Hex Type Thing

by Amanda M. Lee

  Calliope’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Oh, I’m serious.” Galen refused to back down. “You’re listed as a co-organizer on all the documents. That means what’s happening on that beach — and, trust me, it’s not good — is now yours to deal with.”

  “But ... .” She looked like a guppy trying to gulp air when she turned to me. “This isn’t my fault. I had no idea this was going to happen. You can’t expect me to fix this. I don’t even know where to start.”

  “You should’ve thought about that before you went into business with Alastair,” Galen snapped. “We need to know where he is. When was the last time you talked to him?”

  “I ... don’t know. It wasn’t yesterday. I didn’t see him yesterday.” She screwed up her face in concentration. “It was the night before, on the beach.”

  “When I saw you.”

  “Right.” Her smile was back. “That moment is seared into my memory.”

  “Oh, knock it off,” I groused. “Nobody is buying your act, and he’s already taken. Besides, he doesn’t like the diamond thong song.”

  Calliope’s gaze was withering. “I don’t believe I was talking to you.”

  “And yet she’s not wrong,” Galen supplied. “I am taken ... by her. Now cut the crap. This is a serious situation. Salma Hershey is dead. None of the things promised to the festival guests have been delivered and they’re threatening to riot. Alastair is gone and you’re left holding the bag.”

  She blinked several times, making me think she was trying to work up some tears, and then she took me by surprise when she broke into a hissy fit.

  “I just knew this was a terrible idea,” she complained, smacking her hands against the table and lifting her eyes to the ceiling. “I don’t know why I let him talk me into this. I knew it would backfire. He said it would be easy money. It turns out he was right. Of course, it was easy money … for him.”

  “I need more information than that,” Galen responded calmly. “How about you start from the beginning?”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.” Calliope was bordering on belligerent. “I got sucked into this thing when he contacted my management company. He heard I was looking for entertainment investments to expand my repertoire and thought I might be interested. I was ... at first ... but then I started to realize that some of the things he was offering weren’t possible.

  “I questioned him on it and he told me to shut my mouth,” she continued. “He swore up and down that everything would be fine and that we were going to make quadruple our money. He seemed to know what he was talking about, so I let him handle things.

  “Then, the night before last, Salma approached him on the beach. She was angry. Said that she knew he was scamming everyone and that she was going to go to the newspapers and entertainment shows. I was worried, but Alastair said it would be fine. Then he sent me to the bar with a pat on the head. It was condescending, but it was better than dealing with things myself. He wanted to be in charge and I let him be in charge.”

  Galen shifted his eyes to me and I could see fury lurking there. “Well, that’s just ... lovely. I guess we know that none of this happened by accident. Did he kill Salma?”

  “How should I know?” Calliope held her hands out and shrugged. “I told you he sent me to the bar. I was happy to go. They were still arguing when I left.”

  “And you didn’t think to call me when news spread that Salma was dead?”

  “Not really. Why would I call you?”

  “Because Alastair is a suspect in her death, you ninny,” I snapped. “She was murdered. It’s not as if she fell and hit her head.”

  “I had nothing to do with that.” She suddenly found something on her fingernails to study. “Is that all? I’m really feeling the need for a nap.”

  “That’s pretty far from all,” Galen growled. “You need to get it together, because you’re coming into town with us. Somebody needs to placate that crowd and it’s going to be you.”

  She made a series of protesting sounds. “But ... I don’t know what to do.”

  “I guess you’ll have to figure it out.”

  “Why can’t you do it?”

  “I have to find Alastair.”

  “When you do, tell him I still want my cut of the money. If he tries to bolt with it I’ll send people after him. I don’t know who, but I’ll find people ... and send them after him.”

  As far as threats went, it wasn’t very creative. Still, she kind of made me laugh ... when I wasn’t envisioning throttling her. “We should head back now so we can start the search. The longer we go without finding him, the easier it will be for him to hide. We need to track him down now.”

  “Agreed.” Galen got to his feet. “I want you with me. You might be able to help.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  “That and so many other things.” He rested his hand on my shoulder and glared at Calliope. “Get dressed in something you can wear in public. You have a long day in front of you.”

  “You should probably pick something that requires a bra,” I added.

  Calliope stomped, whined and cried, but to no avail. Galen was firm. She was heading to the beach, and we were starting an official search.

  14

  Fourteen

  Calliope tried to take the front seat for the ride back to town, but Galen ordered her in the back and then told her to sit on my side of the truck so he wouldn’t accidentally catch a glimpse of her pouting in the backseat. He then proceeded to give her instructions on what he expected from her as we drove.

  Even though I had things to say, I was amused enough to sit back and let him run the show. He wasn’t about to put up with Calliope’s crap.

  “You don’t have to yell at me,” the pop singer groused as we pulled into the lot across from the beach. Galen had texted his men to meet us there. He didn’t want to garner the attention of festival-goers, which is why he made sure to stay out of their line of sight.

  “How are things going?” he asked Deputy Michael Briggs as he opened Calliope’s door and instructed her to climb out.

