Aislyn

by Aislyn (NCP) (lit)

  "Same thing as you. Do you think you’re the only one who wants to join the fairy force? Oh, for goodness sake! Pick up your jaw before it hits the floor."

  "You want to join the fairy force?" Her voice was infused with stunned disbelief.

  "Don’t sound so surprised," Gary snapped. "You’re not the only one around here with ambition."

  After working with Gary for a week, Aislyn knew he was intelligent and efficient. Seamus relied on him. Thoughtfully, she stared at him as he stood beside the two-seater. He might be on the scrawny side and a little flamboyant, but if he toned the clothes down, he’d fit in with the other recruits. "Why were you turned down?"

  Gary planted his hands on his hips and did a little shimmy. "Why do you think?"

  Aislyn scratched her chin and pretended to ponder as she surveyed his slender body struck in a pose. "Let me see. Because the board members aren’t progressive, they don’t like change, and they do love their rules."

  "Yeah, well." Gary shrugged carelessly, but now she knew him better, she saw the vulnerability under the attitude. That changed everything.

  "All right," she said. "We’re in this together."

  "You know Seamus is going to kill us."

  A gamine grin curled Aislyn’s lips. "We’ll stay safe if we stick together. It’s harder to dispose of two bodies."

  "True," Gary drawled. "Droll, but true."

  They shared a grin before lapsing into silence. Aislyn peeped around the large potted fern that screened them from the foyer. They were hidden from the receptionist but not the porter’s station outside. One of the porters winked at Aislyn through the wall of plate glass. The admiration on his tanned face brought out a blush.

  "I hate to admit it, but I think the two of us are attracting attention. My hair sticks out like a beacon and one look at you and they remember you for life. We’re not doing this very scientifically."

  Gary struck a pose. "Unforgettable, that’s what I am."

  Aislyn bit her lip to halt the grin before it spread and infected the seriousness of the situation. "Quit fooling around. We need disguises, and we need them fast or it will be back to the office with us, and we’ll be buried in so much paperwork we won’t see daylight for months."

  "I have stuff we can use at my flat, except if we leave we might miss something important."

  "We’re going to have to risk it. What time do people check out of hotels here? Is it like the colonies? Check out time is during the day, usually mid-morning?"

  "Good point, except if the man is a crook then he won’t play by the rules." Gary shook his head, making his beads chatter noisily. "How do we know he’s going to check out at all?"

  "Rats. We don’t. I’m making assumptions, aren’t I?"

  "Yep--rule number two hundred and thirty five. Never assume."

  "Bet there’s no such rule," Aislyn muttered. "Gary, we need a plan." She frowned, deep in thought, then started talking in low undertones, throwing random ideas out for Gary’s reaction. "I think we should leave now, go to your flat, and work out a couple of disguises each, so we can change our appearance if we need to. Then, I think we should come back here early in the morning and watch for the man to leave. He has to leave some time, right? We need to follow him and at least work out where he’s going. If he’s taking part in the scavenger hunt then he will need to organize a hit on Little Barrier Island or one of the other islands that have kakapo. We should probably check in with Seamus’s boss too. "

  "Mmm." Gary fiddled with one beaded plait. "Have you seen the list of things the competitors have to collect for the scavenger hunt?"

  "Not the full list, but I’ve heard Seamus and Gill talking about the kakapo and the tuatara."

  "I’ve seen the list and the rules. The competitors have two months to collect fifteen items. Each team consists of three people plus the person who puts up the money. Each person in the team is nominated to collect certain items and those people must check the items in with the judging panel in person. If the judges think the team has help then they are disqualified."

  "I think we should go," Aislyn said. "The porters keep looking at us."

  As they stood to leave, she noted a new arrival in the hotel foyer. Not as tall as Seamus, but strong and wiry in appearance, the man glided silently across the marble foyer and disappeared into a waiting lift. Not their man. Not old enough and no scar. She turned back to Gary.

  "We don’t want them to call security."

  "My place," Gary said.

  Half an hour later, they arrived at Gary’s home in Greenlane. When the cab pulled up in the drive, Aislyn noted that the old wooden bungalow blazed with lights.

  "Is your flat mate afraid of the dark?"

