Against the Claw

by Shari Randall

  “They’re wonderful. Please thank Stellene and Tinsley for us.” As I slipped mine on I almost forgave Stellene for making us wear mermaid costumes. Aunt Gully and Lorel put theirs back in the boxes. Neither Lorel nor I had brought purses, so Aunt Gully tucked the boxes in hers.

  Stellene, tall and elegant, and a short, broad-shouldered blonde in an oversized T-shirt entered the kitchen. Everyone went silent and then Zoe’s voice shrilled. “Eden!”

  Eden! Right here in the kitchen!

  Tara and Yasmin shared a wide-eyed glance and melted back toward the pantry.

  Stellene’s arms were crossed and her jaw set as she walked alongside Eden.

  The pop superstar was shorter than I expected, curvy and square jawed. She wore white yoga pants and an oversized, stained Mets T-shirt, so oversized the neckline slipped over her shoulder revealing the broad strap of a red sports bra. Her bare feet moved soundlessly over the kitchen floor.

  “I didn’t get a chance to eat before I sang.” Eden’s voice boomed. “Time to raid the kitchen.”

  Aunt Gully reached for her basket. “Well, we’ll take care of that right now. I’ll make you a lobster roll.”

  “Oh, hello, you’re still here, Gina.” Stellene used Aunt Gully’s given name, which no one did. She must have seen it on the contract.

  Eden grinned. “That’s so sweet of you. You’re the Lazy Mermaid lady.”

  “I’m Gully Fontana, but you can call me Aunt Gully. Everyone does. And these are my nieces, Lorel and Allie.” Aunt Gully waved the staff and caterers forward and introduced them as she started preparing the rolls. Eden shook hands with everyone and posed for some selfies. “And this is Tara and Yasmin,” Aunt Gully said.

  Stellene shifted from one foot to another. She probably didn’t have any idea what her servants’ names were. Suddenly Stellene looked like a guest in her own house. She glanced at us as Aunt Gully and the staff resumed working.

  “You two looked perfect,” Stellene purred.

  I glanced down. I’d forgotten I was still wearing the mermaid costume.

  “Thank you so much for the beautiful bracelet.” I raised my wrist.

  “Yes, Stellene, thank you. They’re gorgeous,” Lorel said.

  Stellene blinked, then caught Zoe’s eye. I wondered if Tinsley had disobeyed her mother or meant for us to have these at all. Maybe Zoe was just getting rid of some leftover party favors.

  “Tinsley asked me to make sure you all received a gift, with her compliments,” Zoe said.

  Stellene’s shoulders relaxed. “You’re very welcome.” Stellene talked with Greenwich lockjaw, her lips hardly moving, all the planes of her face smooth and sculpted. Her eyes were a pale light blue that made me think of February ice on Harris Core.

  Zoe’s phone buzzed. “Sorry, gotta take this. Good night, all.” She strutted from the kitchen.

  Aunt Gully bustled over, a wooden spoon in one hand, her gray hair frizzing. “The jewelry’s lovely. You and your daughter are so thoughtful.”

  “It’s a new business venture for my daughter,” Stellene said.

  “How exciting! Tinsley’s a talented girl,” Aunt Gully said.

  “I’m so very proud of her.” Stellene’s cheeks pinked.

  Stellene’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me, I have to take this.” She hurried from the kitchen.

  Eden pulled a chair up to the long wooden table that looked right out of a French château. She turned the chair backward and straddled it, curling her bare feet over the rungs. Her black nail polish was chipped. On her neck and wrist were tattoos that looked like bar coding.

  Aunt Gully hummed at the stove and everyone else pretended to be cool about having one of the most famous pop stars in the world eating in the kitchen. I sat at the table with her and Lorel joined me. We chatted about the party and Mystic Bay. I couldn’t bring myself to ask the one question I was dying to ask: Are you singing in Ondine?

  Aunt Gully set a lobster roll in front of Eden.

  “Ooh, that looks good. Thanks, Aunt Gully.” Eden took a bite, moaning. “So good! You’re the real deal.”

  Stellene strode back into the kitchen with her arms crossed, rubbing her upper arms. A tiny line creased her smooth forehead.

