Melange

by Kristy Tate

  Lizbet waved her hand and the birds rose in a flurry of wings.

  “Whoa,” Declan breathed. “What is happening? Freaky birds...”

  Lizbet took his arm and led him down the path. “Did you know that crows and ravens have a very organized society? They’re actually very social and caring creatures, and among the smartest animals on the planet.” She said this more to the birds than for Declan. She wanted the crows to know how much she admired them and would appreciate their help. “Not only do they mate for life, they are probably more attentive parents than most humans.”

  “I didn’t know you were so into birds,” Declan said.

  “Not just birds—most creatures.” She bumped him with her hip. “Like you.”

  Declan turned to her, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her long and slow.

  THEY SPENT THE DAY boxing up Gloria’s favorite things. When Declan’s arms, chest, and back complained from hauling one too many boxes, Gloria collapsed in a wingback chair near the fireplace. Her jeans and white T-shirt were covered with dirt smudges. She pulled off the bandana tying back her hair and used it to mop her face. “Should we pick up Chinese for dinner?”

  Declan rolled his shoulders. “Sure.”

  “Where’s Lizbet?” Gloria asked.

  “I’ll find her,” Declan said.

  He took the stairs two at a time and peeked in each room off the upstairs hall. He found her standing at the open window of a secondary bedroom. She turned when she saw him. An expression he couldn’t read filled her eyes. Then her features softened, and the worried lines around her eyes disappeared as she smiled at him.

  Outside, a bird left its perch on the branch of an apple tree.

  “You ready to go?” Declan asked.

  “Of course,” Lizbet said. “Does your mom have everything she needs?”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but it’s not like she can’t make a second trip,” Declan said as they tromped down the stairs. “It seems like such a waste for this house to just sit empty.”

  “Oh, it won’t be empty for long.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Lizbet blinked, then laughed. “Well, you probably don’t want to hear this, but animals and critters will take up residence if no one else will.”

  Gloria must have overheard them because she joined in. “That’s a horrible thought. Let’s make sure the windows are tightly closed and the doors locked.”

  Lizbet just smiled, as if she knew something Declan and his mom did not. His thoughts skittered back to the bird in the apple tree, and earlier, the circling crows in the woods. It was almost as if...what?

  The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives. – Sioux

  CHAPTER 4

  “I have to keep Gloria and Declan from going out on Eleanor Bay!” Lizbet told Tennyson, her cat, that night as they curled together on her bed. “And it’s easy enough to do once, but according to the birds, Godwin’s placed something in the boat’s engine.”

  Tennyson stretched and yawned. “Can’t you just remove the something?”

  “I don’t know what belongs in an engine and what doesn’t. Besides, what if it blew up when I was trying to disable it?”

  “Sink it.”

  “I can’t do that. Can I?” She tapped her lips, thinking. After a moment, she threw back her covers, climbed from the bed, and retrieved her laptop.

  Tennyson meowed a complaint at all the shuffling about, but snuggled back into place as Lizbet settled the computer on her lap. “Mmm, so Eleanor Bay is really part of Back Bay.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t know. I’m thinking...” Lizbet flopped back against her pillows. She knew the name of the boat, Gloria Hallelujah, named after Declan’s mom, and she’d seen its picture. If she could get into the marina, she was pretty sure she’d be able to find it. But then what?

  She tried to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes she envisioned the Gloria Hallelujah exploding into orange and red flames. After what seemed like hours, she fell asleep. In her dreams, sea creatures darted around the mast of the sunken Gloria Hallelujah. A mermaid bid her to follow to still, dark waters where a lifeless Declan floated, his arms spread wide, his eyes open, his hair splayed like a Mohawk gone wild. Lizbet woke with a start and bolted from the bed, her heart pounding.

  She had to do something. Lying in bed was no longer an option. Somehow, someway, she had to prevent Declan and his mom from ever getting on that boat. The floor beneath her feet felt like ice, but she didn’t care. She pulled a pair of overalls and a flannel shirt from her dresser, shoved her feet into a pair of boots, and tugged a black hoodie over her head.

