In a Fix

by Linda Grimes

  balm. I found a bar of soap, a sample-size bottle of shampoo, a stick of deodorant, shaving cream, and some disposable razors,

  al of which I was sure would be useful, but not what I wanted first. Was one freaking tube of ChapStick too much to ask?

  Maybe Mark had some in his luggage. This wasn’t his boat, so surely he had to have packed before he came to Sweden, right?

  Where there was a man’s luggage, there was a toiletry bag. Where there was a toiletry bag, there might be ChapStick. I could go

  find him and ask.

  Or I could just look for it myself. I mean, why bother him?

  There were two pieces of luggage stowed near the quarter-berths. One of them was a compact leather duffel I recognized as

  Mark’s, the other a more structured overnight bag. I hesitated. Some might consider an uninvited search an invasion of privacy.

  Then I remembered my office, and just how much the men in my life, Mark included, respected my privacy. Screw it. I went for

  the duffel.

  I sifted through jeans, some khakis, several shirts, and plenty of socks. When I got to the dark cotton boxer briefs, I paused

  and swalowed, remembering what I’d seen when Mark removed a similar pair before climbing into the sleeping bag with me.

  Ignoring them, I dug further, until I came upon a smal leather case.

  Sure enough, there was the lip balm. Also, an electric razor, some ibuprofen, a smal bottle of peroxide, a few bandages, and a

  box of condoms. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks, and told myself to grow up. Mark was an adult. He was a man. Of course he

  had a sex life. Obviously. One that didn’t include me, also obviously.

  Unless … I supposed he could have purchased them after my drunken kiss on his sailboat had opened his eyes to certain

  possibilities, and he wanted to be prepared if anything, wel, popped up between us. (Naïve? Maybe, but I preferred

  “optimistic.”)

  I took the ChapStick and arranged everything else back the way it was. The other suitcase was tempting me, but since I’d

  already found what I was after, I decided to take the high road and leave it. I can be big.

  Back in the head, I snapped up the shower curtain, and rinsed myself with the handheld nozzle. Getting the residual salt off me

  improved my outlook a thousand percent. My short, wavy hair was easily finger-fluffed into an acceptable ’do, and the balm

  restored my lips reasonably wel. What it couldn’t do, I took care of with a smidge of aura adapting, at the same time as I toned

  down my freckles and got rid of the baggage under my eyes. I told myself it wasn’t realy cheating, since I didn’t look any different

  from my usual, predunk-in-the-ocean self. And, dammit, what good was having a talent like mine if you couldn’t take advantage

  of it now and then?

  The first thing I noticed when I went up on deck was the spectacular sunset. The bright white orb hovered just between the

  wispy clouds and the rippling water, turning the sky pink and giving the ocean a golden cast. There was a breeze, but it wasn’t

  cold, and the hot shower had banished any lingering effects from my frigid dip. My only problem was that I didn’t have any

  clothes at hand. I’d wrapped the blanket back around me, two corners crisscrossed in front and tied behind my neck to form a

  kind of makeshift toga. I was hoping to find something a little more tailored.

  We were docked at the marina, surrounded by other sailboats, al of which seemed to have people on deck enjoying the view.

  At the front of our boat, also appreciating Mother Nature, was a curvaceous young woman with auburn hair that hung past her

  shoulders. She looked right at home, coiling ropes like a pro.

  “Bily?” I said.

  She turned, and I saw at once that it wasn’t Bily’s recent incarnation.

  “No…” She smiled and approached me.

  Okay. I squinted at her suspiciously. “Mark?” I said, a little less confidently. I realy couldn’t think why he’d need to appear as

  a woman, but maybe it was his cover for being here in Visby.

  She laughed softly. “No again. I’m Laura. And you must be Ciel.” Her words were unrushed, her voice low-pitched and kissed

  by the south. Even her handshake was genteel.

  “Um, yeah.” I looked around. “Where’s Mark?”

