Chapter Two - Part Five

"But really though," Adelle said at one point, lowering her voice in a conspiratorial fashion, and effectively darkening the mood of the moment. "I'm just glad to find out that you aren't dead. For a while, there was such the awful rumor going around that you were. But, I see you're alive, so..."

"Yeah, not dead - just foster care." I replied, smiling but failing to catch the amusement. "Hey, I should probably head out soon. I've been out all day, and I skipped lunch so I'm pretty much awake, but dreaming about dinner."

"Stay," Adelle encouraged, with an unfamiliar firmness behind her usually warm tone. "My limo's behind the store. We can go there to talk about... other things. And you can meet my friend mary-jane while we do it."

Instantly, I was intrigued.

"Fine, I'm in. Let's go."

*  *  *

I sat with Adelle in the backseat of her stretch, admiring its cushioned, leather interior. Meanwhile, she opened one of the consoles between our two seats, and produced a small bag of green, with a pink lighter, and a pincher designed to look like a cigarette. And straightaway, the car was filled with the rich aroma of skunky oranges - a scent that was unfamiliar but definitely not unwelcome.

"Like that?" Adelle asked, grinning toothily. "Kush. It's called 'Hawaiian Fire.' It's got a hard kick, with a kind of orange-y aftertaste - grade-A product, I can assure you."

Politely, and as a part of smoker etiquette, Adelle handed me the bag and pincher. Expertly, I loaded it and then set the flame to its tip, inhaling deeply. I hadn't smoked in months so the waves hit me quick. I leaned back with a contented sigh, feeling relaxed and at peace. I handed the materials back to Adelle and she took a hit as well, skillfully blowing rings up in small puffs.

"So, here's the thing..." she said slowly, eyes still trained on the ceiling, watching the thick, white smoke as it rippled and vanished. "I tell you this, and it makes me a traitor. I mean, you're a Noble, but you're not really a part of this Pack. Technically, you're still an outsider. But, on the other hand, if I don't tell you this it'll make me ask myself questions that I seriously do not wanna fuckin' answer.

"Hey, I get it." I said, as Adelle passed me the pincher and the bag again. "Rock and a hard place, right? That kinda shit?"

Adelle nodded.

"Well, technically, you aren't a rat yet because you haven't picked a side: there's Charles, and then there's me. And I may not be Pack yet, but this town knows my name - and I haven't even had to lift a finger yet to get them to do it."

I paused after re-loading, inhaling deep and quick. I blew out the smoke, and then surveyed Adelle coolly through the haze.

"So you can choose a side, here, now." I continued, still reserved but relaxed as well too. And whether it was from the high or the power, I couldn't tell and didn't care to. I would make more friends and I would make more enemies no matter what it was this girl decided.

"It's either him, or me. You can say it now, or I can just leave."

I tried to hand her the pincher again, but she sat still, remaining motionless and silent. So I set it down in the console instead, and placed a hand on the door handle.

"Either way, I won't hold this against you." I said.

And just as my hand was about to squeeze down, she chose to speak at literally the last second.

"He asked me to be your friend and keep any eye on you, but I knew what he really meant: he wants me to spy and report back to him. And he threw around some bullshit about how my dad is such an asset, and that the Leadership really needs him, and that it would be such a shame to lose him... And then he told me to take some time, and get back to him."

"So basically, he's strong-arming you." I said, feeling a mixture of pity and anger. I felt sorry for Adelle and what her own Elder was putting her through, and at the same time I felt anger towards my grandfather for springing such a duplicitous attack against me before I'd even fully raised my guard.

Bastard.

"Yep, basically." Adelle agreed tightly. "And now my dad will lose the Leadership. But on the upside, hey, on the upside I get to walk away with a clean conscience... awesome."

"Adelle, when did Charles ask you to do this?"

"A couple of days ago, I guess." she replied, dully. "Why?"

"It's nothing. I'm just trying to confirm that he really did know I was in town this entire time."

"Are you kidding?" Adelle replied, with a bitter laugh. "You live in that big house up on Marshall Hill. And everyone knew you were back the minute those lights turned on, because the manor's been dark ever since Paris moved out. But that's just one in a million things that are different in Harbor since Jack... since he..."

Adelle looked away and cleared her throat a little. I gave her a moment or two to collect herself.