  “Where are you going?” Tennyson peeked one sleepy eye open.

  “To the docks.”

  “What are you going to do?” Tennyson now had both eyes open.

  “I’m not sure.” But maybe a salmon would help.

  While the moon hung as high as it could go, Lizbet led Trotter out of the barn. She adjusted his saddle and stuffed the frozen salmon into the saddlebag. Of course, it didn’t fit all the way so its head poked up, its mouth gaped open, and its beady black eye glared at her as if it knew her plans.

  “You stink,” the horse said.

  “Here.” Lizbet drew an apple out of her hoodie’s pocket. “I have something for you.”

  Somewhat appeased and not quite as cranky about being woken for a midnight ride, Trotter munched on the apple while Lizbet put one foot in the stirrup and threw the other over Trotter’s back. According to the GPS, they would be able to take trails most of the way to Eleanor Bay. They could bypass most city streets, but a few times they’d have to cross bridges and navigate neighborhoods. Hopefully, they’d do it all in the dark.

  They hadn’t gone far before Trotter lifted his muzzle. His nostrils flared and his trot slowed. Lizbet urged him forward, but he balked.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure.” Trotter sidestepped.

  Lizbet patted his neck reassuringly. “Come on, the sooner we deliver the salmon, the sooner we can get home.”

  Trotter blew out a noisy breath, bucked up his courage, and pressed forward into the dark night.

  Lizbet tried not to worry about wolves, but dark shadows flitting through the trees kept her tingly awake despite the hour.

  The moon cast long beams of light across Back Bay. Boats of all shapes and sizes were moored along the docks. Most would be empty, but she couldn’t count on all of them being unoccupied. She led Trotter to a lamppost and tied his reins around it.

  “This shouldn’t take long,” she told the horse as she patted his neck. “We’ll be safe in the barn soon.”

  The horse looked skeptical, but he didn’t say anything.

  Lizbet drew the salmon from the saddlebag. It had thawed slightly on the long trip and now felt slimy and cold. She held it in front of her like a platter. Other than her footsteps echoing on the boardwalk and water slapping the pilings, everything was quiet and still.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Where were the sea lions?

  The chain-link fence surrounding the marina was seven feet high. Lizbet tossed the fish over to the other side before scaling the fence. She landed beside the fish, scooped it up, and went in search of the Gloria Hallelujah.

  Like all the other boats in the marina, it was covered by an enormous nylon netting. Moonlight sparkled on the gleaming white hull and water sparkled on the clean teak deck. She felt slightly ill knowing she would do what had to be done. Leaving the fish on the boardwalk, she got to work.

  “Whatcha doing?” A seal popped his black head out of the water.

  Lizbet smiled as her apprehension slowly drained away. “Unwrapping this boat.”

  “What for?” the seal barked.

  “Well, I thought maybe you and your friends would like someplace comfortable to hang.” Lizbet untied the ropes securing the net before rolling it up.

  “Maybe I don’t want to share.”

  Lizbe
t finished pulling back the net and rolling it into ball. She straightened, and met the seal's stare. "You don't have to share, but that is a really big fish for you to eat all by yourself.” She picked up the salmon and waved it in the air. As she had expected, several seals and sea lions poked their heads out of the dark water. Lizbet grinned and tossed the fish onto the deck of the Gloria Hallelujah.

  The animals, of course, would trash the boat, but she needed to not think of it like that. If the birds were right, she was actually saving the boat. The animals would be much kinder than a bomb. Maybe.

  The seals and sea lions grunted, slapped their fins, and squealed as they attacked the salmon.

  "So...um...do you think you guys could hang out here?"

  No one looked at her.

  "I can bring more fish... All I ask is that you stay on this boat. Deal?”

  It wasn't a long-term solution, or even a reliable one. After all, Lizbet knew seals and sea lions were notoriously slippery. But she also knew that the animals would hang around at least until tomorrow. But just to be sure, she stripped down to her bra and panties and plunged into the water. The cold enveloped her. She rose sputtering. Then she grabbed the tow rope and started the long swim out of the marina.

