Chapter 10: Brothers

"Guest room," Mitchell said. "Closet. Now."

Lila went through the door with the blanket still around her, and I shut it behind her.

The cars stopped outside.

Two doors slammed, then a third, and boots came up the porch steps.

Mitchell opened the door before anyone knocked.

Bennett stood on the boards in a gray sweater, his hair flat from the wind.

Behind him was his mother's security man, thick and quiet in a dark jacket.

He held a flashlight against his leg.

"Mitch," Bennett said. "Sorry for the hour. Is Baby here?"

"No."

"Her bed's empty and her phone's on the nightstand. Her footprints go down the beach and stop at your dock."

"Then she went swimming."

"At midnight?"

"She's good at it. You taught her."

Bennett smiled.

His eyes went over Mitchell's shoulder and found me standing by the stool in Mitchell's gray sweatshirt, barefoot, with my hair down.

He looked at me for a long moment.

I watched every kind thing in his face go out.

It lasted half a second, and then he put it all back.

"Val," he said softly. "I'm not angry. I'm worried."

"She's not here, Bennett."

"And you? Are you all right? Is he treating you well?" He tilted his head at his brother. "I know how Mitch can be."

"I'm fine."

"You're in his clothes."

"I was cold."

"I could have kept you warm."

"Bennett," Mitchell said. "Leave."

"Search the boathouse," Bennett said, without turning around.

The security man did not move.

Mitchell took one step forward, so that the doorway was full of him.

"You come in here without a warrant," he said, "and I put you through the window. Tell him."

The security man looked at Bennett, and then at Mitchell, and then at the floor.

"I think that's all for tonight, sir," he said.

For a moment nobody breathed.

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