Bat Out of Spell

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Well … I guess tell me the truth,” Augie said after a beat. “I’d rather hear that than a lie, no matter how good you are at spinning a tale.”

  The truth, huh? He would probably regret that. “I was going to head back to the resort, pretend I was a maid, and go through Rebecca Preston’s room.”

  Augie’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe you just admitted that.”

  I couldn’t either. “I figured she’d be more likely to hide things there than admit the truth to an absolute stranger. I thought it was worth a shot.”

  Augie made a clucking sound with his tongue as he shook his head. “I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed.”

  “Impressed.”

  “It was ballsy for you to admit that.”

  “But?”

  “But I can’t let you break into a guest’s room to go through her stuff,” Augie argued. “It’s not right. I mean … not right at all. I could get fired for that.”

  “You could.”

  “Of course I might have already done it myself, in which case it would simply be a wasted effort for you,” he added, his grin turning sly.

  My interest was officially piqued. “Come again. Are you saying that you broke into a guest’s room and went through her stuff? Augie!” I slapped my hand against his arm so hard it jarred him. “You’re so much cooler than I thought you were. What did you find?”

  Augie’s face flushed with color, although I couldn’t be certain if it was because he was pleased with my comment or mortified we were suddenly on the same level. “Do you have to be so loud?” He peered around my shoulder to make sure Rebecca and Sheridan didn’t hear us. “You’ll get me arrested if you’re not careful.”

  I snorted. “How do you figure?”

  “What I did is against the law.”

  “I won’t tell if you don’t. Er, wait. I won’t tell you broke the law if you share the information you found. I’m honestly dying to know.”

  Augie took a long time making up his mind, running his tongue over his teeth as he internally debated. Finally he exhaled heavily and held up his hands. “I don’t even know why I’m fighting this. I want to tell you what I found because I have no one else to talk it over with.”

  Oh, this had to be good. “And?”

  Augie grabbed me by the elbow and tugged to relocate our gossip session, making sure we were completely out of eyesight (and hopefully earshot) should Sheridan and Rebecca look in our direction. He was obviously serious about keeping this quiet.

  “I found financial documents in Rebecca Preston’s room.” He kept his voice low. “They were interesting and confusing at the same time. I’m not an accountant, so it took me longer than it should have to understand what I was looking at. I probably should’ve paid more attention in high school math.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Augie. I’m still waiting to figure out how fractions are going to help me as an adult. People swore up and down I would need to know how to add and subtract them, but I’ve yet to run into a scenario where that’s true.”

  Augie let loose a “well, duh” face that had me biting back a laugh. “You always manage to turn every conversation to yourself.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “It’s annoying.”

  “I’ll file that away for the next time you and I want to have a deep and meaningful conversation about me,” I shot back. “Tell me what you found in Rebecca’s room. I’m practically dying here.”

  “You have so little patience,” Augie muttered as he ran a hand through his dark hair. “That’s one of your biggest faults.”

  “I’m sure you have a whole list of faults where I’m concerned.” I poked his stomach to prod him. “Spill.”

  “Okay, okay.” Augie waved my hand away. “I found financial documents. They belong to Charles Whitney. I’m not sure where Rebecca got them, but she has them and they contain notations, as if she had a lawyer go through them to explain things.”

  Hmm. “Were the notations written in crayon or something? I mean, I haven’t spent a lot of time with her, but she doesn’t seem all that bright.”

  “Not crayon, but they were broken down to a very basic level. As if she specifically asked for it to be done that way.”

  “Okay, I guess that makes sense. What did you find in there?”

  “Charles Whitney is nowhere near as rich as everyone seems to believe he is.” Augie rubbed his hands together as he warmed to the story. It was as if having permission to be bad elevated his mood. “He’s wealthy, don’t get me wrong, but the stories we hear on the news don’t tell the whole tale.”

  “Can you expand on that?”