  Pulling a boat laden with sea animals was not easy. Not that she had thought it would be. "Don't let me drown, okay?"

  One seal rose and clapped his fins, applauding her. That was all the encouragement she needed. The bay rippled as she moved through it. She didn't meet resistance until they left the cove. There, the tide roiled and the boat bucked against the waves. Lizbet tugged at the rope and fought the waves for as long as she could.

  She heaved onto the deck. The cold air raised goose pimples on her skin. Her arms and legs felt like wet noodles. She scooched the animals with her foot so she could reach the captain's chair. She plopped behind the wheel and pointed it at the rocks jutting out of the water. Inhaling several long breaths, she tried to regain her strength. She would need it for what was coming next. Leaning back, she studied the star-studded sky. Then, when she thought she could, she ran and jumped off the stern of the boat. Mustering her depleted strength, she gave the boat a push. As she’d hoped, the Gloria Hallelujah hit the rocks with a sickening splintering of wood.

  Exhausted, Lizbet headed for shore. She tugged her clothes over her wet skin and heaved herself into Trotter’s saddle. Exhausted, she slept on Trotter's back all the way home.

  LIZBET WOKE THE NEXT morning to the sound of yipping. When she crawled out of bed, every muscle screamed in complaint. She hobbled to the window and pulled back the blinds. The bright sunlight startled her. Considering her night, it didn't surprise her that she’d slept in, but she wondered why neither Elizabeth nor Daugherty had woken her to help with the morning chores.

  She saw Elizabeth standing in the vegetable garden, hoe in hand. Beside her, Daugherty wore a large straw hat that protected her skin and shielded her face from Lizbet's view. They were both shaking garden tools at something. Curious, Lizbet tried to open the window, but her arms had the strength of a newborn baby.

  She threw on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and pushed her feet into her slippers. Only the pile of smelly wet underclothes on her closet floor gave a hint of her crazy night. She stumbled down the stairs.

  "Scat!”

  "Go away!"

  Her mom and grandmother's voices floated through the open window. Lizbet grabbed a bowl, a spoon, and a carton of oatmeal, but on her way to the fridge for the milk, she paused.

  Rufus sat in the middle of the garden staring at the house, impervious to Daugherty or Elizabeth’s attempts at shooing.

  Lizbet abandoned her breakfast and went to rescue the dog. He bounced up off his haunches as soon as he spotted her on the back porch. Lizbet sank to the steps. She was pretty confident she’d successfully squelched Gloria’s boating plans for the day, and she wondered if Rufus had come with an update or a thank you.

  He brushed against her and she scratched him between the ears.

  “Do you know this creature?” Elizabeth asked, still wielding her shovel.

  “He’s Declan’s dog.”

  “John has a dog?” Daugherty asked, sounding slightly hurt.

  “No. Technically, he’s Declan’s stepfather’s dog, so he lives with Gloria.” She smiled at Rufus as she petted his thick fur.

  “Well, what’s he doing here?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “It’s a hefty walk all the way from Godwin’s,” Daugherty said.

  “Remember, Gloria is living at her dad’s house in the University District now.”

  Elizabeth blew out a surprised whistle. “That’s even farther!”

  “He must have something important to tell me,” Lizbet said.

  Daugherty and Elizabeth both laughed because they thought she was joking.

  “I’ll call Declan and get Rufus some water.” Lizbet stood and brushed her hands on her sweatpants.

  Elizabeth studied the dog. “He must really love you to come all this way.”

  “He was probably looking for his old home and got lost,” Daugherty suggested. “I heard moving can be really traumatic for animals.”

  “Is that it?” Lizbet asked the dog. “Are you traumatized?”

  “I had to thank you,” Rufus barked.

  Lizbet shepherded the dog into the kitchen and filled a bowl with water for him. She glanced out the window. Her mom and grandmother had returned to tending the garden. “You came all this way just to thank me?”

  “And to enlist your aid.”

