Chaz chuckled as they passed. “He hides in the same spot every freakin’ day.”
AJ forced a slow exhale. He had to keep his head, not get carried away by his emotions. He’d like nothing better than to yank the steering wheel, drag Chaz out of the truck and pummel him until he lay in a bloody lifeless heap.
Such murderous thoughts would only lead to disaster. He had to be constructive. Think creatively.
The problem was, the more he thought, the more he worried. Was Cassiopeia all right in that tiny pool? At least the trees shaded it from direct sun, but still, it had to be hot. Much hotter than she was used to. He wished he knew more about the mer people. Grandpa told what little he knew, but this specific situation didn’t apply to anything in his frame of reference. Other than the fact Grandma loved crab cakes. AJ had made Chaz wait while they went to the Captain’s Galley and ordered takeout.
The truck bounced down the narrow road.
Chaz parked out front and slammed the door. “I’ll be right out.”
AJ hardly heard. He’d already walked halfway around the trailer.
The pool surface rippled in a breeze, but otherwise, it was still.
Fear clutched at AJ’s heart as he approached. “Cassiopeia?”
A small blip echoed within the pool, like a bubble surfacing. His heart pounded as he went to the side and looked over the rim.
She sat on the bottom, her green eyes wide with anger, her hair fanned out around her head.
“Hey,” he said softly.
The pool rumbled with her voice as she burst from the water like a geyser and screamed in his face with rage. A wave of water arched over her and poured over him.
Blinking water from his eyes, he held out the Styrofoam container. “I brought you dinner. Crab cakes.”
She narrowed her eyes, her nostrils flared. With a squeal, she pushed back from the side, causing the pool to vibrate.
The door to the trailer clicked shut and Chaz chuckled as he descended the three wooden steps. “Ah ha, she got you too.”
Asshole. AJ ignored him.
On tip toe, Chaz peered cautiously over the side. “Dammit. She keeps splashin’ half the pool water out. I can’t keep fillin’ it up.”
AJ ran a hand through his wet hair. “She can’t stay in there much longer.”
Chaz stepped toward the trailer. “Sure she can.”
He followed. “It’s not good for her. It’s probably too hot, even in the shade.”
Chaz’s smile was empty. “What, are you the mermaid expert all of a sudden?” The mafia lilt crept back in his voice, his way to grasp for control.
To take back control, AJ emanated cool. “Oh, right, I forgot. You researched it. On the Internet. So what did it say about keeping mermaids hostage? Huh? In a kiddie pool? Is that healthy for her, do you think?”
Chaz pointed at him. “Don’t get smart with me, my man. At least I looked it up. You ain’t done nothin’.”
Nothing except talk to his grandfather. He held up the container. “She needs to eat this, but she won’t take it from me. Where can I set it down so she can reach it?”
Chaz shrugged. “Toss it in the pool. If she wants it, she’ll eat it.”
With a wince, he shook his head slowly. “No, I’m not tossing it in the water. It’s chlorinated. And I keep telling you, it’s too much chlorine. Don’t you have a table or something?”
Chaz let out a long groan. “I don’t know. Lemme look.” He trudged back into the trailer.
AJ went back to the pool. “Cassiopeia. Come on. Talk to me, will you?”
She circled the pool, and in passing AJ, her tail landed on the side of his head with a thwack. Just hard enough to knock him off balance.
“Ow. Damn.” He rubbed his head. “Well at least you didn’t knock me out, I guess.” He set the container on the ground and held the side of the pool. “Please just tell me if you’re all right. Do you need anything?’
Burbled noises came from beneath the surface as she ringed the pool, then settled opposite him, her head just above the water.
“Hey.” AJ was encouraged to see her face, though she looked drained of energy. “You must be hungry. Please eat. These crab cakes are great, Grandpa says. I’m not a big fan, but they smell pretty good to me.”
Her lip quivered, and she sank to the bottom.
The trailer door burst open. “Gimme a hand.”