  “Sure. It seems that Charles lost a lot of money in the stock market in 2008. We’re talking millions. His worth before the crash was around the fifteen-million mark. Now he’s only worth two million.”

  I tilted my head to the side, considering. “Two million is still a lot to most people.”

  “It is, but from what I read that money is mostly tied up in his business. It’s not liquid. He doesn’t have access to it. He’s had to sell two boats, his share in a private plane and a New York City apartment to keep his other personal assets afloat.”

  “She had all of that in her room?” I had trouble wrapping my brain around it. “I can’t imagine Charles Whitney providing her with those documents.”

  “I can’t either.”

  “That means she either stole them when he wasn’t looking or got her hands on them through alternative means,” I mused, tapping my bottom lip as I ran through the possible scenarios. “Maybe the daughter got them for her.”

  “Or maybe the daughter had access to them because her father shared his financial difficulties with her and Rebecca stole them from Sheridan. That’s also a possibility.”

  So many possibilities. I preferred having one clear-cut answer. As it stood, I thought both Charles and Rebecca were likely suspects in Blair’s death. Given how Charles acted when he thought I was Rebecca, I didn’t believe that was truly the case.

  “Would killing Blair have helped Charles’ financial problems?” I asked.

  Augie’s lips curved. “I was wondering if you would ask that. It turns out Rebecca had access to one other document. It was a copy of a life insurance policy for Blair Whitney for five million dollars … and it was to be split between Charles and Sheridan.”

  Huh. I wasn’t surprised. “So there was a good motive for Charles to off his wife.”

  “There was,” Augie confirmed. “There was also good reason for Rebecca to do it if she thought Charles would officially propose once the dust settled. There was a notation on the documents – which makes me think Rebecca asked a series of explicit questions that she wanted answers to – and whoever wrote in the margins warned her not to sign a prenuptial agreement if she wanted to get any money out of a future marriage.”

  Ding, ding, ding! We had a winner. “So Rebecca thought that Charles would be flush with funds again after Blair’s death. If they waited a few months to get married, that would keep people from being suspicious.”

  “Basically.”

  My excitement of moments before crashed. “Of course Charles could have all the money – except for Sheridan’s share – and not have to share it with anyone if he doesn’t marry again.”

  “That is also true.”

  Well, crap. I was right back where I started. “I don’t know which idea makes the most sense to me. I haven’t spent enough time with Rebecca to ascertain if she’s smart enough to pull something like this off.”

  “Originally I would’ve said no, but I’m not so certain now,” Augie said. “I think she’s smarter than anyone gives her credit for.”

  “And what about the daughter? Do you think she knows her best friend is sleeping with her father?”

  “I can’t answer that. Sheridan has been quiet since her mother’s death.”

  “And yet they’re still here,” I pointed out. “I don’
t know about you, but if my mother died at a resort I’d be on my way home as quickly as possible. I wouldn’t hang around taking mud baths with a potential suspect, that’s for sure.”

  “Unless Sheridan doesn’t know what her father has been up to,” Augie pointed out. “I haven’t been able to get close enough to talk to her more than twice since it happened – the assistant is militant about protecting her – but she doesn’t seem as if she’s all that tied into what’s happening with her father. She seems oblivious, or maybe I’m just intuiting that because I feel sorry for her. She seems to be the only one in this little group that isn’t completely obnoxious and hateful.”

  I could see that. “I don’t know what to make about it. Maybe I should head over and talk to them.”

  “Under normal circumstances I’d think that’s a bad idea, but we’re running out of time. Abigail is getting pressure from the state to declare the death murder or accidental. No matter what Buddy wants, I don’t think she’s going to say it’s an accident. Once she calls it murder, I can officially start questioning people.”

  “And once you do that the guilty party is likely to run right out of your jurisdiction,” I finished.

  “That’s it exactly.”

  “Well … crap!” I pressed my lips together and turned my attention to the setting sun. “I think that’s about the worst thing that could happen to us.”

