Evelina and the Reef Hag (12 page)

As she putted closer she realized it was a person, lying face down on the path.

She hopped off the Air Jet just as Abby and Tally zoomed up.

“He looks dead.” Abby peered down from her perch on the jet.

Evelina knelt down, then placed two fingers against his neck to feel for a pulse.

Nothing.

Her heart gave a thud. “He is.” She shook her head. “He’s from
Oceana
. Now White Water and
Oceana
are both down one warlock.”

Abby scowled down at the victim. “This gives the Swamp Hogs a huge advantage.”

Evelina rolled him over in the sand.

He looked familiar… that mop of curly black hair.

And yet… she didn’t know him.

“How could this have happened?” Tally wore a look of horror. “There was supposed to be nets everywhere on the course. It’s an enchantment. It’s not supposed to fail.”

Evelina came to her feet. “Maybe he veered off course.”

“Maybe something led him off course.” Abby shifted her gaze to the wild jungle around them. “And that’s how he fell.”

A vision of falling into Psycho Sally’s table at the pier flashed through Evelina’s brain. “That’s where I saw him!”

“Who?” Abby and Tally chanted in unison.

Evelina pointed at the body. “Him.”

Finding one dead body was difficult enough to explain.

But two?

That was going to be a lot harder.

Chapter Nine

“Evelina Crimm?”

Evelina rose up on her elbows in the sand where she’d been sketching on the beach. She squinted against the brilliance of the morning sun, but all she could make out was a man’s dark silhouette. “Yes?”

“Member of
Lake
of the Isles?”

“Yes,” she replied, then cursed silently for doing so. “Why?” It was difficult to keep the annoyance from her voice. This was the first chance she’d had to enjoy a little solitude since she arrived. Not that she minded surf lessons at the crack of dawn, but right now she needed a break. Was that too much to ask? “What’s this all about?” She came to her knees to get a better look.

His head blocked the sun, making a halo while bringing his face into focus. He didn’t appear as tall as she first imagined.

“It is my duty to inform you that you are under investigation by the Witches’ Council.” His tone turned dark. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me.”

Tiny prickles danced over her skin. “Come with you?” That didn’t sound good. “Come with you where?”

“For questioning.” He swept both hands in the air.

And…

Poof!

Gold bars appeared, encircling her like a cage.

Panic welled up in her throat.

She turned around and around—one way and then another, not quite believing her eyes.

Nothing but blue—excepting one fluffy cloud below. She appeared to be suspended in a giant bird cage in the sky. “Where am I?” she demanded, shaking the curved bars. “Let me out of here!!!”

No one answered.

There was no one and nothing in sight—only a vast, endless blue.

There wasn’t a sound.

Not even an echo.

Fear clutched her like an icy fist.

She was all alone.

No one could hear her pleas.

A sob rose in her throat. None of this should be happening! She was an artist, not a witch! That was her calling. She hadn’t asked for any of this!

If she ever found her ring again, she’d tell Granny Crimm so. Evelina’s eyes welled up with tears. If she ever saw her again!

Poof!

A man appeared, floating cross-legged in the air. His keen gaze flicked over her from head to toe, while his mane of chestnut hair blew behind him in the breeze. But his eyes were the most fascinating.

“You’re a Soul Sifter.”

He flashed a smile. “Am I?”

“You have one green eye and one blue eye, and you’re here to ask questions.” She shrugged. “Who else would you be?”

“Who else, indeed.” He flashed a brief smile. “I’m here to help you.”

“Great!” Relief washed over her. “You can start by getting me out of here.” She rattled the cage. “Do you have a key to this thing?”

“Only you can release it.”

“Me?” Her gaze scoured every inch of the thing. “How?”

“By telling the truth.” He pulled a pen and a pad of paper from the pocket of his blue shorts. “Did you or did you not murder Melvin Ruggles?”

“No!”

“Hmmm…” He gazed down the length of this nose. “What about
Rolly
Ringrose
?”

“Do I look like a cold-blooded killer?”

“Most psychopaths appear completely normal. Only their actions set them apart.” His mouth turned down in a look of distaste. “The truth always comes out in the end.”

Evelina groaned. She might as well come clean. “Okay. I ate Henrietta Ledbetter’s candy bar, but only because she raided Lily’s stash and Lily had a belly ache. It felt like justice at the time, but I can see now it was wrong.”

“Hmm… Can be coerced by a friend, if angry.” He continued to write. “But,” he glanced up from his notepad, “you did not murder her?”

“Of course not!”

“Noted.” He glanced up again, cracking a pleasant smile. “Have you ever contemplated or engaged in a violent act?”

Evelina shrugged. Who hadn’t to some degree or another? “I stomped down an ant hill once, but they attacked me first. They were all over me, running up my legs—even into my shorts.”

“Hmm… Can become violent if provoked.”

“It was an ant hill!”

“Especially with ants in her pants.”

“No!” She sucked in a deep calming breath. “Look. You’ve got this all wrong.”

He lifted one dark brow.