AJ sighed as he set the container on the ground and jogged to the steps. He took hold of the table legs Chaz had pushed out and yanked. The table wedged in the doorway twice before they shoved it through.
Chaz pointed at AJ. “She better not try anything with this table.”
“Like what? Throw it at you?” Though after he said it, AJ realized it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. She was exceptionally strong. But Chaz didn’t need to be reminded. “This will be really handy for leaving things for her to eat. And drink. She can’t drink that pool water. You did at least give her something to drink this morning, didn’t you?”
They set the table by the pool. It would be a stretch, but she could reach whatever they left there for her.
Chaz blinked, his shoulder twitched. “Well. I.” He blew through his lips, and scratched his neck. “She has a pool full of water. She don’t need nothin’ else.”
AJ slapped the heel of his hand to his forehead, making the spot where she whacked him throb. “You dumb ass. Get a bottle of water out here.”
“I don’t have any bottled water. What am I, rich?” He chuckled. “Not yet, anyways.”
AJ tried to keep his voice steady, though he wanted to yell, if that’s what it would take to get through the dude’s thick head. “Get something else, then. Whatever you have. If you don’t have bottled water, pour some into a pitcher or something.”
Chaz grumbled as he walked back to the trailer.
“What a fool.” AJ picked up the container and set it on the table. “Hey. I’m leaving this here for you. You can eat it whenever you want. I wouldn’t let it sit too long. The heat will spoil it. Or ants could get into it.” Or worse. What if it drew something larger? Like a python? Or an alligator? Jesus, there were too many things to worry about. This setup was the worst.
Her head came out of the water, up to her nose.
Encouraged, AJ went on. “He’s getting you something to drink. You’re probably thirsty, right?”
She watched him, not moving. Redness rimmed the whites of her eyes.
His voice almost a whisper, he said, “I’m really sorry about all this. But I had to go along, or he’d have killed you. I’m going to get you out. You have to trust me.”
Her eyes welled with tears and she furrowed her brow.
A twinge of pain shot through him. His arms ached to hold her. “Cassie, please. I’m sorry.”
Her glare hardened.
Whistling, Chaz strolled out of the trailer with a small generic-brand energy drink and a cola. “This is all I got for now.”
AJ rolled his eyes. “I’m really glad you thought this through so carefully.”
Chaz’s shoulders swayed like a boxer. “I don’t see you buyin’ her drinks.”
“I bought her dinner.” AJ rested his hands on his hips.
“Oh. Yeah.” He set the bottles next to the Styrofoam dish. “I’ll leave ‘em both. She can have ‘em whenever she wants.”
It was useless to try to talk sense to Chaz. AJ would have to bring a small cooler full of food and drinks tomorrow.
AJ glanced around. “Where’s your water hose? We need to refill the pool.”
“Whoa, now.” Chaz blocked his path. “I told you, I can’t be fillin’ the pool every day.”
“Do you want her to boil in his baby pool?” He pushed past and found a hose on the side of the trailer, and dragged it to the pool. “And no more chlorine.”
Chaz looked at him with something like admiration. And suspicion. “You’re getting’ kinda bossy, aren’t you.”
“No, I’m just usin
g common sense.” He thrust the hose into the pool and ran back to turn the knob.
The hose gurgled and chugged.
“I can only let it go a few minutes. She needs to stop wastin’ the water.” Chaz headed back inside the trailer. He hadn’t stepped within a foot of the pool, AJ noticed. He must afraid of her. That could play in their favor, or against them, if Chaz were to panic and run for his gun. He’d have to try to convince Cassiopeia to pretend to cooperate. For her own safety.
Weariness tugged at AJ. He found a dilapidated lawn recliner and pulled it within a few yards of the pool. He lay on it and let his eyes close. Every time he’d fallen asleep last night, he’d awakened with a jolt, worrying about Cassiopeia. At least here, he could keep an eye on her.