  “Nobody died during the night,” Michael said dryly. “That’s about the only thing I can say.”

  “Were things bad?”

  “They weren’t good. Most of the people behaved themselves, but there are some who need to be watched.”

  “Keep your eyes on them,” Galen insisted. “Don’t let this get out of hand. Aurora and a few of the sirens will be patrolling the water when they can manage for additional help. If you need more than that ... I’m not sure what I’ll do, but I’ll think of something.”

  “We’re okay right now.” Michael was calm, focused. “I think the overnight hours are what we need to worry about. People are less likely to act up during the day.”

  “Then I’ll find more help for the overnight hours.” Galen flicked his eyes to Calliope, who looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else but heading to the beach. “I’ve made her aware of her duties. In case she forgets and needs a reminder from you, though, she is to pitch in and calm the festival attendees. She’s to make right what’s gone so wrong. She’s also to provide entertainment.

  “If she tries to flee, restrain her — and do it publicly,” he continued, causing Calliope to make dramatic protesting sounds as she shifted from one foot to the other. “Make sure someone takes photos to send to the newspapers and broadcast entertainment shows. We can sell the photos and make money to give back to the people who have been ripped off.”

  “You’re mean,” Calliope whined, adopting a voice I knew would grate on Galen. “I can’t believe how mean you are ... and I can’t believe I thought you were hot. Mean people are not hot.”

  “I’m fine with that.” Galen was blasé. “I’m not joking with you. If you don’t calm these people down I’ll make your life a living hell.”

  “My life is already a living hell,” she shot back. “Alastair ran off with my money. I don’t h
ave anything to give these people.”

  “Well, you’d better figure it out.” Galen hopped back in the truck. “You won’t like what happens if you don’t fix this. You can whine, stomp your foot and bat your eyelashes all you want. It won’t matter if you don’t get it together.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” Calliope complained. “This wasn’t supposed to be my responsibility.”

  “Figure it out.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. That’s up to you. If you don’t figure it out, you won’t like the consequences.” He turned to Michael. “I’m serious. Cuff her and lock her up if she tries to leave.”

  “Yes, sir.” Michael almost looked amused at the prospect, but he held it together. “Where are you going?”

  “We’re heading to Alastair’s house. I’m going to turn that place inside out until I find a clue as to where he’s gone.”

  “Maybe you’ll find my money while you’re there,” Calliope suggested, brightening.

  Galen rolled his eyes. “Any money seized will not be going to you. It will be going to the people who were screwed, the ones out on the beach, the ones who are going to be trying to grab your throat when they see you.”

  Calliope swallowed hard. “You really are mean.”

  “I’m fine with that.” Galen remained silent until we were on the highway and heading toward the north end of the island. He seemed focused on the road, but I could practically hear the gears in his mind working.

  “You’re not going to be mean to me, are you?” I asked after a beat. “I know that you’re warming to your new persona, but I happen to like it when you’re nice.”

  The smile he slid me was sly. “I’ll be nice to you later.”

  “Okay. Just checking.”

  IT TOOK US TWENTY MINUTES TO reach Alastair’s house. When we pulled into the driveway, I openly gaped. The house standing before us was a mega-mansion. My entire lighthouse could’ve fit into a corner of the yard and still not hurt the view of the tennis courts, pool or putting green.

  “I guess this is what it’s like to have money,” I said as I climbed out of the truck. “Wow.”

  Galen slid his eyes to me. “I prefer the lighthouse. It has personality. This place is ... too much.”

  “Yeah, but ... it’s like something out of a movie.”

  “And I still prefer the real deal,” Galen said. “This isn’t real. It’s a facade.”

  He was serious enough that I had to pull my gaze away from the grounds and focus on him. “What are you worried about?”

  “There are so many things to worry about that I don’t even know where to start. The big one is obviously those people on the beach. We don’t have the means to get them off this island before their scheduled departures. Even if we could, most have already made their travel arrangements. We can’t mess with them.”

  “It’s going to be okay.” It was obvious that he needed reassurance. I wanted to give it to him ... if I could swing it. I wasn’t certain that was in my wheelhouse, but I was going to give it a try. “We’ll figure this out. The people on the beach are inconvenienced. Nobody has gotten hurt. We can keep it that way.”

  “Salma was hurt.”

  I stilled. “She was.” I studied his strong profile as he looked over Alastair’s island paradise. “You can’t blame yourself for that. What happened was ... terrible, but you couldn’t have stopped it.”

  “No?” He didn’t look convinced. “What would’ve happened if I’d stayed on the beach that night? What if I’d overseen everything? Then Salma would still be alive and Alastair wouldn’t have had the opportunity to run.”

  “Except that’s not what happened. You can’t go back in time and change things. I get that you’re upset. That’s who you are. Guilt is a useless emotion, though. It will eat you alive if you allow it. Please ... don’t allow it. It won’t do you or me any good.”

  He heaved out a sigh and dragged his hand through his hair. “I know you’re right.” He leaned over and gave me a kiss. “I love you. What we have isn’t a facade, like this place. I much prefer what we have, and that’s never going to change.”

