With a disgusted look, Chaz shook the ice in his cup.“Yeah, yeah. I left the ungrateful bitch plenty.”
“And you didn’t put any more chlorine in the pool, right? Her eyes were too red yesterday. And she doesn’t seem well. I’m worried. She’s not like you and me, you know.”
Chaz’s face lit up. “Oh, I hear that. She is some hot mermaid.”
AJ bit back his anger even as his chest swelled with it. “I swear to God, Chaz, if you touch her…”
His hands held up in self-defense, Chaz leaned away. “Calm down. I can’t get within two freakin’ feet of her. One of these days, she’s going to drag me under.”
No big loss. “Don’t be stupid. She won’t do anything to you.”
“Yeah, well, I ain’t takin’ any chances. And I’m tired of gettin’ nowhere. It’s time to make a move. That’s why I called Sea World this morning.”
Shock zinged through AJ. The more outsiders who knew about Cassiopeia, the greater danger she faced. “Why are you calling them already? We haven’t even trained her.”
“She needs to start cooperatin’ real soon. Maybe you can reason with her. ” Chaz shook his head. “But man, I don’t get it. Sea World tells me I’m nuts. Maybe I’ll call CNN and have them come take a look. That would convince ‘em. Or National Geographic–you know they came out and did a special on the fake mermaids, so I’m sure they’d—”
“No, no. What are you, crazy?” AJ tamped down his mounting panic. He had to put a stop to his. Now.
A look of distaste crossed Chaz’s face. “Hey, that’s the point of this whole deal, man. Exposure. Fame.”
AJ had to make Chaz believe he was on board with the plan. “Yeah, eventually. Look, it’s way too soon for that. We need to work with her first, build up some audience excitement. Once we generate a buzz about her, Sea World will want her. Bad. Then we can call in every kind of media, local and national and international. TV, magazines, the works. But right now, she’s weak from stress, and not eating right, and probably lack of sleep. And what exactly do you think she can do in a kiddie pool? How are we supposed to train her in that tiny bit of water? It’s not like she can do a high dive or even a twirl.”
Chaz evaded AJ’s gaze.
AJ saw his chance to gain ground. Trying to reason with Chaz obviously wasn’t working. “I thought so. You thought as far ahead as we are now, and that’s it.”
He narrowed his steely eyes. “Well, you come up with somethin’, smartass. You’re such a genius. I can’t think of everything.”
“You shouldn’t be calling anyone without talking to me first, anyway.”
Chaz poked at AJ’s chest. “Hey, get this straight, man. This is my plan. You’re only along for the ride.”
AJ played it cool. “Bullshit. You’d never have been able to catch her in the first place without my help. And she’d have died of starvation and dehydration if I hadn’t fed her.” AJ’s nerves tightened. The time had come. “I think we should talk to Tobias.”
“What?” Chaz’s neck jerked back like a rooster.
AJ forced his tone to be even. Calm. No sudden moves to freak out the madman. “Make a deal with him. Weeki Wachee Springs is the perfect showplace. Our mermaid will make this place world famous. Everyone will come here to see the real thing.”
Chaz shifted his eyes. He seemed to at least think about it, though he said, “You’re outta your head. She’d take off soon as she hit the water.”
Surprising himself with his self-control, AJ leaned back against the chair, and propped his arms up as if he owned all he surveyed. “I don’t know about that. I could convince her to stay. Maybe she’d even talk some of her friends into joining the act.”
The realization spread slowly across Chaz’s face as his brow unfurrowed, his forehead wrinkles smoothed, his eyes widened. “Yeah. She likes you. You gotta make up with her, but then… do you think she’d do what you say?”
“If I ask real nice.” AJ forced a snakeoil smile of his own. He hated even pretending to go along with Chaz. But to save Cassiopeia, he had to. For now.
Chaz’s eyes shone with stealth. “You think Tobias will go for it?”
AJ knew then he had him, however unwilling. “Grandpa’s good friends with him. I think he will, yeah.”
Chaz stood. “Let’s go find him.”
“Tonight. Let me talk to my grandfather first. He can soften Tobias up for us first.” He stood, pulled his cell phone from his pocket to check the time. “I have to get back. Find me before you leave. I’ll soften her up tonight too.”