Sleep washed over him like a wave. In his dreams, he walked to the rocky beach and stood near the sea. Cassiopeia rose from its depths, glimmering in the last rays of the sun. She looked at him with such hope, such love, such acceptance. He stepped into the water, into her arms, and they glided away from shore, the glare of the setting sun shining orange in his eyes.
He shifted on the recliner and his foot slipped to the ground with a thud. He awoke to a dark sky overhead, the dim light of the trailer behind him. One of the motion detector lights around the pool was already out, and the remaining one backlit the mermaid, keeping her face in shadow as she leaned over the side of the pool.
Cassiopeia brought a forkful of crab cake to her mouth. Not wanting to startle her, AJ slowly tilted his head to see her better but kept his eyes open only a slit, enough to see her. She downed half the bottle of water in one chug. At a clatter inside the trailer, she paused. When Chaz yawned loudly and the television blared, she continued eating. AJ made sure she had finished before he filled his lungs with air as if he’d only just awakened, moved his hand across his eyes and sat up.
She’d silently slipped back down the side of the pool.
“Cassie?” he whispered. He didn’t want to alarm her, but especially didn’t want to alert Chaz.
At hearing a small splash, he feared she’d gone under the surface to avoid him. When he stood by the pool, she looked over at him.
In an urgent tone, he asked, “Is there anything I can bring you tomorrow? Anything you need?”
As if he’d slapped her, her mouth twitched down, and sadness filled her face.
He gripped the pool edge. He whispered, “I know. You need to get out of here. And you will. I promise.”
She looked away, her lip quivering.
“I have to go home. But I’ll be back tomorrow.” He hated to leave her here, all alone. What if some service guy came to the trailer while Chaz was away? What if someone else found her? God, he’d never forgive himself. “Listen, I’m going to leave you my cell phone. In case there’s an emergency or something while we’re not here.” AJ winced. He’d said we as if he and Chaz were partners. “Or if that jerk tries anything.”
She glanced from his face to the phone he held up. By her expression, he knew she wouldn’t have a clue how to use it.
He stepped closer and verbally walked her through the steps of making a call. “I’ll write down my work number and my Grandpa’s number. Call me at work during the day. If you can’t reach me, call my Grandpa. He knows about you. He’d come help you.” He wrote on the tabletop in large numbers, then looked at her as she peered over the side. Encouraged she came so near, he said, “I could bring my guitar tomorrow night. To sing you songs.”
This made her either angry or sad, he couldn’t tell quite which, though her body stiffened, her lip jutted in a pout and once, a small squeak escaped, as if she were tamping down a full-fledged crying jag. She sank into the pool, her dark hair undulated behind her as she swam in endless circles.
For a few moments, he watched, helpless. Of course she didn’t understand. Of course she didn’t want to listen to him.
He trudged the five and a half miles to his grandfather’s house, heavy with guilt and sadness. He would save her, even if it meant losing her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Inside Grandpa’s bungalow, no lights shone. Bone-tired, AJ pushed open the front door. He’d hoped to talk to his grandfather. He was the only one AJ could talk to these days.
When he walked to the kitchen, candlelight flickered on the patio. Grandpa sat in the glider and stared out toward the sea.
AJ slid open the door. “Hey.”
Grandpa’s gaze snapped to AJ as he sat straight. “I was worried about you. How did it go?”
AJ slumped beside his grandfather. “I’m worried about her. That damn kiddie pool is too shallow, and Chaz dumped too much chlorine in it.”
His grandfather’s look was grave. “Such an environment could be toxic for her.”
“I know. There are so many things that could go wrong. I’m going crazy.” AJ rested his head in his hands. “I need to get her away from there. Get her home again.”
Grandpa rested his hand on AJ’s back. “You will.”
He turned to his grandfather. “How?”
A smile crept across Grandpa’s face. “With a little help from your friends.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
As Chaz’s truck rumbled down the dirt road toward the trailer, AJ’s nerves wound tighter. Today had been hotter than yesterday. A midday shower brought some relief, for about a minute. As soon as the sun reappeared, the atmosphere heated to sizzling.
