Spell or High Water
Page 28
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I took off my shoes and stepped onto the sand. It was difficult going on the deep, dry sand but easier once I got to the wet sand left by the ebbing tide. No caves were at once visible so I walked until I reached the headland.
I was not happy at the realisation I would have to walk out onto the slippery rocks to reach the entrance to the caves. I nearly lost my footing several times but managed to get a foothold between the rocks, and once around the headland, I spotted the caves. They were well disguised coming from this angle, although I expected someone in a boat would be able to see them easily.
I edged my way to the entrance with some trepidation. The sand was wet, but the cave roof was fairly high. It was pitch black once I was a few strides inside, so I turned on my iPhone torch and shone it around. The torch beam didn’t go far, and I imagined all sorts of fanciful beasts hiding in the cave. It looked like a dragon’s lair. Once again, I took a deep breath and forced myself to be sensible, which was difficult as all I wanted to do was turn tail and run.
I was debating whether to move into the cave a little further when I heard a sound.
I froze, cold chills flooding my body. I could scarcely breathe.
It took me a moment to realise the sound was coming from behind me. I turned off my torch and backed against the wall, flattening myself into the cold, stone surface as best I could. That was difficult, considering I wasn’t a thin person and I had eaten a big lunch.
After a few moments, there was silence. This had been a bad idea. I decided to head back to the resort. Gripped with fear, I barged out of the caves as fast as I could and ran headfirst into a mermaid.
Chapter Eight
The mermaid looked as surprised as I was. She was sitting on a rock just outside the entrance to the cave. I could barely drag my eyes from her sparkling green tail, shimmering in the sunlight like millions of emeralds.
I tried to speak, but the sound stuck in my throat.
From behind her, a voice said, “She’s seen us!”
I looked past her and saw five women emerging from the sea. I saw their tails turn into legs as I watched.
I heard a bloodcurdling scream, and then realised I was the one who was screaming. I ran blindly away from them.
Within a matter of seconds, I realised I had run back into the cave rather than to the safety of the beach.
Now I was trapped. Could mermaids see in the dark? I had no idea. I kept hurrying through the cave. The one small consolation was that I had the torch on my phone, but I wasn’t going to turn it on because they would easily find me.
How deep was this cave? It seemed to go some way. I was moving as quickly as I dared in the dark, moving my hands over the damp rock.
I tripped, presumably over a bit of driftwood, and then rolled against the wall. I huddled there, trying to make my breathing as quiet as I could.
I could hear them moving around, talking.
“She didn’t have a camera,” one of them said. “No one will believe her.”
“What are we going to do?” another one asked.
I trembled and bit my lip to stop my breathing coming out loudly.
“Someone’s coming,” one of them said, and then I could hear their voices no more.
I lay there, still shaking, too scared to turn on the torch when I heard footsteps. These sounded heavier than the mermaids’ steps. Could it be a merman?
To say I was terrified was an understatement.
“There you are,” said a deep voice. “I won’t hurt you. They’ve gone now. You can come out.”
“Who are you?” I squeaked
The voice did not answer, but a strong arm reached out and gently pulled me to my feet.
“A friend,” he said. “I mean you no harm, and I don’t know if those women do, to be honest. I suggest you don’t come around here again. You’re in grave danger on this island.”
I squinted into the darkness. “But you said you didn’t know if the mermaids intended to hurt me.” I struggled to my feet.
It was pitch black in there so I had no idea how he could see me. I couldn’t see a thing. While I was staring, my eyes adjusted to the extent that I could make out the man’s shape. I could also make out a shape on his face—could those be night vision goggles? What sort of person would wear night vision goggles on a sunny day on Whitehaven Island?
“I wasn’t referring to the mermaids,” he said. “You had best get off the island as soon as you can.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Are you threatening me?”
“No, I’m simply stating facts. No one wants a journalist poking around on this island. I suggest you leave as soon as you can.”
I heard him leave, so I hurried after him, turning on the torch. It revealed nothing but a fleeting glimpse of his back. It seemed to be the same back I had seen in the dining room only hours earlier.
Why was this man following me? My breath was coming in ragged gasps. I couldn’t think clearly.
Maybe I’d think better lying next to the pool with a martini in my hand. Yes, that’s what I would have to do. It would help me think better.
I staggered out of the cave into the bright sunlight. I squinted, but the man was nowhere to be seen. It was evident he, at least, meant me no harm. As for the mermaids—whether they intended to harm me or not was yet to be decided. If they did not pose the danger on the island, then who did?
As I hurried up the wooden stairs from the beach, I hoped I would make it back to the resort in one piece.
Chapter Nine
The cocktail was beckoning me, but I decided to drive the golf buggy back through town. I remembered passing a psychic reading and reiki healing shop earlier when I had been in the bus, and I wanted to see if I could glean any information from there.
The little shop was easy to find, and I parked the golf buggy under one of the palm trees that lined the street. I looked in the window. It was packed full with Himalayan salt lamps, a variety of boxed tarot cards, dreamcatchers, and all sorts of crystals, even crystal balls. I saw to my dismay that some of the crystals had been artificially coloured. I always preferred the natural ones, being of the belief that natural crystal colours are far more beautiful than the artificially enhanced ones.
