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“Was Noah gay?”

“No. No way.”

“Was Flip interested in Noah?”

Ellery didn’t want to answer. Not because he thought Flip had anything to do with Noah’s death. But he knew how Jack thought. How Jack interpreted things. Jack hunted for recognizable patterns. And once he found a pattern, he searched for the inevitable loose threads. And once he found a loose thread, he started pulling. He pulled and kept pulling until everything unraveled and he had his suspect in custody.

“Yes. At first. But as soon as Noah made it clear he wasn’t interested in anything but friendship, that was it. Flip accepted it and moved on. They were close. Really.” Ellery added, “By the way, Flip didn’t own a car. None of us did except Freddie.”

“Did Flip ever borrow Freddie’s car?”

Ellery was starting to get exasperated. “Weallborrowed Freddie’s car. Freddie was always generous about that kind of thing.”

Jack’s mouth curved ruefully. “Sorry. This is bothering you more than I expected.”

Whywasit bothering him so much?

Because Jack had unerringly managed to tap into a tiny vein of subconscious disquiet?

“It’s not logical,” Ellery agreed. “But it’s hard thinking that one of us, one of our group, could have had anything to do with it.” He added, probably tellingly, “If one of uswassomehow involved, it would have been an accident.”

Jack nodded, but that was in acknowledgement not necessarily agreement. He said, “How did Freddie and N—”

“Oh my God, Jack!”

Jack gave a sheepish laugh. “Sorry. Habits of the trade.”

Ellery shook his head, but said, “I would say Noah and Freddie probably had the least interaction. Like me and Chelsea. We didn’t have a lot in common then, and I don’t think we haveanythingin common now except a shared circle of friends. Freddie and Noah didn’t have classes together, didn’t share rooms, and in my opinion, didn’t interact enough to have any conflict.”

Jack nodded, met Ellery’s eyes. His blue-green gaze softened. “I’m sorry if this has opened old wounds.”

“No,” Ellery said. “You’re right. We do all get quiet and... strained when Noah’s name comes up. I’ve always figured it’s because it was a traumatic event and it’s still unresolved.But maybe there’s something else there. Survivor’s guilt or something.”

Jack murmured something gentle and noncommittal. He kissed Ellery. Ellery kissed Jack.

Outside the window, the snow continued to tumble in big white flakes, like flannel cut-out stars falling from a felt board sky.

Snow slowly, silently building up on the window sills.

“What are the chances they’re all staying in their own beds tonight?” Jack inquired lazily, a while later.

By then they were in the small-galleon-sized bed, tucked between the flannel sheets, warm and comfortably relaxed in the nest of blankets and pillows. Ellery’s head was cushioned on Jack’s broad shoulder. Jack’s hand lightly threaded Ellery’s hair.

Ellery chuckled. “Little to none, I’d say. I just hope Watson doesn’t start barking when the first floorboard creaks.”

Watson, curled in a black ball at the foot of the bed, opened one eye, considered them, closed his eye.

Jack’s laugh sounded slightly evil. “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

They both grinned at Watson.

“Who do you think will end up where?” Jack sounded thoughtful.

Ellery considered. “I think Tosh will end up with Oscar.”

“Yep,” Jack agreed. “That would be my guess.”

Ellery mused, “I think Chelsea will try for Freddie, but I’m not sure how that’s going to go over.”