“I’m not a violent person. It was in self-defense.”

“Noted.”

“If you’re a Soul Sifter and you can read my mind, you must know I haven’t killed anyone.”

“I can only read your mind if you request it.”

“Oh.” Relief washed over her. “Then, why did they send you to question me?”

“I’m impartial.” He shrugged. “And I work for peanuts. How are you on nuts?”

“What?”

“Do you like them?”

“Why?”

“Just wondering.”

“I guess.” And they thought she was crazy.

“You seem a little unfocused.”

“Really?” He was calling her unfocused! “Maybe that’s because I’m sitting in a giant birdcage in the sky, getting the third degree.”

He raised one chestnut brow. “Do you feel threatened?”

“Of course!”

“Hmmm…good.” He made a few more checks down the length of his notepad. “Thank you for your co-operation. You’re free to go.”

He made a flourish with one hand.

And.

Poof!

The bottom of the cage disappeared.

She plummeted through the air.

Before she could think of a spell, let alone conjure one, the ocean appeared.

She landed in the water with a loud splash, sinking, like an olive in cocktail, bubbles fizzing all around her.

It took a moment for the shock to wear off.

When it did, her air had run out.

Panic licked over her.

She kicked as fast as she could, rising up and up. Her lungs burned and her head grew light, but she kept on kicking. She bobbed to the surface with a whoosh and a strangled gasp.

When her pulse slowed, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Shore loomed insight—in fact, the very beach where she’d been snatched.

She’d assumed her incarceration to be a million light-years away. But, all this time she’d been right here—above the beach. How weird was that?

She took a deep breath then swam for shore.

Splashing out of the surf, she suddenly remembered the Coconut Shack. She had to work at
noon
. She glanced up at the sun. It soared high in the sky.

Not good.

She raced for her towel and beach bag, then tore down the beach.

“Holy crap!” Abby exclaimed when Evelina finally stumbled into the shack. “Where have you been?”

“In jail.” She couldn’t help but smile, as she tied on her pink apron. It was so good to be on dry land again, she felt giddy—she felt like dancing. “Being questioned by the Witches’ Council.”

“What?” Tally appeared amazed.

“Holy shit!” Abby lifted both dark brows. “Really? What happened?”

“What did you say?” Tally cut in.

“I just told the truth.”

A group of bikini clad girls rushed the shack, laughing and chatting.

“It’s a long story.” Not to mention a ridiculous one. It might take some explaining. She needed to get her head around it first. “I’ll tell you later.” She stepped forward to take the orders.

Abby made the cones.

Tally manned the cash.

It was a slick system. They were all about efficiency—an excellent team. They had to be, with the Swamp Hags ten feet away in the Hell Hut, waving their wieners in everybody’s face.

Today, Judy Cheetum had dressed up in a hotdog costume again, parading up and down the beach in front of the hut to lure more victims. Meanwhile, Suzie Cheetum raced around the hut cooking wienies until her freckles conjoined, turning her face fire red. During lulls Judy marched over to change their seasonal tally. Right now the chalkboard read
Five hundred and sixty-eight customers served.

It was a freak show.

“Watch this,” Abby said with suppressed glee. She strode out of the Coconut Shack, came round the corner and nailed up a chalkboard of her own. It read
Five hundred and sixty-nine served.

“That’s certainly inaccurate.” Tally spread both hands wide. “We have no count. There’s no way of knowing how many we’ve sold.”

“Exactly!” Abby declared. “If we’re going to do this thing it’s only fair we start on an even keel.”

Judy Cheetum stalked over dragging her inflatable bun in the sand. “Yeah right!” She sneered. “Where do you get that from?”

Abby grinned. “The same place you get yours.”

Judy’s green eyes narrowed. “You’re tellin’ me you’ve got the sales tapes to back that up?”

“Of course.” Abby set her hands on her hips. “Do you?”

“Of course!” Judy snapped.

“Perfect,” Abby said. “Maybe we should have a little wager.”

“Like what?”

“Best sales team wins some advertising. If you win we’ll wear your wiener suit. If we win, you can wear our suit.”

“For a whole day.”

“Sure.”

“Each of you.”

“Okay.” Abby folded her arms across her chest. “At the end of the holiday we’ll both produce our sales tapes.” She held out her hand. “Deal?”

A smirk cracked Judy’s face. “Deal.” She spun on her heel, ignoring Abby’s hand. “Suckers!”

“Maybe she forgot?” Evelina said. “There’s three of us and only two of them.”

“Exactly.” Abby flashed a wide smile. “They’ll never win.”

As if to prove her wrong, Cliff sauntered over from the direction of the Hell Hut.

“Hey!” Abby pointed at the hotdog in his hand. “What do you think you’re doing, Robinson?”

“I’m hungry.” He sounded unconcerned. “When I’m thirsty I’ll come here.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “Thanks. You’re a peach.”

Evelina smiled. At least he was honest. Which is what she’d been with the Council. Maybe that Soul Sifter did have some powers after all.

She’d told them everything she knew.