Chapter 47

“Would you like to stay here, Belle?”

“Are you kidding?” she said. “I love it here. I wish I could stay here with you and Paris forever.”

“You know, there is a way that would ensure you could,” Se?or said.

All at once, Belle was overjoyed and uneasy.

“What is that?” she asked, drying her tears. 23

When Jade finally returned home, the house was empty—no Belle wailing away, no note, nothing missing except their mother’s car. He knew at once where it was.

So he drove up to the manor house, where he found the old beige Buick parked in the drive, along with a police car. Two policemen were waiting on the porch. So were Paris and Se?or. She looked lost, shell-shocked. Se?or for once was calm, his face an impenetrable stone mask.

“There he is, officer. Arrest him,” Se?or demanded.

“Arrest me? For what? Putting up with all your crap?”

“Sir,” one of the two officers said, “I’m afraid this is no time to be joking. You’ll have to come with us.”