For a change Duncan listened and observed.  He had spent the past year being interviewed by police and shrinks.  He had taken courses in criminology.  He had discussed the reading of student ‘tells’ with his Creative Writing instructor.  And from all that he had begun to learn to read people.  Isla had just done the last thing he expected.

She had lied.

If he hadn’t been paying attention he’d have missed it.  It was a rehearsed lie.  Or more like one mixed with the truth.  For the life of him, he couldn’t see a reason why.    But then it really wasn’t his business.  And he might just be reading her wrong.  The usual Hollywood explanation ran through his head.  He had watched more movies in the past year than he had watched his whole life.  His mother and stepfather hadn’t let him watch movies or TV.

Duncan just nodded, then shook his head.  “A mix.  The cabbage - the leafy veggies - and tomatoes get sprayed.  The rest is natural.  Birds go after the peaches, so inspect yours.  If you want to wash it off, I can turn on the water.

“Last year around this time my stepfather got sent to prison.  My mother couldn’t take care of me.  My older stepbrother ran away.  My older stepsister went to a foster home.  My extended step family took in my half brothers.  But noone seemed to want me.  I was one big medical bill.  The Millers took me in.  The rest is history.”

“History - changing the subject if you don’t mind - is not really my subject.  And I don’t have a creative bone in my body.  I have taken a class in Voice - singing.  Travel, I love.  Lived in Turkey for a year and a half.  I loved it there.  I am eventually going to visit every continent.”

++++++++

Jonathan was nowhere near as discerning as Duncan.  Oh he was wiser.  But he had no reason to doubt the cover story Adam spun.  And when he relayed the news about the breakup of Isla’s parents to Isabelle, the subject would be taken off the shelf and packed away as a Do Not Discuss topic.

The mention of Duncan with regards to Isla brought a smile to Jonathan’s face.  “You haven’t known Duncan long, but he’s about as nervous as he can get right now.  All that rambling he was doing.  He does that when he’s nervous.  Now you’ll never get him to open up about some subjects.  He will never lie.  In all the time we have known him, he has never ever lied.  Bluntly honest, in fact.  

“He likes to help people - to a fault.  His playing football is an example.  He doesn’t really want to play.  But he can’t say no to the team.  If Isla needs help, all she’d have to do is ask.  Even if the two had an argument.  The moment he thought she needed help, he’d be there.  He’s that kind of person.  It’s why the military thing scares the hell out of us.”