Page 36 of The Debutantes
She nods, a smile flickering.
“Hell yeah, you did!” I clap, feeling a little like the proud owner of a bird who just learned to recite Nietzsche. With a glance at the bathroom door, I lower my voice. “Did you get anything out of him?”
The smile disappears. “Yeah. I—” She stops midsentence, closing her eyes like she needs to steel herself. “He has Margot’s lighter.”
“Wait, what?”
April unfolds her fist, and there it is, engraved with a picture I recognize. My breath catches.
“That’s the clown from the Jester’s message,” I say. April already told us it was on Margot’s lighter, but still, it sends a chill down my spine. “You’re sure it’s hers?”
“I’m not positive, but it’s identical.”
I take it from her, turning it over. A lighter isn’t exactly a smoking gun, but right now, it’s something. The only clue we have, actually. And handing it back to April, I feel a rush of relief—because whatever this means, it has to be more important than Wyatt’s lie about driving Lily home.
I whip out my phone. “I’m calling Vivian. We should fill her in.”
As the tone rings in my ear, Milford groans from the bathroom. I wince.
“Hello?” Vivian answers.
“Guesthouse,” I say. “Now.”
“But—”
“No buts. We found something.”
I hang up quickly, so she doesn’t have a choice. A few minutes later, she walks in, looking annoyed.
“Okay, this better be good,” she says. And then, whenMilford groans again, “Uh, please tell me this hasn’t become a hostage situation?”
“What? No. Who do you think we are?” I ask.
“Just checking.” Vivian holds up her hands in surrender. “But seriously, what’s going on?”
I nod for April to hold out the lighter.
When Vivian sees it, her eyes widen. “Is that…?”
“Margot’s,” April confirms.
“Where’d you find it?”
I swing an arm at the bathroom. “Milford.”
“And he’s…?”
“Drunk,” I say.
“Wet,” April adds.
“But not concussed,” I finish. “Probably. April talked to him.”
“Really?” Vivian looks impressed.
April reddens, but she nods.
“Nice,” Vivian says, like a coach after a good play. “Okay, but wait. Why does Milford have Margot’s lighter? He’s not, like…the Jester, is he?”
