Page 76 of Collateral Claim

“It’s me, Scarlett.”

“I know who you are, silly.”

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. How is Sicily?”

What? My sister must’ve made up a story for Beatrice. “It’s great. Very pretty.”

“Mommy said there’s an ocean. Can I come visit?”

“Not this month. It’s too hot. Maybe early in the fall.”

“School starts in September, and I want to go to the beach this summer.”

“You will go to the beach.”

“Who are you speaking with?” I hear my sister ask.

“Aunt Scarlett.” I hear shuffling. “Hey, I’m not done!” Beatrice protests.

“Scarlett?” my sister says, sounding suspicious.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Oh my God, Scarlett. What… Where… Just a minute. Beatrice, can you get dressed by yourself and go downstairs and tell Daddy to take you to tennis today?”

“But I want to talk to Aunt Scarlett. We’re making plans for the summer.”

“She will call back. Won’t you, Scar?”

“Yes, of course.” Ah, the lies we tell our children.

I hear the door close just as Charlotte hisses into the phone. “I’ve called you a hundred times. Where the hell are you? Why aren’t you answering? Daddy and Josh are trying to sell me a story about how you eloped and are on honeymoon in Sicily. But I know they’re lying. And what happened to Daddy’s leg? Endo Macarley? I looked him up. You’re marrying a criminal? I’m not buying it, Scar, so tell me the truth right now, or I swear to God Almighty, I will never speak with you again!”

I bite my lip.

“Tell me!” she hisses.

“I’m afraid for your safety if I tell you anything.”

“Oh no. It’s worse than I thought. Are you with Endo?”

“Yes.”

A pause. “You were taken?”

“Yes.”

“Endo wants something from Dad?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?” she asks.

“Um, it’s a person he wants.”

“Jesus, Scarlett.” Another pause. “How are you being treated?”