Chapter 15

All around us, people in long gowns and tuxes from Dex’s time laughed and talked. I heard music and realized a live orchestra played in the backyard.

“Come, Owen,” Dex said, drawing me outside.

“Dexter!” A beautiful woman with platinum hair piled high on her head approached us and grabbed his arm. “Where are you off to, you bad boy?”

He smiled. “Just showing Owen around, Susan.”

She looked at me without a trace of humor. “Owen Wentworth, isn’t it?”

“That’s right,” I answered.

“Then your uncle is Sam. Sam Wentworth.”

“My father’s brother.”

Susan turned her attention back to Dex. “Oh, he is breathtaking, Dex. I’d be careful with this one.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, Susan. I know what I’m doing.” He winked at her, then with his hand on my arm, led me away, further from the orchestra and the party crowd, past the pool, where people frolicked.

“Is that safe?”

“Is what safe?”

“Well, most of those people in the pool seem pretty drunk, Dexter.”