Chapter 6: A Gift

Tristram came into the kitchen first, with his keys in his hand and his tie loosened.

He saw the four of us and he smiled.

"Jo. You came home."

"I came for my suitcase."

"Of course you did." He looked at Ethan. "And you brought the paramedic. That's thoughtful."

His mother came in behind him and went straight to the cook.

"Good morning. Did you sleep?"

The cook had the dish towel in both fists again.

"Yes, Mrs. Inez."

"That's good. Joanna has had a hard week and I don't want anybody upsetting her."

Inez's eyes dropped to the paper bag in Ethan's hand.

They stayed there a moment, and then they came up to my face.

"What have you got there, dear?"

"A jar from your pantry," I said. "With no label."

I had pressed record on my phone in my coat pocket as we heard the gate.

"The shrimp paste," Inez said easily. "Yes, I keep it for the cook's own use. She makes a dish for her family."

"I do not," the cook said.

It came out so low that nobody caught it except me.

Inez turned her head.

"I'm sorry?"

The cook's chin shook.

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