  “He had to meet with someone.” She studied my face. “Are you feeling al right, hon? You didn’t hit your head, did you?”

  “No, I’m fine. Fit as a fiddle. Right as rain. Couldn’t be better. Who the hel are you?”

  Her easy smile was bland, meant to soothe. My stomach was starting to feel a little uneasy as I flashed back to the box of

  condoms. She and Mark couldn’t be … could they? But why not? She was beautiful. He certainly hadn’t stuck around in the

  sleeping bag with me any longer than necessary, had he? Why would he be interested in a scrawny, salt-caked Popsicle when he

  had lovely Laura—who had not one freckle in spite of the red hair—handy? And she knew her way around a sailboat, too, damn

  it. Mark probably thought that was sexy.

  “I work with Mark,” she said. Wel, I could believe that. She had the same reluctance to part with any excess information.

  “At the Agency?” I asked. Might as wel get it speled out.

  “Yes.” Same bland smile.

  “Okay. So, how much do you know about Mark?” Do you know about his adapting ability or not?

  “I know he’s good at his job,” she said.

  Oh, big help.

  I tried another tack. “What did he tel you about me?”

  “That you’d been kidnapped by the neo-Viking organization, and we were to extract you.”

  “Anything else?”

  She shrugged. “You’re his best friend’s baby sister.”

  True enough, but it stil stung. Is that how he’d described me? Not even his friend, but his friend’s baby sister?

  “That’s al?” I pressed.

  “What else is necessary? Mark needed backup, and here I am.”

  This was getting us nowhere. Either she didn’t know a thing about adaptors, or else she knew Mark was one but didn’t think I

  knew. Neither one of us was going to be the first to give anything away, so I’d just have to wait and ask Mark.

  “When wil he be back?”

  “He said sometime before morning,” she said vaguely. “If he gets held up, he’l send Bily back again—”

  “Wait—Bily was here? When?”

  “Not long after we puled back into the marina. He went below to check on you and talk to Mark. Didn’t you see him?”

  I frowned. “No. I guess I was asleep.” I felt kind of uncomfortable, knowing Bily had seen me snuggled up naked in a sleeping

  bag with Mark, though I wasn’t sure why I should.

  “That’s understandable. Almost drowning wil take it right out of you. You looked nearly dead when you first boarded.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “You look much better now. Realy,” she said quickly.

  “Lucky I recover fast,” I said, smiling as sweetly as I could. Maybe.

  She cleared her throat. “So, can I get you anything? A hot drink or something to eat?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’m not hungry. I could use some clothes, though, if you happen to have anything handy that might fit me.”

  She hesitated.

  “Actualy, I don’t even care if it fits—I’m not proud. I promise to take good care of it and return it as soon as I get something

  of my own.” I smiled winningly. Nobody could resist my winning smile.

  Except lovely Laura, apparently. She shook her head with regret that verged on being sincere. “It’s just that…” she began.

  Didn’t continue.

  A nasty little suspicio
n gripped me, tightening my voice. “Mark told you not to give me any clothes, didn’t he?” Her eyes got

  big. I guess my face might have given away my feelings on the matter just a tad.

  “Uh … not in so many words. He just suggested you might be more comfortable resting in the blankets until he gets back.”

  “Did he, now? Refresh my memory—when is he supposed to be back?”

  “By morning. And if he isn’t here by six, then I’m to sail you to the mainland.”

  “What?” I wanted to shout, but managed to keep it to a horrified whisper.

  “Don’t worry—I can handle the boat. Mark’s a great teacher,” she said.

  Did I detect a hint of double meaning in that? I narrowed my eyes and looked her over.

  “Mark’s great at a lot of things,” I said, carefuly neutral, though I felt like shoving her overboard. Which wasn’t realy fair of

  me. Mark was the one who could use a good dunk in the ocean.

  “If you’re concerned about sailing with me at the helm, you needn’t be.” Her chin went up a notch. Yeah, she had the spook

  ego.

