✏️ The Littlest Spy

25. Signal to Noise

"I'm so glad you think so," Isadora murmured, smiling almost automatically when she received a compliment now. She barely even registered what the words were, but giving a polite response was what was expected of her as a hostess. She had started out worrying about whether she would be able to make all the guests feel comfortable; but after a couple of hours she could walk the walk and talk the talk without even thinking about the show she was putting on.

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving the garden lit in a warm glow from strategically placed lanterns. The initial rush of arrivals had given way to a steady hum of conversation, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter. Isadora found herself marvelling at how quickly time had passed; it felt like mere moments ago that she'd been nervously greeting the first guests, and now some of them were starting to drift away again. She was surprised that Brock was still cooking so late in the evening, but it seemed that some of the men were drawn to hang around a source of fire like it was a brief respite from their humdrum lives. Some of them were taking turns cooking, now that everybody had eaten and the grill was primarily a recreational item. But when Brock returned to make charred pepper fritters, everybody wanted to try them.

She wove her way through the crowd, a practised smile on her face as she topped up drinks and exchanged pleasantries. The role of Estelle Klein was starting to feel more natural, though she couldn't quite shake the undercurrent of tension thrumming through her veins. Every conversation was a potential source of valuable information, every casual remark a possible clue to unravel the mysteries surrounding the Arrencani family. She thought she had the measure of most of their neighbours already, and she could filter out most of their mundane babble, but there was always a part of her mind listening out for anything that didn't fit in.

As she approached the refreshment table to help herself to some of the hors d'oeuvres she'd been offering guests for the last hour, Isadora caught sight of a woman she hadn't spoken to yet. Alison Cartwright stood slightly apart from the main group, nursing a glass of white wine and observing the proceedings with a quiet intensity that immediately piqued Isadora's interest. Her house was almost directly across the street from here, so Isadora had paid extra attention to reading her dossier. School records and employee reviews had suggested that Alison was observant and somewhat reserved, but her introverted nature made it difficult to find any more detail than that. And when she thought about a file with so many things unknown in it, Isadora saw an opportunity she couldn't pass up.

"Are you enjoying the party?" Isadora asked, sidling up to Alison with a warm smile. "I don't think we've had a chance to properly meet yet. I'm Estelle Klein."

Alison turned, her expression softening into a polite smile. "Alison Cartwright. And yes, it's a lovely party. You and your husband have done a wonderful job settling in so quickly."

"Oh, thank you," Isadora replied, feeling a flush of pride that wasn't entirely an act. "We're just so glad to find such a welcoming community. Though I must admit, I'm still trying to get my bearings. There's so much to learn about the neighbourhood."

A flicker of... something passed across Alison's face. Amusement? Concern? It was gone too quickly for Isadora to be sure, but she immediately wondered if the woman might have learned something about the Arrencani family's real business interests. Were there bad things waiting for anyone who tried to learn too much here?

"Oh, I'm sure you'll pick things up quickly enough," Alison said, her tone light but with an undercurrent Isadora couldn't quite place. "This place has its quirks, but that's part of its charm. Though I must say, some of the goings-on can be quite... interesting."

"Oh? How do you mean?" Isadora leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued.

"Rich boys and their toys," Alison answered with a shrug. The HOA makes sure that all the houses are kept well-maintained, and handles security at the gates. But they don't care so much about people with an unusual style. And I think you might have seen already that we have more than our fair share of people who might be considered eccentric. In one way or another."