  “Of course. You know I’d do anything for Declan.”

  Rufus sat down and scratched his nose with his paw. “I’m sure Godwin has been in our new house. Today, his smell lingers everywhere and yet as far as I know he has never been there before.”

  “The one in the University District?”

  Rufus nodded.

  “Could it be that his smell came with Gloria’s things?”

  Rufus wagged his head.

  “Interesting. I’ll call Declan. Maybe I can think of a way of asking to view the security cameras’ footage.”

  She picked up the landline and dialed Declan. Even before Declan could say hello, Gloria could be heard in the background, shrieking.

  “Hey,” Declan said, sounding tired.

  “Wow, your mom sounds upset,” Lizbet said. “What’s going on?”

  “The boat had an accident. Somehow it came untied and floated out of the marina.”

  Lizbet tried to sound surprised. “What do you think happened? It’s okay, though, right?”

  “No, it’s not okay. It exploded.”

  “Exploded? But that’s not possible.” Lizbet fell into a kitchen chair, dimly aware of Rufus’s curious scrutiny.

  “It’s so weird. Someone drove it out of the marina and then blew it up.”

  “No. That’s not what happened.” She caught herself. “That couldn’t have happened. It doesn’t make any sense. What about the seals and sea lions?” A sick feeling washed over her. The thought of her oatmeal turned her stomach.

  “The seals and sea lions?”

  “Well, there’s always sea creatures around... I just hoped no one was hurt.” She paused. “Do you think maybe Godwin did this?”

  “Probably. We’re going to watch the security videos in a few minutes. Mom’s meeting with her clients is, of course, cancelled.”

  “Hey, here’s something weird.”

  “Something else?”

  “Rufus is here.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, I woke up this morning and found him in the garden. My mom and Elizabeth were trying to run him off.”

  “What’s he doing there?”

  “I asked him, but he dodged the question.”

  “So strange.” The laughter in his voice told her that he thought she was joking.

  “If I could drive, I’d bring him to you. He’s welcome to hang out here as long as you ne
ed him to.” She glanced at her cat sitting in the windowsill and hissing at Rufus. “Although Tennyson is not a fan.”

  LIZBET SAT WITH DECLAN and Gloria on the den’s sofa watching the security cameras’ footage on the TV screen and trying not to fall asleep. Her aching muscles complained no matter what position she assumed. When a shadow appeared on the screen, Gloria bounced to her feet and aimed the remote. The screenshot froze, catching Godwin in a half step.

  “He came in during Declan’s graduation!” Gloria huffed. “Of course he knew we’d be gone then!”

  “That still doesn’t explain how he got in,” Declan said.

  “Someone must have given him a key,” Lizbet suggested.

  “We don’t know that,” Gloria said.

  “It looked like he had a key,” Declan pointed out.

  “He has his back to the camera. He could have pried the lock...somehow.”

  Declan rubbed his forehead and looked out the window at the moving shadows.

  “Someone had to have seen something,” Lizbet said, addressing the dog.

  Rufus settled onto the floor at Lizbet’s feet and placed his shaggy head on his paws. “There was no one here but a mouse.”

  “A mouse!” Lizbet gasped.

  “Where?” Gloria shrieked.

  Lizbet scrambled for an appropriate response. “I thought I saw one!”

  “You did?” Declan questioned.

  Lizbet looked at Rufus, but he rolled onto his back and wiggled like he was scratching an itch.

  “Over there.” Lizbet pointed at a dark corner behind a potted plant.

  While Gloria shrank against the sofa, and Declan went to investigate, Lizbet nudged Rufus with her foot. “Some mouser you are.”

  Rufus’s whiny response sounded like an out-of-tune violin.

  Declan dropped to his knees to inspect the space between the urn and the wall. The plant had dropped a number of leaves.

  “Get up and find the mouse!” Lizbet demanded of the dog.

  Rufus rolled up to his haunches and made the violin noise again.

  Declan rocked back onto his heels and brushed the leaves off his pants. He froze. “Poop. Augh,” he said. “There really is a mouse.”