“Eleanor,” I said, keeping my voice level.

“Adrian,” my mother’s voice came through the receiver, sharp and commanding.

“We need to discuss the seating arrangements for the charity dinner.”

“And I heard you were out of town today.”

“Where did you go?”

I looked at Celeste, who was still watching me from the doorway.

“I had a meeting in Maine,” I said.

There was a brief pause on the line.

I could hear the faint clinking of a crystal glass on my mother’s end.

“Maine is very cold this time of year,” Eleanor said, her voice dropping a fraction in tone.

“There is nothing for you there.”

“I found something very interesting there, Mother,” I said.

“I think we need to talk.”

“Tomorrow morning at the estate.”

“Be there at nine,” I said, and hung up before she could reply.

I handed the phone back to Celeste.

Her face had gone pale, her fingers tightening around the device.

“What is going on, Adrian?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“What did you find in Maine?”