Charlie announced, “is loganberry pie, and I intend to have it. Ladies?” They both shook their heads. “Good. I eat. You, Beth, talk. Thumbnail sketches of the players at Smart House.” She looked toward Constance, as if for help, and got only an encouraging smile. Did this mean they trusted her, or that they were testing her? She felt her confusion rise and shook her head, but Charlie was motioning the waiter over, and Constance was watching him. He finished with the waiter and turned expectantly to Beth. “First, the brother, Bruce,” he prompted, when she did not speak immediately. “Bruce,” she said after a lengthy pause, “seems to equate genius with insanity, but he’s acting. Gary wasn’t crazy,” she added hurriedly, not certain why she was defending him even now. She stopped in confusion, then said carefully, “He wasn’t aware of what he did to the rest of us… them.” She had to stop again, because that wasn’t right, either.
