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Grow up. Yes, there was a plan I could execute before dinner. What Clay meant, though, was that I needed to mature before Adam could see me as a potential girlfriend. While I'd like to see that as proof that Clay thought I had an actual chance of reaching that goal, I knew better.
Right now, I just needed to get back to where Adam and I were before. Friendship. That didn't seem to require a maturity time-warp. Just a little bump in that direction. Maybe a big bump.
Step one should be the apology. Only I thought back to the party incident . . . and all the other times I'd taken Adam for granted or manipulated our relationship to my advantage. Then I'd apologize, and he'd say that was fine, no big deal . . . and it would be a long time before we really got back on track. To him, the apology was obligatory, as was his acceptance. Adam's anger burned out fast, but left embers that smoldered for weeks.
I started by writing my apology in a letter. I told myself that was the best way of making sure I covered everything, but halfway through, I realized I was writing it to avoid saying it. Not very mature. I needed to do this in person.
The problem was getting a chance to do that.
I didn't see Adam for the rest of the day. Elena and I were making plans for dinner when Benicio came by and took me aside.
"What's up?" I said.
"I'm having trouble with the Nasts."
"Surprise, surprise. Let me guess. You tried to warn Thomas Nast that these people are after Adele's baby and he said, 'What baby?' Right before hanging up on you."
"Precisely. Your grandfather can be very difficult."
"You think? Try being the witch granddaughter he wants nothing to do with. Are you asking me to speak to Sean?"
"If you could. I don't need confirmation of the child's existence . . ."
"Though you'd like it, if possible."
"Yes. More importantly, though, I want to be sure they are taking the threat seriously, because the more of these 'signs' this Giles collects, the more followers he'll sway."
"Sean's in Hong Kong. Meaning I'd have to deal with Bryce. That's as impossible as dealing with Thomas. I'll call Sean. I doubt he can do much from across the world, but I can at least let him know."
"Thank you."
I left a message on Sean's voice mail. After dinner, I continued sifting through files, after making sure everyone knew I was available for whatever other tasks they had in mind. No one took me up on the offer.
Soon it was time to go to bed. Paige and Lucas had a condo in Miami--a recent concession they'd accepted from Benicio, so they wouldn't need to stay in hotels every time they had business in town.
For the first time in my life, it seemed strange going home with them. It wasn't that I felt unwanted, just that it suddenly seemed odd, at my age, to be scooped up and taken "home" by my "parents" for the night. I suppose it had been odd for a while. I just hadn't noticed.
I drank Paige's sleeping tea while we talked about the case. This was the part I'd miss if I moved out, the late nights staying up, sometimes watching movies or playing games, but mostly just talking. After ten years of this, my own apartment would seem very quiet. I guess that's part of growing up.
When I woke, I had a message from Sean. Please call ASAP. The call history showed he'd phoned a few times overnight. I called from bed.
"Hey, how's Hong Kong?" I said when he answered.
"It was fine when I left it. I've been recalled to L.A. Seems we've had an asset disappear."
I sat up, pillows tumbling to the floor. "Adele's baby?"
"Yes." He paused. "I know you asked about him once--"
"And you couldn't talk about it. I understand. So the Nasts did have him. Or had him. He's been taken, I presume."
"Yes."
"How'd they manage that? Your secured floor has got to be at least as good as the Cortezes'."
"Larsen is two years old, Savannah. We may commit some serious ethical oversights, but we don't confine toddlers to maximum security. He was being raised by the family of our clairvoyant. Under heavy security, of course, but it's hardly solitary confinement."
"What happened?"
