Island of Secrets

by Janni Nell

  She took a step toward the cliff, muttering in disbelief, “Cor blimey, that’s me Dickie.” She started to run, powdery sand flying up around her. As she moved into the distance, her body became translucent, then transparent, and finally disappeared altogether.

  On the cliff top Dick raised a hand, calling down to me, “Thank you, Allegra Fairweather.” He gave a deep bow, and then he too disappeared.

  Beside me Casper sniffed as though he was totally moved by their reunion. When I glanced at him, he stopped wiping his eyes and said, “I must be getting a cold.”

  I didn’t remind him that angels don’t get sick.

  * * *

  After leaving the Tikini-kai to continue celebrations in their village, we took One-Shell to the mer doctor, who was confident he would survive. Coral hugged me and chirped happily. I didn’t need a translator to know she was thanking me. When she dived off Heavenly to join her son, I heaved a sigh of relief.

  “I didn’t think I’d solve this one,” I said to Casper, “but everything seems to have turned out okay.” Unfortunately I spoke too soon.

  Luke and Marie were still aboard Heavenly. There had been no time to drop them off, so they’d seen the battle. They knew about the Mers and where the Tikini-kai lived. When I overheard them talking about how much they could make selling this story, I got anxious. When I discovered they had photos, I threw their phones overboard. But that wouldn’t stop them talking. It wouldn’t be long before they returned with CNN and destroyed Oak’s hard-won paradise.

  “This sucks,” I said to Casper.

  He winked. “No problem.”

  Casper had never mentioned he was an expert in hypnosis, but a few well-chosen words and a snap of his fingers had Luke and Marie believing they’d spent the day on a pleasure cruise. They couldn’t even remember Dylan or his ill-fated yacht.

  “Good job, Casper,” I said. “Will that technique work on Dylan too? He’s so broke he might try to sell his story.”

  Casper smiled, “The technique works on anyone, although I’m only allowed to use it in dire circumstances.”

  Fortunately Dylan qualified as a dire circumstance. While Casper erased part of Dylan’s memory, I met with Oak on the terrace beneath the bougainvillea. He hadn’t witnessed the ceremony with the Tikini-kai, but I’d taken photos of King Kanu accepting the Star of Light.

  As he viewed them, he said, “I didn’t think you could do it, but, hey, I’m happy to be wrong. Good job.” He handed me back the phone.

  I stretched out my legs and enjoyed a chilled piña colada, which was a just reward for all my efforts. Oak left me on the terrace while he went inside to transfer the money he owed me into my bank account. I wondered how much I’d be able to allocate to my dream of buying an apartment. Probably not much.

  When Oak returned, he said, “Your fee’s been transferred, but hey, you deserve more than that. Here’s something extra to show my appreciation.” He handed me what appeared to be a jewelry box. When I opened it, there was a key inside.

  Unsure what he was offering me, I quipped, “Don’t tell me. It’s the key to your heart.”

  He laughed. “You wish.”

  Actually I didn’t.

  Oak went on, “It’s the key to a house in Hawaii. I’ve owned it for years, but I don’t go there anymore. If you want it, it’s yours.”

  “My own house?”

  “Just say the word and I’ll transfer the deeds into your name.”

  “My own house?” I couldn’t seem to say anything else. It was such an expensive gift. So totally unexpected. “Are you sure you can afford it?”

  “You might’ve noticed I’ve been doing a lot of work on the computer,” he said. “I’ve created a new game. Just sold the rights. Now I’ve got even more money I don’t know what to do with.” So that’s why he’d been permanently attached to his computer. “It’d be great if you’d take the house,” he went on. “And if you know any charities in need of donations…”

  “Actually, my mom has one.”

  “Great. Hook us up and I’ll see what she needs.”

  After accepting the key to the house, I wrote down Mom’s email address. When I handed it over, I asked, “What’s the name of your new game?”

  “Mers Attack!”

  Chapter Twenty

  “He gave me a house in Hawaii,” I said to Casper, as I finished packing for my departure from Lu’arna.

  “Nice,” said Casper. “Are you going there right away? Want a lift?”

  “On Heavenly? Yes, please.”

  “There’s just one thing,” he said. “I have to stop in Papeete to say good-bye to Sophie.”

  I shut my bag. As I carried it to the door of my cottage, I said, “Is this where you finally reveal the true relationship between you and Sophie? Have you teased me long enough?”

  “It’s getting old, isn’t it?” he conceded.

  “Almost as old as you.”

  “Ouch. Okay, this is what I told you on the night you were too drunk to remember,” he began, rubbing it in one last time. “Long ago, when I was alive…well, it seems I fathered some children.” He looked down at his clasped hands. “Those children had children and grandchildren. At one time I had quite a lot of descendants, including those from my legitimate daughter, Zerlina, but in the twentieth century most of them were lost in the wars. Now there is only one left. Sophie is my many-times great-granddaughter. Sophie’s ancestor wasn’t conceived in love. Perhaps I can make amends for that in some small way by making sure Sophie is protected.”

  I took a deep breath. It felt as though I was inhaling happiness. I ducked my head to hide the breadth of my smile. Then my joy bubbled over and I threw my arms around Casper’s neck. I expected him to move away, but he lifted me off the ground and whirled me around until I was breathless.