Like a pit bull turned puppy, Chaz said, “Yeah. You can fill me in on the way.”
AJ dropped the cell back in his pocket. “Right. Later.” He walked in the opposite direction from Chaz, down the stone path to the cruise.
As soon as Chaz was out of sight, AJ retrieved his cell and dialed his grandfather. “He bought it, but he’s not happy about needing me. All right. Thanks.”
When he replaced his phone this time, he headed to the cruise with a single-minded thought: Get through this afternoon, and tonight, things would fall into place.
Please, God.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Timing was critical. AJ wanted nothing more than to hurry to Chaz’s miserable trailer and make sure Cassiopeia was safely on her way home. But if they got there too soon, it would ruin everything.
“You’re awful quiet, my man.” Chaz sounded wary, though his eyes were bright, probably from thinking about all the money they’d make.
AJ wanted to knock that goddamn smile of his off his face.
Soon enough.
He leaned an arm out the window. “I’m thinking about timing. It would have been nice to have more time to work with her, you know, make her more agreeable.”
Chaz’s low chuckle caught in his throat. “Yeah, I hear that.”
Disgusted, AJ shifted, his fist clenched against the door. He had to keep Chaz’s suspicions at bay. “And we should have talked out what terms we’re willing to deal with Tobias. But we have to move fast.”
“Why’s that.” Chaz sounded good-natured now. Things, he apparently thought, were going his way.
In his best imitation of his grandfather the teacher, AJ explained. “Well, you know how some mammals are when they’re captured. They’re so upset, they don’t want to live. And many of them don’t. She can’t stay in that pool much longer.”
With a wince, Chaz said, “She’ll be fine.” But he didn’t sound so certain.
AJ used his I told you so tone. “I’m telling you, you put too much chlorine in the damn pool. I could smell it on her. Her hair doesn’t shine the way it used to. She looks pale.”
Chaz clucked. “I won’t hurt your girlfriend.”
AJ had to take the focus off his feelings for her and shine it on her assets. The ones translating to profits, in Chaz’s mind. “There’s no way to know what kind of damage we might already have done to her. It’s not like there’ve been any case studies on mermaids in captivity. And nobody will pay to see a sick mermaid.”
Chaz sat straighter, his smile gone. “Yeah. We should work something out with Tobias tonight. You talk to her as soon as we get there. Make her understand how important it is.”
How important. To Chaz? Like she’d care.
“Yeah. But we should move her out of there as soon as possible. Maybe Tobias has a bigger tank somewhere, or knows of one. Something closer to her natural habitat.”
Chaz brightened. “Good thinkin’.”
AJ stared out the window. Thinking. He’d done nothing but think these past two days. And worry. His head ached. His body hurt. His stomach churned day and night. He felt jagged from head to toe.
To fill the conversational void, he asked, “You said you fed her this morning, right?”
“Yeah.” Chaz shrugged. “A little. I wasn’t sure what to give her.”
“What did you give her?” AJ pressed.
Chaz’s shoulder jerked. “Some crackers and peanut b
utter.”
AJ looked at Chaz in disbelief.
“And strawberry jam.” Chaz glanced at him, with guilt beneath his glare. “It’s all I had. I’ll go shoppin’ later.”
AJ had to look away. “With any luck, Tobias will take her tonight. Before you kill her.” With any luck, Tobias had already rescued her.
The truck rocked down the dirt lane to the trailer. As the woods gave way to the clearing, AJ tensed as Grandpa’s car came into view. The Caprice sat near the crooked steps to the front door. Tobias’ truck sat on the side.
“He’s here already.” Chaz pulled in next to the Caprice and jumped out.
A sense of dread filled AJ as he followed.
They walked past Tobias’ truck to the back of the trailer. Standing between the trailer and the pool, Tobias and Grandpa turned as they approached.
Hoping to reinforce Chaz’s notion they were a team, AJ muttered, “He doesn’t look happy.” Neither did Grandpa. Had something gone wrong?
“He never does,” Chaz whispered, then raised his voice, his smile wider than ever. “Tobias. And Mr. Anderson. Thanks for comin’ today.”