  He seemed ridiculously serious. “Okay.” I stroked my finger down his cheek. “I prefer what we have, too. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy going through the rich guy’s house. Do you think he has golden toilets? I heard that there was some rapper who was famous back in the day who had golden toilets.”

  Galen’s eyebrows drew together. “What would you do with a golden toilet?”

  “The same thing you do with a regular toilet.”

  “That seems a waste.”

  “Opulence is always a waste. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun to look at.”

  THE FRONT DOOR WAS LOCKED, BUT that didn’t deter Galen. He had a lock pick in his pocket and immediately set to work to open the door.

  “Is that legal?” I asked as I watched him work. “I mean ... aren’t you supposed to have a warrant before entering a home? If television has taught me anything, it’s that.”

  His lips curved but his focus remained on the lock. “Moonstone Bay doesn’t operate under the same rules as the mainland.”

  “How is that possible? Certain rules are fixed no matter where you live, as long as it’s in the United States.”

  “I think that’s true of most places but, remember, Moonstone Bay isn’t a state. It’s a territory. We have travel treaties in place with the United States. This is technically American soil. We’re not bound by the same rules, though. That was established hundreds of years ago because the island forefathers didn’t want conquerors coming in and trying to boss us around.

  “We agreed to be part of the United States, but we also held onto our own rules and autonomy,” he continued. “I work under the auspices of the DDA and can basically do whatever I want. Of course, the opposite is also true. The DDA can boss me around and force me to do things I don’t like if they decide it needs to be done.”

  The more I heard about this DDA, the more I didn’t like them. “They sound like little despots,” I complained. “Why don’t you guys overthrow them?”

  Amusement lit his features as the lock clicked and he pushed open the door. “I don’t think it’s quite as dire as that. Besides, they’re not going to simply sit back and cede their power base. They could do a lot of damage, kill a lot of people, on their way down. You have to remember, these are some of the most powerful entities on the island. We can’t simply walk in, tell them their reign is over and expect them to leave quietly.”

  That only made me feel worse. “I think they’re freaks.”

  “They have issues,” he agreed, putting his hand to the small of my back and prodding me inside. “Now, let’s invade Alastair’s privacy and find out where he went.”

  “Okay, but I’m totally drooling over whatever cool decorations he has in here. You’ve been warned.”

  Galen chuckled as he closed the door behind us. “If you see anything you like, make note of it. All this stuff will be seized to sell at auction given what’s happened. You might get a good deal on something.”

  “Oh, good idea. I ... .” Something immediately caught my eye and my mouth dropped open as I swiveled. In the center of the foyer — which was the size of a train station — stood a fountain. It was ornate, garish and kind of cool. The best part about it was the figure in the center of the action. It was a huge fish. Er, well, slightly better than a fish. “Is that what I think it is?” I was transfixed.

  Galen snorted as he moved behind me. He didn’t seem as impressed by the fountain. “If you mean a half-man, half-shark, then yes. That’s what you think it is.”

  “It’s a shark shifter.” I was desperate to see a shark shifter. Once I found out they were real I could focus on little else. Galen claimed they were rare, but I knew I would see one ... some day. “He has a fountain of a shark shifter. It’s just ... so weird. How much do you think this will go for at auction?”

  “More than you hav
e,” he replied. He was already heading out of the room. “You don’t want that anyway. It’s ostentatious and you don’t have room. Where would you put it?”

  “The back patio, where any passing shark shifter could see it and want to come and pray.” On a sigh, I moved away from the fountain and followed him. “One day I’m going to have enough money to buy something that impractical. Just you wait.”

  “Money isn’t everything.” Galen was flipping through a stack of documents on a table in what could laughingly be described as a living room ... if living rooms were the size of small libraries. “There are more important things in life than money.”

  “I know.” That was true. I wasn’t obsessed with money. I didn’t like the idea of being poor, either. I wanted a happy balance. “I would never pretend that money was the be-all and end-all of everything. That said, I would like a fountain with a shark shifter in it. I can’t say why, and know it’s not possible. I still want it. It’s ... neat.”

  Galen sighed and shook his head. “I don’t mean to take away your joy. I really don’t. It’s just ... this island has always been ruled by money. As far back as when pirates used it as a way to avoid the authorities. Money always talks here, and I don’t particularly like it.”

  From his perspective, I could see how that would be bothersome. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t get all worked up over material possessions. It’s just ... it’s a freaking shark shifter.”

  He smirked. “It’s cool. We need to focus on important stuff now. That means finding anything that could lead us to Alastair ... dead or alive.”

  “Where do you want to start?”

  “He has to have an office in this place. I say we start there.”

  FINDING THE OFFICE WASN’T DIFFICULT once we adjusted to the size of the house. There was a method to the madness of how it was laid out, but the method wasn’t exactly linear.

  “I found something,” I announced, holding up a stack of papers I’d discovered in the trash bin under Alastair’s desk. We’d been searching the office for a good hour and I’d only just found the trash bin because it was secured so far under the ornate mahogany desk that I had to get on my knees to look.