  Eden swallowed and turned toward Stellene. “Like I was saying, Stellene, thanks for asking me to stay. But I gotta tell you, I’m spooked. Some girls were hiding in my closet. I took some selfies with them, and security escorted them out, but I’ve got to get back on the yacht. I don’t feel safe here.”

  Stellene’s expression was pained. Lorel and I shared a look and melted away from the table. We joined Aunt Gully as she repacked her basket.

  “What do I pay that security team for?” Stellene fumed. “They’re supposed to be the best—”

  Eden raised a hand. “No worries, Stellene. But if I could go back on Model Sailor, that would be great.”

  Model Sailor was Stellene’s yacht. Everyone knew Model Sailor, one of the biggest yachts to cruise Mystic Bay.

  “Nobody would think to look for me there,” Eden said. “And I loved being able to swim off the boat.”

  Stellene waved it away. “Nonsense. I’ll have the team sweep the house again.”

  Eden shook her head. “Stellene, I just feel safer on the boat.”

  “Too bad I let my crew have the night off. Really, I think you’ll be more comfortable here in the house.” Stellene’s voice was more clipped, more intense, uncomfortably so. The kitchen staff turned away. Lorel and I busied ourselves helping Aunt Gully tidy up, but from the corner of my eye I watched the two powerful women spar.

  “I’ll be fine on the boat. Just have one of your boat guys take me out.” Eden licked her fingers.

  Stellene’s lips whitened. She looked toward me. I jumped and pretended to pack Aunt Gully’s already packed basket.

  “I know you like a hearty breakfast. You’d do better here where my staff can cook for you.” Stellene’s laugh was shrill. “Even I don’t know how to cook on the boat.”

  “I’ve cooked on a boat,” I said. “I’d be happy to show you.” I couldn’t believe the words flew out of my mouth. I froze, afraid that Stellene would look at me with those icy eyes again.

  “Would you?” Eden smiled. “That would be great. See, Stellene, Allie—it’s Allie, right?—will help me out. Allie, would you mind staying overnight with me on the boat? I know it’s weird and you just met me and all, but that would be great. I can’t just walk into restaurants these days.”

  “Those stoves can be tricky. Maybe Lorel could help you, too.” Aunt Gully took off her apron and folded it, smiling innocently at Eden. Lorel’s mouth opened but she didn’t say anything.

  Eden laughed. “See, a party. With mermaids. Awesome. And didn’t your chef say he stocked the yacht? So I’m all set.”

  Did I just invite myself onto Stellene Lupo’s yacht with Eden?

  “Oh, no, I couldn’t let you.” Stellene’s carefully modulated tone disappeared. Two red spots blotched her cheeks. “You must stay here in the suite. You’ll be more comfortable. It’s more secure.”

  “The boat’ll be fine.” Eden put her plate in the sink. “It’s not your fault your guests got past security.”

  Oh, your guests. Eden twisted the knife. How could Stellene make Eden stay here with guests like that?

  “I insist—” Stellene’s voice faltered.

  “Thanks, Stellene,” Eden said. “You’re the hostess with the mostess, I know, but the boat’ll be fine.”

  “Of course.” Stellene shrugged. “Well, okay. I’ll have Jackson take you to the dock in one of the golf carts. It’ll take a few minutes to arrange. He’ll meet you at the conservatory entrance.” Stellene pulled her phone from her pocket and hurried from the kitchen.

  “Well, you kids have fun.” Aunt Gully gave everyone a hug. “Whenever you’re in town, come in for a lobster roll, my dears.”

  Dazed, I watched Aunt Gully carry her basket to the padded door of the kitchen, followed by
Yasmin and Tara. Before she went through, Aunt Gully turned and winked at us.

  “How could this night get any better?” Lorel breathed.

  The kitchen door opened and Henry Small walked in. “Hey, it’s the mermaids.”

  My mind went blank as he approached. Then he swung into the seat next to Eden. “There you are, my love.”

  I remembered the gossip I’d heard on the pool deck. Of course a superstar like Eden would have such a handsome boyfriend.

  “Guess where we’re spending the night?” Eden crowed.

  Chapter 17

  Lorel and I changed back into our T-shirts and shorts. We met Eden at the same door where just hours earlier I’d parked the van. A golf cart drove up.

  “Good evening, I’m Ken Jackson.” The driver helped us into the cart. Henry hefted a duffel into the back of the cart and sat in front. Eden sat in the back of the cart with Lorel and me.