  "Not that I’ve noticed." Gary sprinted up the narrow concrete path, his boots pounding on the wooden verandah as he flew through the open front floor. "Jacob? Are you there? What’s wrong?"

  "I’m in the spare bedroom." His voice held both frustration and irritation.

  He was a tall man with short, brown hair dressed in jeans and a striped cotton shirt. As he walked down the passage toward them, Aislyn noted the soft blue halo that shone around his head. Another fairy.

  "About time you arrived home." He speared a stern look at Gary. "Your mother has rung twice wanting to speak to you. If you don’t contact her soon, there’s no telling what she’ll do. She threatened to petition the board and mentioned tying herself to the council building if necessary."

  "I spoke to her this morning," Gary muttered. "It’s about time she let go. Let her bother the board. I’ll make a pot of coffee. We need caffeine to help us think. Aislyn, this is my cousin, Jacob. Jacob, why are all the lights switched on. The house looks like the rear end of a firefly. We could see it glowing from a block away."

  Jacob ignored his cousin and stretched out his hand in greeting. "Hi, Aislyn. Have we met before? You look familiar."

  "Aislyn O’Sullivan," Gary said over his shoulder as he filled the coffee pot with fresh water.

  "Well! I won’t shake your hand." Jacob grabbed her in an exuberant bear hug and danced her down the hallway into the bright kitchen. "You deserve a medal for going up against the board like that."

  "You’re a lone voice," Aislyn said grinning up at him. She liked this male. Why weren’t there more like Jacob and Gary? They didn’t treat her like a helpless, cat-attracting female.

  After measuring out coffee and filling the filter, Gary jabbed at the start button on the coffee machine, setting it gurgling. "You haven’t told us why all the lights are on."

  Jacob released her and pulled out a red wooden chair, indicating with a sweep of his hand that she should sit at the table. They exchanged a grin.

  Circling the table, he sat opposite. "It was the strangest thing. I heard a knock on the front door. When I answered it there was a half grown cat sitting in the middle of the doormat. It ran inside before I could shut the door and I’ve been looking for it ever since." His blue eyes widened in sudden alarm. "I say, you’re not going to shrink any time soon, are you?"

  "I’m on the pill," Aislyn said. "This cat--did it have lots of toes and a couple of white whiskers on the right side? Was it black?"

  "It whipped inside so quickly, I didn’t get a good look, but it was black and looked as though it needed a good meal."

  "Gary, that sounds like Joe. I have a cat called Joe," she explained to Jacob. Nothing that cat did surprized her any more.

  A grin spread slowly across Jacob’s face, so dazzling that Aislyn blinked.

  From his position leaning against the bench, Gary made a tsk-tsking sound. When the two continued to stare at each other, he groaned. "Jacob, snap out of it. Aislyn is not looking for a mate. We need help with a disguise. We can look for the cat later."

  "Why do you want disguises?"

  "Some of the recruits at the hostel keep playing tricks on Aislyn, and we want to pay them back."

  Aislyn blinked at the outright lie, but she looked away and let Gary do the
talking. While she couldn’t lie to save herself, Gary seemed to be doing a creditable job.

  "What did you have in mind?" Jacob asked.

  "We both look distinctive at the moment with Aislyn’s red hair and mine in braids and beads. We want a completely different look for both of us. Some wigs and some makeup would be good so we can fool the latest batch of recruits. They’re so smug, and they give Aislyn such a hard time."

  Gary sounded so put out that even Aislyn believed his story.

  "I can lend you a few wigs and props."

  "Can we do it now?" Aislyn asked.

  "After Gary rings his mother to see what she wants. The last thing we need is for Aunt Sylvie to set the fairy force on us."

  Gary sighed. "All right. You’re so lucky, Aislyn. Your parents don’t harass you all the time."

  Pain sliced through Aislyn at the mention of her parents. Although her mother contacted her occasionally, her father refused to have anything to do with her because of her unfeminine aspirations. It hurt that her father had disowned her when all she wanted was to find her niche.

  "There’s that damned cat," Jacob roared.