  “Not at al,” I said, declining to add that it was moot, since I wouldn’t be sailing away from Gotland with anybody, least of al

  her. No point in getting her antennae up any farther than they already were. “I just hope Mark wil be back before then. There are

  a few details he needs to know about the Vikings.” Among other things. Like, that I do not need a fucking babysitter.

  “Maybe you should tel me. I’ve been working closely with Trey, monitoring the group.”

  “No offense, Laura, but I think I’d rather wait for Mark. After al, I haven’t realy met you in any official capacity yet, have I?”

  She didn’t question my reluctance. Guess she understood al about discretion.

  “That’s fine. Are you sure you aren’t hungry? I can heat up some soup if you don’t want anything heavy.”

  Might be good to get her attention focused elsewhere. “You know, maybe I should have a little something. Build my energy

  back up. Do you mind if I wait up here and enjoy the view until it’s ready?” I sank down onto the built-in storage bin cum bench

  seat closest to me.

  “Not at al. I’l holer up when it’s done. Would you like me to bring you another blanket first? Mark wil get mad if I let you get

  chiled again.”

  Yeah? Just wait until you see him after you lose me, I thought nastily.

  Then I felt kind of bad for thinking it, because she realy was trying to be decent to me, and it wasn’t her fault Mark decided to

  act like a controling jerk. But there was no way I was going to alow myself to be carted away from the island with a stranger

  while Mark and Bily went about their merry rescue operation without me. Trey was my client’s fiancé, and I intended to make

  sure, personaly, that he got delivered to her in a timely fashion.

  “No, I’m fine,” I assured Laura. “It’s positively balmy out here, isn’t it? I’l come down if I start to feel cold,” I promised,

  fingers crossed in the folds of my blanket.

  I didn’t waste any time after she went below, padding to the front of the boat and hopping to the dock with only a slight misstep

  when my foot caught the bottom of the blanket. I righted myself before I fel, no harm done. Not having a clue how long it would

  take Laura to heat up the soup, I walked away as fast as I could without drawing unwelcome attention. I didn’t want to risk stil

  being in view of the boat when she realized I wasn’t answering the dinner bel.

  The good thing about wearing a blanket was that it would adjust to cover changing auras without much trouble, and keep me

  decently covered until I could score some clothes. My own face was the last one I wanted to show in town, so I’d have to switch

  to another one asap. But I had to find a dark niche someplace to change—too many people stil wandering around to risk it in the

  open.

  The marina was right on the edge of the Old Town, so I didn’t have far to cover before I blended in to the confusion of the

  festival. Finding a spot private enough to make a change was the chalenge. I was jostled between groups of various sizes, most of

  them intent on a single destination. Nobody paid any attention to my odd attire. Maybe they al thought it was just a realy

  miserable attempt at a medieval costume, and were being polite.

  After a few minutes, I heard English being spoken—a magnet to my ear. When I saw who it was, I had to stop myself from

  waving.

  “Come on—we have to see the fire show. We can’t come al this way and miss it.” It was Dreamy Princess girl from the hotel

  —Jennifer—and she was dragging along a completely smitten Kevin. Ah, youth. They recover quickly.

  I continued uphil, against the predominant flow of the crowd, turning at smal side streets as I came to them. Eventualy I found

  a house with a real yard. A yard burgeoning with plant life, in fact—the perfect cover. But before I could change, I heard voices.

  Disturbingly familiar voices.

  I froze. Peeking out from the foliage I saw Per’s brother-in-law, Sam, the American who had helped launch me. He was

  walking down the street speaking urgently to several other Vikings, in English, saying something about heading to the southern

  meeting point because “the little bitch” (guess that was me) had ruined things here. One other guy said not to worry, the “big plan”

  was stil on for tomorrow. And then they were gone, past where I could hear them.