  Eden’s song rang in my mind. “Eden—”

  “Allie—” She turned to me just as I spoke.

  “You know Dara Van Der Witz, right?” I whispered.

  Her smile flashed in the dim light. “Yes, yes I do.” She chuckled. “Don’t I look like a German soprano? And I recognized your name. And that outfit.” She shook her head.

  Ken Jackson started the cart and we rolled forward.

  “Wait!”

  The driver braked.

  Stellene ran up to us, holding two champagne bottles aloft. “Take the party with you. This is some of my best champagne. Promise me you’ll drink every drop!”

  She handed the open bottles to Henry and Lorel.

  “Stellene, you’re the best,” Eden crowed.

  Stellene smiled, kissed her fingertips and blew a kiss.

  All is forgiven, I thought.

  Lorel sipped and passed the bottle to me. I took a swig. Ah, delicious.

  “That’s a promise we can keep.” Henry chugged the champagne and howled as Ken Jackson drove along a darkened path to the waterfront.

  Henry passed the bottle to Eden. She and I clinked bottles. “To Ondine!”

  Several powerboats were tied up at Stellene’s dock. One was a vintage Chris-Craft, a sleek wooden powerboat that looked like it should be ferrying the Rat Pack to a party with Doris Day and Marilyn Monroe. Ken stowed the bag in it, then helped us board.

  “She’s a beauty,” I said as Ken took the wheel.

  The engine purred to life. We slid out in the dark sea, leaving the thumping music and sparkling lights of the party at Harmony Harbor in our wake.

  Several strands of Lorel’s hair worked their way from her chignon. She giggled as she sipped from the champagne bottle and then passed it to me. I offered the bottle to Ken. He waved it off with a laugh. “No, thank you, miss.”

  People say champagne goes to their head, but champagne goes to my head and my feet. After just a sip, I couldn’t help dancing. The boat’s ride was smooth, but after two steps I fell on my bottom on a pile of life preservers.

  This set off uncontrollable giggles. Henry helped me up and I sat with Lorel on the bench seat. Eden sang, her powerful, throaty voice riding on top of the engine’s roar. The boat sped to a sheltered inlet, smoothly slaloming through a darkened flotilla of sailboats, powerboats, and rowboats, all heading home after the fireworks. Red, green, and white running lights scudded on the water. A Harbor Patrol boat hovered nearby, keeping a watchful eye.

  Ken took it a bit fast, but he was showing off for Eden. She stood next to him, her loose white T-shirt and peals of laughter flowing behind her.

  Henry dropped between Lorel and me.

  “Do you live in New York?” I asked.

  He sat back and looped his arms around us.

  “New York and L.A. when we’re not on tour. Which we are all the time. I barely live anywhere except hotel rooms.” In the dark, lit only by some inboard lights, Henry was a silhouette, and the scent of chlorine and masculine sweat and champagne, and a voice with an appealing rasp. “Yep, I’m a city boy now. But where I grew up there were more cows than people.”

  I caught the white flash of Lorel’s smile in the darkness. It had been a long time since I’d seen her so relaxed. Of course, as a method of relaxation, drinking champagne on a motorboat with a handsome guy couldn’t be beat.

  “How long have you known Eden?” Lorel said.

  He chuckled. “Eden? Since before she was Eden.”

  He stood and lurched forward as the boat slowed and approached the yacht. Lorel leaned over to me.

  “How on earth did we end up on a motorboat with Eden?” She laughed.

  Hearing Lorel laugh made me happy. Maybe she’d truly left Patrick behind.

  Stellene’s massive white yacht loomed out of the darkness, three stories tall and topped with satellite dishes.

  “Whoa!” Lorel said. “This thing’s big enough to qualify as a cruise ship.”

  Ken throttled down and brought us alongside Model Sailor. As we approached, the yacht lit up with LED lights along the rub rail.

  Two men stepped onto the swim platform at the rear of the yacht and helped us board. “Anything else we can get you?”

  We shook our heads. The men got into the launch. “Madam wanted you to have complete privacy.”

  “Tell Madam thanks a bunch!” Eden crowed. We waved them off.

  Henry lurched to get his footing as the yacht rocked gently on the tide.

  Lorel headed down a passageway and Henry climbed a ladder to the upper deck.