When AJ met his grandfather’s gaze, Grandpa looked quickly at Tobias. AJ glanced at Tobias’ truck.
Tobias folded his arms across his chest. “Thank you for the invitation.”
“My pleasure, believe me. Did you see her yet?” Chaz gave a regal nod toward the pool, where two hands gripped the rim from inside.
AJ’s stomach turned. Chaz could be a social chameleon when necessary, acting the part of a man of privilege, ratcheting up his language so it wasn’t the usual guttural grunts and truncated words fired from his mouth as staccato as a machine gun.
His face stonelike, Tobias widened his stance. “Yes. I have one question.”
Chaz rocked back on his heels like the gracious host accommodating a guest. “What’s that?”
“Is this supposed to be some sort of joke?” Tobias boomed the last word.
A quick glance at Chaz sent a jolt through AJ. The dude’s face fell like a landslide. “Joke? Are you kiddin’ me? She’s amazin’. Take a look.”
With the same placating tone he used when dealing with a difficult customer, Tobias said, “Oh, I already have. And I know how amazing she is. I saw her perform. Many a time.”
He paled. “What?” Chaz ran to the side of the pool. He gripped the rim and swayed, seemed to lose his balance.
AJ followed uncertainly. He’d been so nervous this morning, he hadn’t asked what, exactly, Grandpa and Tobias had planned. Maybe it was best, so AJ’s surprise would be authentic.
When he looked down, he was as shocked as Chaz.
Darlene looked up with a smile. “Hello.”
“Darlene.” Chaz’s eyes darted from the pool to the woods to the trailer. “What’s goin’ on? What are you doin’ here?”
Tobias walked to the pool. “Let me help you out of there. Not even a ladder, young man?”
“What the hell happened to my mermaid?” Chaz ran to the trailer and threw open the door.
“We better hurry,” Tobias said.
Though his muscles trembled, AJ helped Darlene over the side, water dripping from her bathing suit.
“The smell in there is awful.” From the table, she took a wraparound skirt and tied around her waist, then stepped into her flip-flops. “I thought this was a joke. He doesn’t look very happy.”
Bangs and thuds allowed them to follow Chaz’s movements through the trailer.
Tobias touched her arm. “Go to Walt’s car out front. Now. And stay down.”
At the seriousness of Tobias’ tone, Darlene hurried around the corner. Grandpa waved her on, and stood near Tobias’ truck.
Tobias tugged AJ’s arm. “We need to get out of here.”
AJ hesitated only a moment before matching stride with Tobias. When they’d reached the middle of the yard, the trailer door burst open.
Chaz appeared in the doorway holding the rifle, his eyes wide, his mouth set. He glanced at Tobias’ truck. “Give her back.”
AJ clenched his fists. “Shit.” They were so close.
The devious smile returned as Chaz raised the rifle to his shoulder. “Yeah, shit. You’re the shit. I knew I shouldn’t trust you, you little prick.” He aimed the gun at Tobias. “You get over there and open the truck cap. Nobody else move till I say.”
With a glance at Grandpa, Tobias walked to the truck and pulled down the gate.
AJ’s brain screamed no, no! They couldn’t fail now. He rocked on his feet, but a look from Grandpa held him in check. Chaz would shoot his grandfather.
Chaz narrowed his eyes. Inside was too dark to see anything. He moved closer, still aiming the rifle. “Time to come out, little mermaid.” His tone sounded anything but playful. He waved the gun as he crept closer. “Move.” He lifted the top half of the back gate, then gave an evil smile as Cassiopeia was revealed in the light. “I knew it.” To Tobias, he said, “Now back the truck to the pool and let her out, then all of you can be on your way.”
Tobias exhaled, his face a mask of defeat.
Chaz lifted the rifle butt against his shoulder. “I’m gonna be standing in front of the truck, with the gun pointed at your head, just so you know.”
There seemed only one way for this to play out. Chaz would shoot them all, then disappear with Cassie. AJ couldn’t let that happen. He’d kill her, too, one way or the other.
His nerves coiled like a snake about to strike. He rushed at Chaz. “No.”
“AJ, don’t.” Grandpa reached toward him.