  When he put me down we both pretended nothing unusual had happened.

  “Can I come with you to say good-bye to Sophie?” I’d always like her, but now we could be friends without me worrying whether she was jeopardizing Casper’s chance of entering Heaven.

  We agreed to meet her on the waterfront. Lots of people were strolling around dressed in floral shirts, shorts and flip-flops. Some were talking on their phones, others were taking photos. Sophie was sitting alone on a bench. Possibly the same bench where she had thrown up and bawled when I first met her. Now her tears had dried up along with her morning sickness. She was positively blooming. Her hand rested on her growing baby bump. When she saw us, she gave a big smile and rushed into Casper’s arms. When he released her, she kissed me on both cheeks.

  “Felicitations, Allegra! You stopped the war.”

  Credit where it’s due, “I couldn’t have done it without your translations.”

  “Non, non, you are too kind.” She looked from me to Casper and smiled. “Will you two now have the honeymoon together?”

  “Not a honeymoon, a vacation,” I corrected, thinking the language barrier had got in her way, but her grin indicated she knew exactly what she’d said.

  Casper put in quickly, “Allegra and I are just friends.”

  “So you say.” Sophie chuckled. “And, of course, I believe you.”

  Wishing to give Casper some time alone with her, I headed off to Café Noir. When I returned to the waterfront, they were walking arm in arm, so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice me. Or the man moving toward them. He was tall and blond and built, but despite his Germanic appearance, he looked nothing like Casper. His facial features were finer, his attitude was more civilized. He carried a bag of pastries and a paper container of vanilla ice cream topped with a bright red sauce.

  I walked up to him. “Horst?”

  He smiled uncertainly. “Have we met?” His English was pretty good.

  I point
ed to Sophie. “We have a mutual friend.”

  His smile widened and he held up his goodies. “She had cravings.”

  I peered at the ice cream. “Is that ketchup on top?”

  “Disgusting, isn’t it?”

  “Totally. Better hurry and give it to her before it melts.” We picked up our pace and fell into step beside them. Sophie took the ice cream and gobbled it down. Horst gently wiped a smear of ketchup from her lip.

  Casper said to Horst, “Are you here to stay?”

  Sophie protested, “You should not ask such questions.”

  But, like a good patriarch, Casper insisted. Horst had no qualms about answering, “I will stay with Sophie for always.”

  That’s when I noticed the ring on her left hand. It wasn’t exactly the Star of Light, but a diamond doesn’t have to be big to mean the world.

  “We will be married as soon as possible,” said Horst.

  And there you have it, people, a happy ending.

  But there was one last thing I had to do, and it concerned Casper’s bucket list.

  * * *

  Maybe I shouldn’t have started him on a roller coaster called Colossus, but it was too late now, we were in the carriage. It was a brilliant California winter’s day. The sun was shining, the air was balmy and Casper was beside me. Life was good. Even if he did look a little green.

  As the carriage began move, he said, “I’m not sure this was a good idea for someone who gets carsick.”

  I’d forgotten all about his carsickness. Pretending I wasn’t worried about ending up covered in puke, I said, “You’ll be fine. This is more like flying than riding in a car anyway.”

  The carriage rumbled up the first incline. My heart began a pleasurable pounding, preparing for the adrenaline rush of the first drop.

  “I can’t do this,” said Casper.

  “Sure you can.”

  “I think I’ll just disappear and fly away.”

  “Oh no, you don’t.” I grabbed his hand and held on tight. “You wanted to experience this. Don’t wimp out now. You’ll enjoy it.”

  He gave me one of those you’ve-got-to-be-kidding glances.

  “No, really,” I said. “Trust me.”

  The carriage had almost reached the top. The breeze was stronger up here. I looked down on the people below, who were enjoying themselves on this perfect day. Casper’s hand sweated in mine. I felt a little shudder, as if he was trying hard to control his trembling.

  “This will be fun.”

  “We’re going to die,” he said, even though he was already dead.

  “In that case, I’d better start ticking items off my bucket list.” The carriage stopped. As I waited breathlessly for the first downward rush, I gave an evil grin. “What’s your real name? Talk quick, we’re about to die.”

  His horrified eyes met mine. “My name is Ulrich.”

  The carriage plunged down.

  * * * * *

  Need another ghostly great read? Who you gonna call: Allegra Fairweather! Available now.

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  Dance of Flames (Novella)

  Family vacations fill me with horror. Still, I couldn’t turn down a month in sunny Spain, even if it did mean sharing a villa with my mother. But we’d barely unpacked when the maid started having dreams of being tortured on the rack—dreams my intuition tells me are something more than your average terrifying nightmare…

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  About the Author

  After growing up in a beachside suburb of Sydney, Australia, Janni Nell traveled overseas, working in the U.K. before returning to Sydney, where she now lives with her family. When Janni isn’t writing, you can find her line dancing or working in her vegetable garden. Janni’s goal is to write more stories in the Allegra Fairweather paranormal mystery series.

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  ISBN: 978-14268-9405-3

  Copyright © 2012 by Janette Whitehead

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  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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