  Shit. I had to get back to the boat and tel Laura, at least. As I stepped out of the shrubbery, I was caught from behind in an

  exuberant hug, my arms pinioned to my sides. Hot breath tickled my ear, and a familiar voice folowed it.

  “Boner Benjamin might be a good choice…”

  Chapter 24

  “… don’t you think? He could help you raise the blanket in front, hands-free, so you won’t trip while you’re running away.”

  I sagged. “How’d you find me?”

  Bily let me go and I turned to face him.

  “I’m just that clever.” He grinned, a one-dimpler.

  “No, realy,” I deadpanned.

  “Smart-ass. I saw you leaving the boat as I was coming back. You looked so furtive I knew you were up to something.”

  “Yeah, wel, never mind that. We have to get back now—I just heard some Vikings talking. They’re heading south for their

  ‘big plan,’ whatever the hel that is.”

  “That’s al? Nothing else?” he said. I shook my head. He tilted his skepticaly. “Since when do you understand Swedish?”

  “They were speaking English. One of them is Per’s brother-in-law—he’s from America. He helped with my launch.”

  Bily stiffened, his face setting itself into hard planes. “Which way did they go?”

  I pointed. “That way, but don’t even think about it—there are way too many of them. Now, let’s go.” I took off, stubbing my

  toe on a jagged cobblestone. I muffled a curse, and promptly stubbed a toe on the other foot. I looked heavenward. Seriously? It

  wasn’t even that bad a word. Besides, extenuating circumstances here!

  Bily debated going after them, I could tel, but stayed with me instead. “Your feet hurt?” he asked.

  Duh. “Yeah, and they’re cold, too. Got any spare shoes on you?”

  “No, but I’l give you a piggyback ride back to the boat if you like.”

  I hesitated.

  He turned his back to me. “Come on, it’l take us forever otherwise. Up you go. I won’t drop you.”

  “Pinky swear?”

  He reached over his shoulder, and hooked his little finger with mine. “Pinky swear.”

  I rucked up my toga and climbed ab
oard. It was embarrassing, but he had a point about the speed. Once his arms were safely

  tucked beneath my knees, he said, “Now, why don’t you tel me why you were running away from Mark.”

  “He told Laura to sail me to the mainland if he wasn’t back by morning. I am not leaving the island without Trey.” I skipped the

  part about my jealousy of Laura’s place in Mark’s life. Why cloud the main issue?

  “You twit. He just wants you to be safe if he and I get kiled, is al.”

  “Oh, wel, that makes it okay,” I said, heavy on the sarcasm; nothing Bily wasn’t used to.

  He moved through the streets at a good pace, backtracking without hesitation, not even breathing heavily. Physicaly fit people

  are so annoying. When we got close to the dock I told him to put me down. He refused.

  “Your toe is bleeding. You can wait til we’re back on the boat.”

  “Oh, geez. It’s not that bad. It doesn’t even hurt.” I wiggled my legs and shook his shoulders.

  “You have absolutely no patience, do you?” he said. “Give it up, cuz. I can out-stubborn you any day of the week.”

  “I could change into Nils and make you colapse under my weight,” I threatened.

  “You won’t. Too many people around,” he retorted equably.

  He was right, damn it.

  “Wait a minute—before we get there, tel me if Laura knows about adaptors.”

  “If she does, she’s never let on to me. Mark may have told her about himself, but I doubt the walking personification of zipped

  lips would tel her about the rest of us.”

  “Great. So I’m stuck as me as long as I’m around her.”

  He gave my legs an annoyed squeeze. “There’s nothing wrong with being you.”

  “Except that al those Vikings think I’m dead, and I’d realy hate to disabuse them of the notion.”

  “So you’l have to keep your head low. Big deal.”

  We boarded, and found Mark had returned. He was deep in a quiet but heated conversation with Laura, who looked

  apologetic and peeved at the same time. I probably wasn’t high on her list of favorite people at the moment.

  They turned when they heard us. Mark’s anger shifted palpably from Laura to me. Bily dropped my legs and puled me around