I was almost to the door when I heard raised voices. It was too late to turn away, so I walked inside. Mayor Cummerbottom was yelling at the woman behind the counter. He abruptly stopped speaking as soon as he saw me, and after shooting a glare my way, stormed out the door.
The woman turned around and saw me. She at first looked shocked, but quickly schooled her features into a look of composure. I was unable to do the same, as it was clear she was one of the mermaids, the one I had seen sitting on a rock.
I finally found my voice. “This is a lovely shop,” I offered rather lamely.
She was eyeing me warily. “Yes. Is this your first visit to the island?”
I nodded. “I’m a journalist here to do a story on why it’s summer in the middle of winter.”
She chuckled. “It’s always summer in North Queensland.”
I pulled a face. If I’d heard that once, I’d heard it a thousand times. “I know, but something else caught my interest. Someone mentioned big black cat sightings to me.”
Her jaw dropped open. “Someone told you about that?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve also heard it’s supposed to be top secret.” I took a business card out of my handbag and pushed it across the counter to her.
She ignored it. “Some people are just too uptight about things.”
“So it’s true then? There have been big black cat sightings on the island?”
“They’re not always black cats,” she said by way of answer, which wasn’t the response I was seeking.
“What about mermaid sightings?”
Her hand flew to her throat. “There’s no such thing as mermaids!” Her tone had turned icy.
“I’ve seen photos of one,” I said as I watched he
r reaction carefully. I was certain I wasn’t mistaken—although this woman was clothed and was no longer sporting a tail, I would recognise her face anywhere: round face, long blonde hair, and remarkably large green eyes.
“They must have been photoshopped,” she said with a shrug of one shoulder.
I shook my head. “No, it was one of the ladies from the photography club.”
She jabbed a finger in my direction. “Photography club? There you go! The photos were obviously photoshopped.”
I continued to shake my head. “No, she took them on her phone. She was on the beach behind the Botanical Gardens. She saw a woman who walked across the beach and then grew a tail and swam into the sea.”
The woman laughed uproariously. “The photographer must have had too much sun. It does affect the mind, you know.” She gestured around the shop. “Are you buying something for yourself? Or a gift for someone else?”
It was a clear attempt to deflect me, but I wasn’t going to be put off so easily. On the other hand, I thought it might soften her up if I bought something. “I’d love a Himalayan salt lamp, but it would be a bit too big to take back on the plane,” I said. “I do like the look of that rose quartz crystal ball.” I picked it up and stared at it more closely. I was no expert, but its colour appeared to be natural. “I’ll take it.”
I swiped my card, and as I did, I said, “So you’ve heard about the big black cat sightings, but you’ve never heard of mermaid sightings?”
She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m sure I would have heard of mermaid sightings if there had been any,” she said. “When did this friend of yours take the photos?”
“It was yesterday. Actually, she wasn’t a friend of mine,” I told her. “I met her friends coming over on the ferry from Airlie Beach and they showed me the photo she texted to them.”
“You know, it’s probably best if you don’t mention it to anyone, for your own safety, I mean.”
I took the wrapped rose quartz crystal from her and thanked her. “What you mean that it’s for my own safety? Are you saying I’m in some sort of danger by asking questions about the mermaid sightings?”
She waved one hand at me. “Some people get very tense about paranormal sightings on the island.”
“Paranormal sightings?” I echoed. “Do you mean there are others?”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, no! I don’t mean that. I just mean that certain people on the island aren’t into, let’s say, unusual activities, and while they like tourists coming to the island, they certainly don’t want journalists coming here to investigate alleged paranormal activities. They don’t want the media here. They only want travel journalists here. Do you get my meaning?”
I had to admit that I didn’t. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about,” I confessed.
“If I tell you something, can I have your assurance that you won’t quote me?” Her eyes searched my face.
“Sure, of course.”
“If you do quote me, I’ll deny it.”
I nodded. “Fair enough, but I truly won’t divulge you were my source. What do you want to tell me?”
She looked around the shop although it was obvious we were the only two in it. “Have you heard of Ethan Forbes? He’s the richest man on the island.”
“Yes, I was with the group of photographers who found the keeper of the Botanical Gardens’ body just this morning.”
She gasped. “Oh, really?”
Before she had a chance to speak, I added, “The mayor was the first on the scene, and then Ethan Forbes came. I was surprised the detectives or the police didn’t come at first. The bus driver called the mayor.”
“That’s the way of it around here,” she said. “Ethan Forbes is the one who doesn’t want to draw attention to himself. He runs this island. Trust me—you really don’t want to get on the wrong side of him. If he knows you’re here about the big cat sightings, you could be in some sort of trouble—bad trouble.”
“Do you mean actual physical danger?”
She shrugged. “The keeper was murdered.”
“But the keeper didn’t have anything to do with the paranormal sightings, did he?”
