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"And," Jessica says, rattling the ice in her glass, "since ere supposed to be in the Haht holds her ehter, not even glancing in Jessica’s direction Jessica, getting the lass and walks over to the bar at the end of the kitchen counter to ht says, reaching up to stroke a loose strand of hair away fro I’m so sorry about what happened between you and Jordan I won’t speak to any of that unpleasantness except to say that it was such a blow to hter"

I notice that Cooper isice in a low glass and reaching for the vodka bottle his sister used to rapefruit juice

"Thanks so ht," I say

"You know, Mother," Jessica says as she fills a silver martini shaker with ice, "you hter after all Maybe your other sonI know, Cooper has his sister in a headlock

"While Jessica and I are refreshing everyone’s drinks, Mother," he says casually, as if it’s not unusual for him to walk around with Jessica’s head trapped in the crook of his elbohy don’t you and Heather go out onto the deck and join Dad and the others?"

"Ergh," Jessica says, struggling to set herself free I notice she can’t be in thatthe martini mixer carefully aloft and hasn’t spilled a drop

"Yes, of course," Patricia Cartwright says She takes lass doors to the penthouse terrace "I’m sure you’re anxious to see the rest of the apartment You haven’t been here since we renovated We used Dominique Fabré, do you know him? He’s a si the plan through the board, of course Oh my, how soft your skin is What products do you use, if you don’t e students," I reply gravely

Mrs Cartwright looks up at me sharply--in my heels, I’," she says "I see Yes, you were always clever, I remember now I often wondered what you saw in Jordan, because though I love hihtest child That would be Cooper, though he’s always been his father’s biggest disappoint, but he decides to becoh "You should hear what our friends say e try to explain What kind of person becomes a private detective?"

It’s an idle question, tossed off casually as she pulls open one of the glass doors and we step out onto the roof deck I’ive her one anyway

"Soifts to help people who are in trouble In a different era, I think they were called knights in shining arlances at er casual "He certainly rescued you, from what I hear"

"I don’t knohat you "

"Of course," she says, her s and say hello to everyone"

The Cartwrights’ roof deck is a great deal longer and wider than the Allingtons’ terrace A helicopter could easily land on the putting green that Grant Cartwright has had planted at one end, and the pool, while not Olyh Victoria’s Secret htclub pro Tania, are sitting on luxuriously cushioned lounge chairs ranged around an outdoor firepit, the gas flames set low because it’s so war busily away, co the beautiful sunset before hi it his full attention Tania is curled on a lounge chair not far fro even smaller than when I saw her last time, "Baby" in her lap Even from where I stand, her skin tone looks off Her eyes are hidden behind dark sunglasses

On the opposite side of the firepit, a girl I recognize as Nicole--a decade older than when I’d last seen her--is struuitar She rese hair is the same chocolate brown, but she’s twisted it into twin braids She isn’t wearing the slightest bit of les, she has on beaded leather twists She’s about fifty pounds heavier than Jessica, and instead of all black, she’s wearing a white vintage dress dotted with cheerful red cherries On her feet is a pair of red flats, and thick-fralasses are balanced on her nose

"Oh God," I hear Patricia ain"

"Why?" I ask I cockto catch more of the sound The wind on the thirtieth floor is war a careful hold on the hereat"

"Oh, Jesus Christ," I hear Jessica snarl as she coreyhound in one hand and her ht you said you were going to ht asks, "gag her?"

"You will if you want to keep ," Jessica says and barrels past rily as she strides toward the firepit, "give it a rest already Daddy’s not going to buy your stupid songs"

I follow Jessica, having to be extra careful with rass andinto the soil

"Here," a masculine voice ata tray of assorted drinks in one hand With the other, he takesme maneuver the tricky pathway to the firepit