AJ climbed from the truck with the cooler of food and drinks. Grandpa had suggested a few items. Chaz balked at spending the money until AJ reminded him it was an investment in their future.
When he set the cooler on the table, Cassiopeia glanced up at him, her skin paler than normal, drained of color. Dark circles rimmed her bloodshot eyes.
He gripped the rim. “Are you feeling all right?”
Her tail swooshed and she floated to the opposite side of the pool. Her movements were slower than before.
AJ called to Chaz, “You did feed her this morning, right?”
Chaz still avoided coming too near the pool. “I left some bread on the table.”
Bread. Great. If it wasn’t stale after a few minutes, it would get soggy when she touched it.
He pulled the cell phone charger from his pocket, and lifted the phone from the table. “I’m going to charge this so it will keep working.” He unplugged an extension cord from one of the motion lights, and set the phone back on the table.
“I’m sorry,” he said to her. “I shouldn’t have left you last night.” He opened the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. “Here, drink this so you don’t get dehydrated.”
He held very still as she floated over and took the bottle. Excited, he opened the cooler. “I brought some food for tomorrow. And,” he shut the lid and set a takeout container on top. “A California burger. Grandpa said you might like it. He, uh, knows these things.”
Warily, she reached for the container and opened it. It fell to the ground as she took the burger and bit into it.
AJ watched, careful not to frighten her. “Is there anything else you need? I know these aren’t the best accommodations. I just don’t know what a mermaid needs.”
She swallowed and looked at him somewhat sheepishly. “A bucket.”
“Like a plain old bucket?” He studied her as she looked away, until it dawned on him why she might need one. Trapped in the pool, she had nowhere to relieve herself. “God, I’m sorry. I should have thought.” Of course she couldn’t swim in a sewer, even one of her own making. Chaz must have something inside. AJ would make him give up a cooking pot, if necessary.
He leaned his elbows against the rim. “I’m worried about you. You don’t look well.” He wished he could get in the pool with her.
Even her glare looked lackluster. “I’m fine.”
Inside the trailer, something clanged.
AJ turned to her, his voice soft yet urgent. “Listen to me. In the next few days, some people will come out here for you. One will be my grandfather, Walt
Anderson. Don’t be afraid. All right? And whatever you do, don’t let on to Chaz.”
The door to the trailer rattled open, then shut. “What are you two love birds cooin’ about over there?”
AJ relaxed his stance to appear cool, though he wanted nothing more than to beat Chaz to a pulp. “Just having dinner, Chaz. Since you didn’t give her anything worthwhile this morning.”
“I’ll give her somethin’ worthwhile when she gives me somethin’ worthwhile.”
A chill ran down AJ’s spine. “What’s that supposed to mean?” If Chaz tried anything with her, AJ would kill him. Plain and simple.
Chaz pointed at her. “I can’t even get near the pool without her attackin’ me in some way. I’m supposed to be her manager. She needs to show some respect.”
Her manager. Yeah, right. More like her prison guard. “Maybe you need to earn it.”
With a wince, Chaz glared at him. “Don’t gimme that. I provide for her. She needs to earn her keep.” He walked away. “You better talk her into bein’ nice.”
AJ caught her eye before she looked away. “Ignore him for now. We have to make him think he’s in control, so we can get you out of here. And back home.” His throat constricted. Home, where he’d never see her again. His voice caught as he said, “I have to go.”
He walked toward the trailer.
Her voice halted him. “AJ.”
He whirled. Damn that light, he couldn’t see her face. He took a step in her direction, but stopped when she turned away.
He didn’t blame her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. I promise.” AJ dragged himself toward the long road home.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As much as AJ loathed being anywhere near Chaz, he caught up to him during lunch break and suggested they eat together. Like Grandpa said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. They sat at a table in the shade, outside others’ range of hearing.
AJ had to make sure Chaz wasn’t doing anything stupid. “So you fed her this morning, right? And left her water?”
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