She looked around the shop once more before leaning over and saying in little more than a whisper, “The keeper grew rare herbs that only grow on this island. They haven’t been found anywhere else in Australia or the world for that matter. Actually, they only grow in the Botanical Gardens. He made potions with them.”
The hair stood up on the back of my neck. “What sort of potions?”
“Rumour has it that he made potions for Ethan Forbes.”
“Then Mr Forbes couldn’t have murdered him,” I reasoned, “because he needed him to make the potions.”
She leant forward and spoke again in that same hoarse whisper. “No, Ethan Forbes would have found out long ago how to make those potions for himself. I’d say the keeper was making potions for other people and that’s why he was killed.”
I was about to ask more, when she looked past me and said, “You’d better go. Now!” Her face was white.
I clutched the parcel with my rose quartz crystal to me and hurried out the door. As I did, I nearly ran into the mayor.
Had he been listening all this time? And would he report our words to Ethan Forbes?
Chapter Ten
Despite my best efforts, I fell asleep on the sofa that afforded a good view of the pool, and awoke at dusk. At first I didn’t know where I was, but presently remembered I was at a resort. I couldn’t shake off a feeling of trepidation. What was happening on the island? I knew something was going on, but would I be able to get to the bottom of it? And why was I in danger?
There was only one person who knew for sure, and that was the mermaid who ran the psychic shop. I didn’t even know her name. I knew there was late night shopping every night on the island given that it was a tourist destination, so I thought I should go back and question her.
As it was a lovely night, I decided to walk. The sea air provided some relief from the heat, and the humidity had left with the setting sun.
I walked slowly to the psychic shop, looking in all the interesting stores on the way. If I was rich, I could spend a fortune. Luckily I had become used to window shopping. I stopped and looked in every window.
On occasion, I had the same feeling I was being followed and a couple of times fancied I saw a man ducking into a shop when I looked behind me. Or was I imagining it? I certainly couldn’t blame myself if I was, as I hadn’t even been on the island a day and strange things had already happened to me.
I was relieved that Skinny hadn’t called me back for an update. I wasn’t in the mood to be berated yet again. My hand flew to my head when I realised I hadn’t called Melissa and updated her on the day’s events. I would have to call her after dinner.
I finally gave up window shopping and marched straight to the psychic shop. I was in two minds as to what to say to the mermaid. She was unusual looking, so unless she had an identical twin, I was certain she was the woman I had seen sitting on the rock and sporting a shiny, green fish tail. The journalist side of me warred with my conscience. If she was a mermaid—and the idea did seem incredible – then she had every right to privacy. On the other hand, Skinny always said it didn’t matter if we invented stuff so long as we wrote a good story. I might have to sink to that level even though it went against everything I believed.
I arrived at the psychic shop, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. The lights were not on, which I thought strange. The door handle swung open as soon as I touched it.
The hair stood up on the back of my neck. Had the mermaid been murdered too? Had the mayor overheard our conversation and reported it to Ethan Forbes? Had Ethan sent one of his henchmen, or done the deed himself?
“You again!”
I was at once relieved. The mermaid was clearly angry with me, but at least she was alive.
“What are you doing here? The shop is closed.�
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It was then I noticed she was holding a suitcase.
“I’m sorry, the door was unlocked,” I said. “Look, let’s not beat around the bush. I know you’re a mermaid and you know that I know. Let’s just be upfront about it.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Her tone was belligerent.
I shrugged. “I don’t actually know, to be honest, but I don’t want either of us to be in danger. Someone informed me earlier I was in danger and I have no idea why. Am I in danger from you or the other mermaids?”
“Of course not,” she snapped. “Who told you were in danger?”
“He didn’t give me his name,” I said. “He just said I was in danger. You hinted as much as well.”
She locked the door behind me which frightened me, but she made no move towards me. “I’m going to stay with a friend tonight—safety in numbers and all that—and then I’m getting off this island first thing in the morning and never coming back. It’s no longer safe for me here.”
“But your shop?”
She shook her head. “I can sell it from a distance. I’m not coming back to this island.”
“Can you please tell me who you are in danger from? Who am I in danger from?”
She grabbed my arm, her fingers digging in above my elbow. “Don’t breathe a word of this. Ethan Forbes is a werewolf.”
I gasped. Big cat sightings, mermaids, and now werewolves? Had the whole world gone mad?
“You look shocked,” she said. “You’re convinced you saw mermaids, yet you’re having trouble believing in werewolves?”
I nodded. “I know it sounds silly when you say it like that. So Mr Forbes is a werewolf?” I slapped myself on the side of the head. “I see! So the keeper was making potions for him to enable him to turn into a werewolf?”
She nodded and released my arm. “Exactly,” she hissed. “But to be precise, the Forbes family shifts into big black cats, not wolves. And Ethan found out that the keeper was making plant potions that enabled us to turn into mermaids.” The woman sighed long and hard. “We don’t have any potion left now. The keeper was a lovely man. No one knew more about rare plants than he did, and he was always experimenting with tinctures and potions. He was my best friend’s uncle. That poor man.”