"Listen," she said, when she was able to look at me again. "I knew your dad, and Charles is nothing like him. And Naomi, I don't know if you already knew this, but Jack used to be the Elder of this Pack before he died, and that's the only reason Charles took over again. And I don't think he plans on stepping down anytime soon."

"And I take it that this is bad?"

"Yeah, I think so." Adelle replied quietly. "Because I've known the Nobles my entire life, and I know for a fact that Jack would never have asked me to spy on his own family. And before this shit happened, if you asked me about the Leadership, I could have lied to you and said that everything was fine and dandy..."

"But now?"

"Well, now I'm not so sure I can lie anymore. And something about what he asked me to do just doesn't fuckin' sit right with me."

Her chin began to wobble and I knew that this girl was dangerously close to tears. And I also knew that I was partly to blame.

"Hey don't cry, smoke." I said, but giving her an encouraging smile. "Adelle, I'm really sorry that my grandfather put you in this situation. But I think we can fix this, turn it into a good thing."

"Yeah?" Adelle said, still looking frazzled, but nevertheless managing to take a quick hit. "And why's that?" she said, blowing out the smoke.

"Because now you know the kind of man that Charles really is. He used his power to threaten your family, which just makes him another extortionist - not a Leader. But this doesn't have to end badly for either us."

Addy looked at me and raised her eyebrows in silent question.

"I'm here looking for answers about my family. And now I know that there isn't any chance I'll get them from the Elder."

"What answers? What are you looking for?"

I hesitated. Dare I? Dare I tell her?

"I don't think my father died from just a heart attack." I said, and Addy gasped. "And now that I know I can't trust Charles, I also know that I can't trust him to tell me the truth, if it turns out that he knows something."

"And who else have you told this too?" Adelle asked, incredulous.

"My butler." I said candidly. "I don't really have anyone else to tell. Plus, I have no other leads, no more information. And it's been made pretty obvious that I can't go to my mother."

Briefly, I went on to explain my situation with Paris and the lawsuit.

"Jesus. Well, welcome to Harbor." Adelle said, looking just as lost and angry as myself. "I'm sorry to say this, babe, but the rest of your family is so fucked without Jack. And now it looks like I am too."

"Well, I don't think that has to happen." I said. "Go back to Charles, tell him you met his granddaughter, and that she seemed nice, but totally clueless about Pack life. And then tell him you agree that he should keep an eye on Naomi. After all, she's so new and impressionable, that she could wind up believing anything about the town..."

"But then, that would mean..." said Adelle slowly, as she began to cotton on.

"That you'll do what the Elder wants, you'll be his lookout. Except, you'll just tell him what he needs to know, as opposed to what he wants to know."

"Seriously?" Adelle said, with obvious skepticism. "You would do that for me?"

"You risked your father's job to tell me what the Elder did, and I would be wrong for not recognizing that. So it's the least I could do. Besides, if we keep each other's secrets, we both have more to gain: you can keep your family safe, and I get to keep my grandfather off my back."

"You know what? I like you so much better than I thought I would."

"Yeah. Get that a lot."

*  *  *

I returned home to a hot, delicious meal, where I enjoyed roasted garlic potatoes, buttered honey biscuits, and seared petite lamb chops, as I listened to the distant sounds of the moving men and women. They walked in and out of the manor, delivering the spoils of my day's shopping.

"That's a lot of merchandise, Naomi." Mrs. Trentley said, as she refilled my water glass. "Did you at least leave the stores with their foundations after you left, or did you take those too?"

"I know what you're really asking, Mrs. Trentley. And the answer is no, this isn't how I plan on squandering the family fortune, I promise."

"You're young. I expect you to shop away your inheritance. In fact, I think I'd prefer it to... whatever it is you're doing."

"Well, I'm not doing anything that you need to worry about." I replied, after taking a few sips of my water. "And will you let the chef know that for someone who supposedly hates me, he certainly doesn't cook like it."

Mrs. Trentley didn't say anything, just tossed me a look and a haughty sniff, but she left the dining room just the same.

Meanwhile, I looked down at my plate with sudden disinterest, realizing that in actuality, I very much wanted to be the heiress that Mrs. Trentley imagined. But we both knew that I wasn't, and never would be. And if my father truly had died of foul play, then my vengeance would require the countenance of a girl that was fearless and had no chinks in her armor - not someone too busy shopping and acting vain to notice that her family was dying.

*  *  *