Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 355

"I mean-how should I know? Anyway, they've got all the evidence. No one's getting out of this,” Naomi muttered, slicing off a piece of apple and popping it into Sylvia's mouth.

Sylvia chewed, but her mind was elsewhere. If they'd managed to get their hands on the evidence, someone had to have helped. And besides Rupert, she couldn't think of anyone else with that kind of pull.

With a sigh, Sylvia nibbled on her apple, the taste bland on her tongue. "Mom, where's Uncle Rupert?"

"Dead-oops!" Naomi yelped as the paring knife nearly slipped. "Jeez, are you trying to kill your own mother?"

"Dead? He can't be dead," Sylvia's voice trembled. "At worst, he'd break a leg or something."

"I said he's not dead!" Naomi snapped.

"Could you maybe be a little clearer?" Sylvia frowned.

"What are you so jumpy about? On the way back, if I hadn't clamped a hand over your mouth, you'd have been shouting 'Uncle Rupert' the whole way..."

"Mom! I'm starving. Can you grab me something to eat?" Sylvia cut her off, her voice loud and desperate.

Naomi rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine," she said, heading out the door to go find some food.

the best of her. She slipped off the bed and went to ask about

door, though, she hesitated. Just then, Orson stepped out, nearly

him to keep quiet before Orson bellowed,

poked their heads out

coming in to see if I'm

cheeks flush and hurried into the room. "You had

was propped up against his pillows, looking pale but somehow even more intense, his sharp

blanket and said, "Eavesdropping? You mean all the

did not! My

ask her myself,

then huffed. "Well, it

door, Orson slammed it shut from outside

faint smile. "Pour me a glass of water, would you?" He shifted the blanket, revealing his

eyes but poured him a

down, her eyes met Rupert's, his

out, and when he took the glass, he didn't let go of

Rupert's eyes stayed