Chaz whirled, the rifle at his shoulder. A dull noise sounded, like a door slamming, as the rifle barrel lit for a split second in a burst of light.
AJ fell to his knees, clutching his side. It tingled. When his hand felt wet, he looked down. The red blotch on his shirt matched his palm. He dropped onto the patchy grass.
“AJ,” Cassiopeia screamed, and scrambled to the end of the truck bed.
Tobias grabbed the rifle barrel, but Chaz gripped it tight. It discharged into the sky.
Grandpa charged at Chaz, and his fist connected with Chaz’s jaw with a powerful thud. Chaz fell to the ground, out cold.
Grandpa ran back to AJ. “Son.”
Cassiopeia gripped the edge of the truck, tears in her eyes. “Is he all right?”
Grandpa inspected the hole in the side of AJ’s T-shirt. “I hope so.” To Tobias, he said, “Get her out of here.”
AJ groaned. “The rocks. Take her to the rocks. There’s a deep spot where it drops off. She’ll show you. She can get home safely from there.”
Grandpa lifted AJ’s shoulders. “I’ll take him to the hospital. You take her.”
Tobias moved to the truck. “Please. Get inside. We have to go.”
Cassiopeia’s voice trembled. “I don’t want to leave him.”
His eyes closed, AJ heard the fright in her voice and relaxed. She loved him after all. “Go. I’ll find you.”
Grandpa slid his arm beneath AJ’s knees and lifted. AJ groaned, and the pain blacked the edges of his sight.
Her voice quivered. “But will he be all right?”
Tobias lifted the truck gate. “As soon as he gets to the hospital, he’ll be just fine. Now please, move back.”
Chaz moaned and shook his head, leaning up on an elbow.
Tobias latched the truck cab shut and leaned down to lift Chaz by his T-shirt long enough to say, “Oh and by the way, you’re fired.” He let Chaz drop to the ground, then picked up the gun and strode to the truck cab as Grandpa carried AJ around the front of the trailer to the Caprice.
In the front seat, Darlene’s eyes were wide. At the sight of Walt carrying his grandson, she threw open the car door.
Grandpa said, “Open the back door. Can you ride with him? Keep pressure on the wound.”
She held a hand to her mouth. “What happened?”
“We have to get him to the hospital.”
She climbed in and held out he
r arms.
Grandpa set AJ on the seat. “Hold on, son.” To Darlene, he urged, “Press down hard.”
AJ let his head fall to Darlene’s lap. He closed his eyes as the Caprice rumbled down the lane. He shivered with cold until he imagined the hand stroking his head to be Cassiopeia. He relaxed and let the darkness close around him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The fluorescent light colored the inside of his eyelids red. AJ’s eyes fluttered open. Grandpa slumped in the chair beside his bed, cheek sliding against his palm, eyes closed.
A tube ran from AJ’s wrist to a bag hanging on a rack by his bed.
His clothes. He had to find his clothes and get to the beach. To the rocks. Make sure she was all right.
His grandfather jerked awake. “AJ. How are you feeling?”
His voice came out as a croak, as if someone had punched him. “Great. Help me get dressed, will you?”
Grandpa sighed. “You’re not going anywhere yet.”
“I have to.” AJ pulled on the bed rail, but could only slide himself sideways, not up.
Grandpa leapt up, his hands pushed lightly back so that AJ lay flat. He pushed the buzzer on the remote, then straightened AJ on the pillow. “You’ll do no one any good if you bleed to death. Rest. Everything will be all right.”
“But I have to…” AJ couldn’t seem to close his grip around the rail.
Footsteps sounded, and a nurse came to his bedside.
“A little more painkiller, please,” Grandpa asked.
AJ groaned. Painkiller would be good. But wouldn’t it knock him out? He felt a rush through his bloodstream, and opened his mouth, but words came out in a mushy jumble.
He heard Grandpa tell the nurse, “He says thank you.” The vinyl chair beside the bed crunched with Grandpa’s weight.
AJ floated into darkness again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When AJ awoke, the light looked brighter, but less harsh. Warm.
Morning. But what day?
“Ah, you’re awake,” Grandpa said. The newspaper rustled.
With great effort, AJ turned his head. “How long have I been here?”
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