  Aislyn leapt to her feet. Jacob did too, advancing on the cat with obvious intent, but the half-grown cat didn’t budge from his position in the middle of the doorway. He ignored Jacob to calmly groom his fur.

  "That’s Joe," Aislyn said. "See his funny claws. I’ve no idea how he arrived here. I left him in my room at the hostel."

  "Your hostel is in central Auckland."

  "I know."

  They both stared at the cat as it finished cleaning and ambled toward Aislyn.

  "Aren’t you frightened of it?" Jacob said. "Can’t you read the look in its eyes? Those orange eyes are saying T-bone steak."

  Aislyn shrugged, tired of the males in her life harping on about stupid cats. "I’m safe enough as long as I take my pill each day. It’s not as if I could forget. Seamus has assigned Gary to remind me every day. Seamus asks me every time I see him. I carry spare pills--enough for three days. I think I’m covered." Pausing, she took a deep breath. She was a big girl now, capable of taking care of herself. Maybe one day, they’d realize.

  The cat sidled past Jacob and slipped under the hem of the bright floral tablecloth to rub against Aislyn’s legs. Unable to resist, Aislyn bent over to rub her hand down the animal’s smooth black fur. A rumbling purr like the putter of a small engine started up. Aislyn grinned. "This is one clever cat, but I don’t think I’m in any danger."

  * * * *

  "Are you clear on the plan?"

  "Of course I am," Aislyn muttered out of the side of her mouth. She fought the need to swallow as she studied the pedestrians strolling down the footpath outside the Metropolis. All her bravado had sunk into the upholstery of the seat she sat in, but she wasn’t about to admit it to Gary. Irritably, she brushed a blonde curl off her face but resisted the urge to fiddle with her wig. "You’re as bad as Seamus. We’ve been over the plan so many times, I could recite it in my sleep."

  "Get on with it then," Gary advised, drumming his hands on the steering wheel of the van. He shuffled in the driver’s seat, sending anxious gazes at the hotel then looking away. "This skullduggery is making me nervous. I don’t think my heart can take much more stress. Here, take the package. Let’s get it done."

  With a broad grin and a cheeky wink, Aislyn let herself out of the van and sashayed toward the hotel. Gary’s obvious nerves had given her a new surge of courage. They could do this--she was sure of it. She smiled at the doorman who held the glass door open for her and strode across the marble foyer carrying a box under her arm. It was true--blondes did have more fun. She fluttered her long and mainly false eyelashes at the receptionist and stuck out her chest, showcased in a tight, black T-shirt. The words Kiwi Couriers were emblazoned across the front. "Hello," she purred.

  The receptionist was an older woman, and Aislyn knew she was in for a hard sell the moment the woman glared at her over the top of her gold-rimmed glasses. Aislyn chewed vigorously on her wad of gum.

  "Yes?" the woman said, and even though she was seated, she managed to peer down her nose at Aislyn.

  "Package for John Watson."

  "Leave it with me and I’ll see that he gets it," the woman said, reaching for the package and dismissing Aislyn all in one smooth move.

  Aislyn stepped away from the counter out of the woman’s reach. "Sorry, the package must be signed for. Company policy."

  "I’ll sign for it," The woman grabbed a green pen and waited.

  "Sorry," Aislyn chirped. "I need Mr. Watson’s signature. Company policy."

  Aislyn could literally hear the woman’s teeth grind together, and she bit back a smile of triumph. Maybe she should join a theatre group in her spare time. This acting lark was easy peasey.

  "Take the lift to the twenty-sixth floor. Mr. Watson is in the Rata suite." The switchboard phone rang and she answered it with a professional smile in her voice, her conversation with Aislyn over.

  With the first hurdle over, Aislyn trotted over to the bank of lifts. From the corner of her eye, she saw Gary loitering outside, uncharacteristically somber in a pair of black jeans, a black T-shirt and his colorful braids tucked up in a nondescript brown wig.

  A bell indicated the arrival of the lift, and Aislyn stepped inside. The doors whooshed shut. In the lift, where no one could see, her confidence wavered. She sucked in a fortifying breath. Okay, so she had a few nerves dancing inside her tummy. No problem. Nerves were good. Adrenaline was good. She drew in another deep breath then eased it out slowly. The lift sailed up to the twenty-sixth floor far too quickly. Hesitation made her dawdle, until she realized she was being silly. Seamus wouldn’t hesitate. Tightening her hold on the package, she strode toward the door of the Rata suite. One brisk knock on the door and it was too late to turn back.