  Eden grabbed my arm. “We won’t drift anywhere, will we?” Her famous dusky voice was urgent.

  “We’re at anchor.” A momentary worry flickered—the crew had taken off. “The weather’s calm. We’ll be fine.” I smiled, but I wondered about a question she didn’t ask. Who could come out here at this time of night?

  Eden’s crazy fans, a little voice reminded me. Maybe it was the champagne, but I dismissed the thought. No one knew we were here. Besides, Stellene’s security detail was probably watching the boat. She wouldn’t want a repeat of the incident with the fans sneaking into Eden’s room.

  “Come on up!” Henry called. Eden clambered up the ladder.

  I hurried down the passage after Lorel and found her lying on a queen-sized bed in a stateroom.

  “That looks great but shouldn’t we be in the crew quarters?” I asked.

  “I’m not sleeping in those two guys’ beds,” Lorel said.

  “Good point. Just don’t snore too loud.”

  Lorel giggled and passed me the champagne bottle. We went up to the galley. The kitchen was all granite and teak, with real crystal and china in the cabinets.

  “Unreal. On a boat.” I shook my head.

  Eden waved us into a spacious glass-enclosed space with modern furniture and a huge television screen.

  “We came over on this boat with Stellene today. I love that this room is called the saloon.” Eden laughed.

  “Just like the old West,” Henry said. He sprawled on a dove-gray leather sectional couch. Lorel and I sat next to him. His forearms were covered with tattoos. One was a face. I looked from the tattoo to Eden.

  “That’s Eden.” I laughed.

  Henry’s eyes were bright. “I get a tat for every band I play with. Check this out.” He flexed and a coyote moved on his bicep. “Blue Coyote was the band. See, it’s blue?”

  I sighed. I could look at his tattoos all night. I pointed at one on his left arm. “Sunrise?”

  “Dawn of Rock. Lame name,” Henry said.

  Lorel pointed to a small one on his forearm.

  He chuckled. “Kinda rough, huh? That’s 3H. Everyone in the band had a name that began with H.”

  “And be sure to show them your scales,” Eden said.

  “Scales of justice.” He pulled down the neck of his shirt and turned so I could see the tattoo. Words in Latin crossed his upper back underneath scales at the base of his neck.

  Eden sipped from the champagne bottle. “Henry studied criminal justice fo
r a while. You have to read the Latin for her, Henry.”

  “Fiat justitia ruat cælum is a Latin phrase. It means ‘Let justice be done though the heavens fall.’”

  Eden fanned herself. “Talk Latin to me, baby!”

  “A little bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Lorel laughed. I sipped from my champagne bottle and passed it to Lorel.

  Eden handed Henry the other champagne bottle. “Want the last bit?”

  Henry swigged from the bottle then tipped it upside down. “One dead soldier.” It fell to the floor. I picked it up and tossed it into the trash bin in the galley.

  “Will we be safe out here?” Eden rubbed her eyes and slumped next to Henry. Lorel handed me the champagne bottle.

  “We’ll be safe. Nobody knows we’re here except for Stellene.” Henry patted her hand.

  “And her crew.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes, forgetting I still held an almost empty bottle of Stellene’s champagne.

  Lorel shrugged. “And they’re fired if anyone shows up here.”

  “Stellene picked us up from a friend’s house this morning on Montauk. She said the boat’s a great way to escape. I agree. Her clients use boats all the time because nobody thinks to watch the marinas.” Eden’s eyes fluttered closed.

  “And Queen Stellene packs heat.” Henry jumped up and headed to the bridge. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

  “She does what?” Lorel said.

  Henry opened a compartment and turned back to us, keeping his hands behind his back. “Packs heat. Her husband was a big gun collector.”

  I remembered the room full of weapons.

  “Stellene showed it to us on our way over from Montauk. See, I’ll protect you, fair ladies.” Henry brandished a gun.

  “Whoa, Henry, put it back,” I said. The gun was a dull black color that seemed to suck all the light in the room into it.

  “Stellene’s husband, late husband, collected guns and she learned to shoot. She keeps one onboard for security.” Henry sighted down the barrel.

  Lorel said, “Is it loaded?”

  The boat rocked and Henry stumbled across the saloon. Lorel jumped up from the couch.

  “Stop, you idiot,” Eden slurred.