  Even as I said it, I knew it was a mistake. I’d totally jinxed the operation. Now things were going to get worse. I could feel it.

  And, as if on cue, Swoops glided in out of nowhere and started hooting.

  “Isn’t that your bat?” Augie narrowed his eyes. “What’s he doing out here?”

  That was a very good question. “I don’t know. Sometimes he likes following me around. That’s probably what he’s doing now.”

  I believed that for a full two seconds, right until Swoops’ brain started broadcasting on all frequencies.

  The monster is out and coming this way. He’s close. He’s going to eat us all. Run for your lives!

  Yep. I totally jinxed us.

  Sixteen

  The monster was coming. Tim was out of the well and moving. And apparently he was heading in this direction. But … why? And, more importantly, how was I going to get Augie out of here before he saw the smelly menace?

  “What’s wrong with you?” Augie detected the change in my demeanor, but because he couldn’t hear Swoops he had no idea about my inner turmoil. “Are you sick?”

  Sick in the head. Sick to death of monsters. Sick to my stomach because the idea of Augie getting hurt made me physically ill. How did that even happen?

  “I’m fine,” I lied, swallowing hard as I slowly swiveled to scan the woods to the west. If Tim was coming, it would most likely be from that direction. “The smell from the mud pits is just getting to me.”

  “I’ve told you ten times that smell is not from the mud pits. I … .” Augie trailed off and wrinkled his nose. “What is that?”

  I didn’t need to ask what he was talking about. I could smell it, too. “It’s the mud pit. I told you that.”

  “But … it didn’t smell like this a few minutes ago.”

  “It did. You just missed it.”

  “How could I miss that? Good grief.” Augie pinched his nose and bent over at the waist. “I think I might pass out. That is some rank stuff.”

  “Suck it up.” I smacked him on the back hard enough to cause an echo, my mind working overtime as I tried to figure a way to clear the area without alerting Augie to what was about to happen. “You know what? If you’re feeling lightheaded, how do you think they’re feeling?” I gestured toward Rebecca and Sheridan. “You should get them out of here.”

  “I’m sure they’re not going to want to stay.” Augie gagged while staring at the ground. “I seriously think I might throw up. I don’t care if you find it unmanly. I have a weak stomach.”

  He wasn’t the only one. That was the problem. Er, well, at least one problem. “It’s not unmanly.”

  “Then what’s your problem?”

  “I’m a sympathetic puker.”

  Augie barked out a laugh that ended in a sound that caused my stomach to churn for a different reason. “Oh, that’s just … priceless.”

  “Don’t make that noise.”

  “What noise?” He made it again and I actually felt myself go green.

  “That noise! Knock it off!”

  Augie made the noise again, but this time I could tell he was faking it so I didn’t have the same visceral reaction. I elbowed his stomach, causing him to cough hard enough that he legitimately gagged, which caused the feelings of revulsion to return.

  “Knock it off!” I was deathly serious as I straightened. “I didn’t tell you my deepest and darkest secret so you could taunt me with it.”

  Augie was dubious. “That’s your deepest and darkest secret?”

  In an odd way, it was. It was certainly the one that made me feel weakest. “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No. I’m just surprised you told me.”

  He wasn’t the only one. “Yes, well … .” I was wasting time. I needed to get Augie out of here. If I didn’t, he could end up hurt. He could also find out my other secret if I wasn’t careful, and that would end poorly for more than just me. “You should get them out of here, Augie. They could get faint or lightheaded because of the smell.”

  “Also, if the mud really does smell that bad maybe something toxic is leaking into it,” Augie noted. “We don’t want guests getting sick right on the heels of a suspicious death. I’ll nudge them to the spa, tell them there was a garbage spill in town and the wind is blowing this way.”

  The wind. Hmm. “That’s a really good idea. I’ll help you.”