  The door flew open and the tallest man Aislyn had ever seen stood before her. Wide as well as tall, she amended, but not fat. That bulk looked like hard muscle to her although it was difficult to tell with the dark suit.

  "Yes?"

  "I have a package for Mr. Watson." Aislyn fought to keep her voice confident and even, but to her discerning ear, there was a distinct wobble.

  "I’ll take it."

  "No! I mean it needs to be signed for. Mr. Watson needs to sign the package." With racing heart, she waited for the man’s reaction. What happened if he refused?

  "He’s having breakfast. Give me the package and I’ll get him to sign for it. Where does he need to sign?"

  "Ah ... no!" Panic made Aislyn splutter. What on earth did she do now? "I can’t let you do that. I ... ah ... have to see Mr. Watson sign for it." Please don’t let him ask me how I know the man who signs for the package is Mr. Watson, Aislyn prayed fervently, because I have no idea. Gary and I didn’t rehearse that scenario. She forced herself to meet his gaze, while she continued to pray.

  "Very well," he said finally. "You’ll have to wait. Sit over there." He pointed to a large upright chair sitting in the corner. "I’ll inform you when Mr. Watson can see you."

  Aislyn was pretty sure a courier wouldn’t stand for that sort of nonsense--not when their livelihood depended on delivering packages as quickly as possible. "How long will he be? I have other packages to deliver. Should I come back later? Or I could deliver the package tomorrow. The package has come from England. It must be important." Holding her breath, she waited for his reaction. Would the man call her bluff or would he want the package delivered to his employee?

  "Mr. Watson won’t be long," he said. "Please take a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee while you wait?"

  Aha! Aislyn bit back a grin of triumph and instead chewed on her gum, hovering indecisively from one foot to the other. "I don’t know." She glanced at her watch and frowned. "I have a schedule to keep to. Five minutes. That’s all then I’m outta here."

  "I’ll check with Mr. Watson." With that announcement, the man left the room.

  Aislyn crum
pled into a heap in the upright chair. Breathe, she thought, struggling against the urge to flee. She bounded to her feet and peered out the large window that took up most of the wall. The view of the harbor and the bridge, with the sprinkling of boats at the marina was incredible but not enough to hold her interest. What should she do now? What would Seamus do? As she spun away from the window, a pile of suitcases caught her attention. It looked as though Mr. Watson and party were thinking about moving on. Aislyn sidled toward the luggage. A quick glance at the door that the bodyguard had disappeared through told her it was safe to move closer. Her heart thumped, sounding like the furious gallop of a thoroughbred horse. How long would the bodyguard take? Did she have time to take a closer look? Goosebumps rippled across her arms and legs as she closed the gap between her and the suitcases. Terror welled inside, but she bent to read the luggage label.

  John Watson.

  Bother. She knew they belonged to John Watson. She wanted to know where they were headed for next. Aislyn peered at the next label half expecting to hear the bodyguard’s firm footsteps at any moment. It took precious seconds for the footsteps to register. The door burst open, and Aislyn sprang away from the suitcases. Did she look guilty? Under the blonde wig, her ears burned. She certainly felt guilty.

  "Mr. Watson will see you now," the man informed her in his low voice. The inflection told her nothing.

  Aislyn’s heart knocked against her ribs, but she tucked the package under her arm and stepped toward the big man. Her knees shook as she followed him into another room. Insidious nerves made her want to laugh, but instead she chewed vigorously on her gum.

  A middle aged man sat alone at a round table, a china coffee cup to his left and a cooked breakfast of bacon and scrambled eggs sitting in front of him. Instantly, Aislyn’s stomach growled, reminding her she’d skipped breakfast due to nerves. As she neared the table, the man set down his knife and fork and wiped his mouth with a linen napkin. The minute he glanced up at her, Aislyn knew she had the right man. Forcing a smile and trying to ignore the scar on the man’s face, she stepped forward, the package extended in her hands.