Page 36 of The Curse Breaker

“Ready?” her mom asked, swiping on lipstick in the rearview mirror of their very old car, which stuck out. “I told Harris we’d meet him inside.”

Harris had married a Rudd. He had to know the truth about Axel, the island, the treasure. Everything. Benny made a face before she could stop herself.

“What is going on?” her mom asked as she opened the car door, but Harris was already there offering his hand.

“Lynn,” he said, helping her step out of the car. “I thought I saw your car pull in.” He turned and smiled. “Hello, Benny.”

“Hello,” Benny said stiffly.

“You both look lovely,” Harris said with ease. “Ready for the party? Ryan was just looking for you, Benny.”

I’ll bet, Benny thought. Her mom looked at her worriedly. “You two head in. I’ll find Ryan on my own.”

And look for Kimble. Is he here? The band had just started playing something slow as waiters served appetizers in their penguin suits. Across the lawn, Benny locked eyes with Vivian Rudd standing at a high-top table with a group of women. Vivian spotted Benny and raised her glass in a toast. Benny nodded and headed in the opposite direction, wishing more than anything Zara was with her.

A waiter with a tray stepped in front of her. “Crab cake?”

When was the last time she ate? Was it Wally’s cookies? “Thank you.” Benny took a crab cake off the tray and headed to an empty high top to eat it and hopefully go unnoticed. It only took her a few minutes to realize that would be impossible.

“She’s here, you know. The heir.” She overheard someone say. “The one Evelyn Terry left her estate and the vineyard to.”

Clearly, being anonymous was going to be hard. Benny abandoned the crab cake and headed toward the water’s edge where there was an empty table aglow in lantern light. Welcome, Everly Benedict! Welcome home! She could hear the island’s whispers unmistakably as she neared the water.

“Hiding too?” someone asked.

Benny turned to see an elegant woman with red hair standing behind her. She was dressed head to toe in white, in a fitted pantsuit and heels, despite the fact she was already taller than many of the men walking around. Benny had to think this woman liked towering over people. She had a confidence to her smile and stance that told Benny she was someone who liked to be in control, yet her demeanor wasn’t as off-putting as Vivian’s.

“Do you mind if I join you?” She stepped up to the table before Benny could answer, and Benny noticed the large diamonds in her ears. “If I have to make small talk with these cads a minute longer, I will stick needles in my eyes.”

Cad. Benny had never heard anyone use that word other than in books. “Of course,” Benny said, sliding over to make room at the empty table.

“Don’t get me wrong,” the woman continued. “I put myself in this situation—donating this and that, paying for the food for this party, since Harris Gale seems to have lost his shirt on the stock market of late.” She raised one elegantly plucked eyebrow and looked straight at Benny, her eyes glowing in the lantern light. Benny couldn’t help but notice the large green gem on her index finger. “But that’s just idle gossip to enjoy at a party, I suppose.”

Benny tried to keep her face neutral. Harris’s money troubles weren’t anything new, but she had no idea they were this well-known around town.

The woman smiled, her red hair blowing in the breeze. “You’re new to town, aren’t you? I am good with faces but hate names.” She shrugged. “I find names useless. I change my nickname as often as I change my clothes,” she said with a laugh.

This woman wanted something. There was no other explanation as to why she’d be talking to a kid at an adult party. Benny would wait her out and see what it was.

Without another word, the woman removed her heels, placing her bare feet in the grass. Her toes were painted a pale blue. “Forgive me, but I have to take these shoes off. Don’t listen to what anyone says about heels. They’re torture devices. I promise you.”

“Noted,” Benny said.

“So who are you, my dear, if you don’t mind my bluntness?” The woman’s voice was smooth and soft, her eyes never leaving Benny’s face. “Live here as long as I have, and you’re bound to know everyone.” She extended a delicate hand. The green gem glittered on her hand. “Catherine Cannon.”

Benny remembered Vivian mentioning her. “I’m Everly Benedict, but everyone calls me Benny.”

“Benny,” Catherine said with just a hint of an accent. “A nickname riffing off your last name. I like that too. Clever.”

“There she is!”

Two men rushed toward the table, one older with a walking cane. Catherine’s face fell.

“Everly!” the younger man said, extending his hand. “We’ve been dying to meet you, young lady. Aaron Tapper, board member for the Terry estate. And this is Roger Kellman, another board member.”

“Hello,” Benny said awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

Mr. Kellman’s smile seemed genuine. “How are you getting along at Evelyn’s house? We just had the air redone a few years ago, so I hear it’s much cooler now.”