Birds of a Feather: 3: Fly the Nest (Bennett Sisters Mysteries Book 16) by Lise McClendon (free novel 24 .txt) 📕

to have a lot of connections in France,” Cecily said. “In case you want to find out more.”

“Well, I don’t,” Isabelle said. “I don’t believe in poking around in my children’s lives. I am going to look in my room for my computer.”

On the way up the stairs to her room Isabelle passed Elise and Merle, heading down. “We’re going to get some air before cocktails,” Merle said.

“I hope you’ll stay for dinner,” Isabelle told Merle. “Chef is making a roast. Plenty of food for everyone.”

Isabelle stood in the middle in her room, still searching for her misplaced laptop, when the knock came. She opened the door to find Conor and Aubrey, looking very serious.

“What is it?” Had something happened to the children? She worried about all children especially, as a pediatrician.

“We need to have a talk, Mum,” Aubrey said. “About Duncan.”

“Can you find Dad?” Conor asked. “And meet in the library in ten minutes?”

Isabelle swallowed hard. Her children understood Duncan was ill. Anyone could see that. She wanted to handle it herself but now they had inserted themselves. She sighed. Just as well, although Evans would not like it.

“All right. I will find him.”

“Ten minutes, Mum,” Conor repeated. She nodded and shut the door.

Where was Evans? Probably already in the library. She texted him: “Need to talk. Where are you?”

While she waited for his reply she went through their bedroom methodically, looking for her computer. As she reached the closet he replied that he was in the library. She said she’d be right there.

Conor and Aubrey were waiting outside the library’s closed door, quiet and very somber. Isabelle smiled at them, trying to be reassuring. Aubrey returned a small smile but Conor just blinked. Was he angry? Well, he and Duncan had clashed a few times this week.

Isabelle opened the door and stuck her head inside. Evans was behind the desk, as usual, doing something on his own laptop. Watching the stock market, she assumed, as he did constantly. “Conor and Aubrey are here,” she said, opening the door wide. Evans looked up, wary suddenly now all three of them were facing him.

He stood up and crossed his arms. “What’s this about?”

“Sit down, Daddy,” Aubrey said. “Just a chat.”

Evans looked at Isabelle who shrugged. “I too was summoned,” she said.

They all found chairs. Conor and Aubrey sat in the leather club chairs across the room from the desk. Aubrey cleared her throat. “We’ve come to ask your help in dealing with Duncan,” she began.

“I know, darling, he—” Isabelle began.

“Drinks too much?” Evans interrupted. “Is that what you’re going to say? Because we all are well aware.”

“This is not your problem, Aubrey, Conor,” Isabelle said. “I am looking for a rehab spot for him right now. I hope to get him in one very soon.”

Conor sat forward, hands on his knees. “Can you just let her speak?” He glanced at Aubrey. “Go on.”

“Conor and I have seen some seriously terrible behavior from Duncan,” she said. “Although I didn’t tell you about it I have heard from several people, friends in London, who have also observed bad behavior from him. Over the past year or so.”

Evans harrumphed. “Like what?”

“He has been thrown out of several nightclubs for behavior against women. Drinking, dancing in a sexual manner, groping, hitting on girls, basically being lewd and appalling.” Audrey sighed. “I did not see this myself but I believe my friends. They say he has been banned from two clubs that they know of.”

“So secondhand reports?” Evans snorted.

“Go on,” Isabelle said.

“One of his neighbors called me a few months ago, complaining about loud music at all hours, parties, drunken people in the hallway. She wondered if I was aware that the landlord put him on notice.” Aubrey looked at her father. “Have there been any complaints about him at the firm?”

Evans looked away. “Well.” He glanced at his wife. “Minor things. Something he said, that sort of thing. People are so touchy these days.”

“Does he drink at work?” Conor asked.

“I— there was an incident,” Evans said quietly.

“Then there was something that happened here, in front of us,” Aubrey said. “First on the day after Conor and Elise arrived and again a day later.”

Conor stood up suddenly, face red, almost too angry to speak. He turned to the bookshelves, took a breath, then spun to face his parents.

“He sexually assaulted my girlfriend. He attacked Elise, here in this house.”

Chapter Nine

Merle and Elise pulled on their gloves and hats. A walk in the afternoon, around the grounds, seemed like a good idea until the chill hit them. “The damp creeps into your bones,” Merle said. “But we must walk fast and get our heart rates up.”

“Are you still jogging?” Elise asked as they stepped quickly over the lawn and around to the back of the cottage.

“A little. You?”

“Trying. I don’t like to run in cold weather apparently.”

Merle threaded her arm through Elise’s. “Join the club.”

“There’s Pascal.” Elise pointed to him, sitting on the bench by the pond. He was talking on his mobile phone again.

“He said there was a better signal out here,” Merle said. “Come on.” She pulled her younger sister into a run, heading down the hill toward the pond.

Elise slipped on the wet grass as they approached Pascal, falling onto her bottom, sliding and bouncing. She squealed then laughed, brushing herself off.

“Come walk with us, chéri,” Merle said, taking his arm. Pascal wasn’t much one for aimless walking but he grudgingly complied, slipping his phone in his pocket.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Just around. Come on, Elise.”

Merle led the way around the hedgerow still adorned with yellow caution tape. The death of Sabine remained a mystery. Merle tried to focus the puzzle pieces into a cogent picture but they were not obeying. They continued past the hedge and down the hill. They came upon another grouping of shrubbery, an abandoned maze, the sort of thing the rich and idle manicured for their amusement. Barely recognizable now except for its artificial square