The dinnerware was still whatever Evie pulled out of the kitchen cabinets, although Jax was pretty certain that was a complete set of china in the cabinet behind her. Whoever had performed this transformation hadn’t attempted anything more elegant than a larger area to congregate, although Loretta and the twins must have confiscated someone’s mums and wildflowers for the centerpiece.
A family dinner table. How long had it been since he’d sat at one? Jax almost appreciated the intriguing family the house was accumulating. Almost.
“Coordinate all you like,” Pris declared, doling out bread and stew to the twins while shattering any image of peace and harmony. “I’ll keep looking after the kids, if Dante wants to play detective, but that’s it.”
Evie’s cousin was an annoying porcupine, but the food situation had taken a turn for the better since her arrival, so Jax grudgingly accepted Pris’s eccentricities. Except for breakfast and special occasions, Evie generally forced everyone but Loretta to fend for themselves.
Jax had only met Dante a few months ago. He waited with interest for his Ives cousin’s reaction.
“I’m an archeologist, not a detective. I don’t know what I can do. But if Priscilla thinks the children are unsafe, I have to listen to the experts.” Annoyance definitely tinted Dante’s admission, but he dug into his stew without further argument.
Evie raised her eyebrows and Jax almost expected a chortle, but she blessedly kept a lid on her thoughts about Dante and Pris’s grumpy relationship. Since when had Pris become an expert with children? Although if he meant an expert on reading minds...Jax reserved judgment.
Managing a professional aspect despite his man bun, Dr. Reuben Thompson waved his roll. “None of us are detectives. We findsolutions. You say your ex, presumptive CEO of La Bella Gente, is not in London. London is a big city. How can you be certain?”
“I have a rather large extended family in the UK, ones who have connections with connections, a veritable network, as you will. Whilst the more mobile of us spread across the city to knock on doors and interrogate anyone associated with Lucia, the other half made phone calls.”
Evie interrupted. “Kit-Kat’s spirit is having complete conniptions right now. Or tantrums. Unfortunately, she talks about as coherently as the twins, so I don’t know what she’s trying to tell me, other than that we’re stupid. I think you’re disturbing her, Dante.”
The big archeologist sighed and put down his fork, glancing around as if he might see a ghost. “Katherine? I never met you. Do you know where Lucia is?”
“KK is hovering over the twins and doing her usual cycle of confused emotions. She’s still angry. And sad. That’s a new one. KK, what makes you sad?” Evie waited expectantly.
Jax sipped his iced tea and refrained from questioning until he was certain Evie hadn’t received an answer.
Before he could speak, Pris did. “Séance?”
Evie nodded. “I’ll text Mavis about the best time.”
Jax shook his head. “That isnotwhat I meant by going deeper. We need to set up a storyboard, dig deeper into this shell company and the shoddy products—”
Pris had her phone out, pressing keys. “I’ll start the phone tree. I can manage séances, sort of. Let the men take La Bella Gente apart.”
“This isnota gender issue,” Jax protested.
Having finished her text, Evie forked carrots and regarded him innocently. “Ariel will work with Roark, so no, it’s not a gender issue. It’s a Malcolm-Ives issue. Unless, of course, Dante wants to explore his Malcolm heritage. You’re welcome to join us.” She gestured at their guest.
“I just want to get back to work,” Dante growled. “I’m probably more properly employed exploring the logistics of our London search.”
“Did you find anything of Lucia’s to touch?” Pris asked, out of the blue.
Jax thought the question odd. Evie, on the other hand, glanced up with interest. Here they went again into la-la land. On the other side of the table, Reuben snorted.
Without explaining, Dante shrugged. “Nothing useful. I just know she hasn’t been in that townhouse since shortly after the twins were born.” He hesitated, glanced around the table as if to check the level of disbelief, then continued. “I also sensed scenes of violence, so I asked the neighbors. They tell me Vincent was abusive to his wife. Apparently one of the things Lucia accomplished when she first arrived in London was to help Katherine force her father out so their mother could live her last days in peace. I can’t tell if he ever hit them.”
Jax whistled. Everyone else looked troubled.
Evie broke the momentary silence. “What about the commercials? Rhonda said Lucia performed in the commercials. They had to reach her somehow to do those.” Abruptly, she glanced up and hastily scooted her chair back.
A cold whirlwind propelled the paper napkins from the table and rattled the flowers.
“You have to stop bringing your work home with you,” Jax told her dryly.
The twins giggled at the mini tempest, then climbed down to chase napkins. Loretta strained to follow Evie’s gaze. Jax knew his ward wanted to see ghosts too. He prayed she never did.
“Definitely a séance,” Evie said grimly. “Tell us more, Dante. Vincent and the commercials are upsetting KK. I need all the information I can gather going in.”
“Evie hates séances,” Loretta explained to the table at large.
