stuff, Mrs. Sinclair. We need to get some timeline details for his file. So.” I tapped my lip like I was thinking hard. “Yesterday. Miles and Jade arrived at the island first, but you came later. That right?”

She sighed emphatically. Bebe’s foundation, two shades too light and applied with a trowel, wasn’t looking as fresh as it once had. When she spoke, deep pleats formed at the sides of her mouth. “What an amazing display of deductive logic.” Bebe’s voice was as rough as a jazz-club singer’s, all smoke and sex. As she spoke she tucked a lock of short, shiny hair behind her ear and I thought, No dollar shampoo there. Rather than Jasper’s fine features, Bebe’s face mirrored Flynn’s, with oversized lips and a bulbous nose. One could argue Jasper had his siblings beat in the looks department, too.

“And you came here with Ned?” I said.

“He happened to be in the office picking up his check. We were both ready to go, so we went. Believe me, I would have loved to be here sooner to spend more time with Nana, but I had to work.”

I hadn’t seen Bebe so much as acknowledge Camilla, let alone engage her in conversation. “Let’s move on to last night. You had cocktails. What was that like?”

“Refreshing.”

“Try to be more specific.”

Bebe sighed again. “We did our duty and chatted with Abby. Philip served roast pork with dried prunes for dinner and pie for dessert. It was a typical night up here.”