  CONVINCING SHERIDAN AND Rebecca to leave the mud pit was easy. The smell was nauseating and they were eager to partake in the free drinks Augie offered. Because they could do it in an air-conditioned environment that didn’t smell like a professional football team’s jockstrap pile only added to the enticement.

  Augie didn’t look over his shoulder as he herded them to the resort. I couldn’t be sure if he forgot I was there or merely let his work ethic take charge. It hardly mattered, but part of me was bothered that he seemed to forget my presence.

  The other part was profoundly glad because my enemy detached from the trees mere minutes after they vacated the area.

  “What happened to your boyfriend?”

  Now that he was walking on two legs Tim was a sight to behold. He was almost seven feet tall, with squat legs that reminded me of a crocodile and a scaly torso rippling with muscles. He looked strong. Most hell beasts do. I wasn’t particularly frightened of that strength, but I wasn’t keen to get into a physical battle. This fight would have to be conducted on the magical playing field.

  “I don’t have a boyfriend.” I maintained an even distance from Tim as he circled. His short legs gave the impression he wouldn’t be fast, but he seemed so sure of himself that I figured that wasn’t the case. “If you’re talking about the guy who was just here, he’s head of resort security and was simply doing his job.”

  “He was doing more than that.” Tim looked smug. “He was watching you.”

  “He was talking to me. We have common interests right now.”

  “That may very well be true, but he was here for you. Do you know how I know that?” He didn’t wait for me to answer, instead barreling forward. “I know because his heartbeat changed rhythm when you said something funny … or when you hit his back. It wasn’t that you hurt him. It was that you touched him and he found it exciting.”

  That was the most ludicrous thing I’d ever heard. “We were trying not to vomit. That’s not really the stuff of great romance.”

  “If you say so.” Tim started moving again, short steps, his eyes never leaving my face. “Why did you get the others out? You could have used them as fodder, but you seemed intent on removing them from the situation. I
don’t understand why.”

  “I can’t let you eat them.”

  “Why not?”

  “That’s not how things work on this side. I know you’re used to a different world, but I can’t let you ruin this one in a quest to make a new home. It’s simply … not allowed. This world has rules.”

  “Every world has rules,” Tim pointed out. “I like this world because the rules are … softer.”

  “Just like the babies, huh?”

  “I was joking about that. Babies aren’t the only thing on the menu. I find adults just as tasty.”

  “Good to know.” I chewed my bottom lip as Tim swished his tail. The sudden movement caused my muscles to tense, but I didn’t adopt a fighting stance. I didn’t want to give Tim reason to pounce. “You can’t stay here. You know that, right?”

  “I won’t leave. This is my new home.”

  “You won’t have a choice in the matter.” I moved again when Tim tried to inch closer at an angle. “I can’t let you stay. That’s the biggest rule in my world, the one I can’t break.”

  “And you think you’re strong enough to take me, do you?”

  “I think you’ve underestimated me,” I replied. “You recognize I’m a threat. That’s why you found me. Don’t bother denying it. You didn’t come out here for the mud pit girls. You were looking for me. That’s why you went by my house first.”

  “Did the flying rat tell you that?”

  No rat! No rat!

  Swoops glided above our heads, staying close in case I needed his help anchoring my magic but making sure not to get close enough to Tim that he might accidentally turn into a delicious appetizer.

  “It talks,” Tim growled, lifting his eyes to the sky. “How did I miss that? Do all rats here talk?”

  No rat! Swoops was furious.

  “Don’t let him bother you, Swoops,” I ordered. “Everyone who is important knows you’re not a rat.”

  “He’s a flying rat,” Tim corrected. “You didn’t answer my question about him. Do all rats here talk? If so I’ll have to find an exterminator.”

  I realized what he was doing a split second before he moved. He was trying to knock me off my guard, delay my reflexes. It didn’t work, of course. He was hardly the first monster that had crossed my path.