Deception Cove

Chapter 24

“THE FIRST STEP IS TO MAKE A LIST OF MEN WHO MIGHT be vulnerable to Zara’s talent,” Drake said.

“That shouldn’t be difficult,” Fletcher said. “Not that many people left here in town, and between the four of us we know them all.”

They were gathered in Looking Glass Antiques. It was early morning but the sky was once again dark and heavy. Alice knew there would be no sun that day. The lights were still off, leaving the shop steeped in shadows. The place was crammed with antiques, and all of them had a paranormal provenance. The combined currents that emanated from the objects infused the atmosphere with a faint, hair-lifting buzz.

Alice stood quietly, lounging against a counter with Houdini tucked under one arm. Drake laid out his plans to Charlotte, Rachel, Jasper, and Fletcher. She was glumly aware that she had nothing to contribute to the strategy. Her brief moment of feeling like a member of the group had dissipated. She could not assist with the task of winnowing down the list of suspects because she was not well acquainted with anyone on the island. She had no talent for aura reading, like Rachel. And she had only arrived yesterday, so she could not determine various timelines and alibis. The best she could do in a pinch was bend a little light and vanish. She was just the magician’s assistant.

Drake was the magician in this situation. He had taken charge with the ease of a natural leader. No one had even blinked when he had announced that he had a strategy and he wanted help implementing it. Alice had the distinct impression that the others were relieved that someone had a plan. There was nothing worse than sitting around waiting for disaster to strike.

“Are you sure you don’t want to bring Officer Willis in on this?” Rachel asked.

“I wish we could,” Drake said, “but I don’t think we should take the chance. Unfortunately, for now he’s on the list of suspects. He’s an ideal target for Tucker—young, single, male, and well positioned to know what is going on here in Shadow Bay.”

“What about Myrna Reed?” Charlotte asked. “I know that Slade trusts her. She’s been a police officer here on Rainshadow for years. She knows all kinds of secrets.”

“Her input would be valuable,” Drake said. “But informing her of this project would put her in a difficult situation with Kirk Willis. In addition, because of her close ties to the community, we can’t be sure where her loyalties lie. She might feel bound to protect some of the people on the list. For now, this stays with the six of us.”

“Understood,” Jasper said.

“I agree,” Fletcher added. “We’ll get started on the list immediately.”

Charlotte looked at Drake with a speculative expression. “What happens if we come up with a likely suspect?”

“I’ll have a short conversation with him,” Drake said.

Jasper raised his bushy brows. “And if he isn’t feeling chatty?”

“He’ll tell me what I want to know,” Drake said without inflection. “I’m sure of it.”

Jasper nodded, satisfied. “You need any help with that conversation, feel free to call on Fletch and me.”

In that moment, Alice glimpsed a few of the hard edges under the surfaces of the two retired ghost hunters. They might be an artist and a gallery owner now, but they had survived for years in the underground catacombs. It was tough, dangerous work and it had left its mark on both men.

Drake smiled. “Count on it, you will be in on that conversation.”

“That’s it, then,” Charlotte said. “We’re all on the clock here, not that any of the clocks in town are working. Let’s get started on our list. Rachel and I can supply the names of all the men staying at the B-and-Bs.”

Houdini chose that moment to wriggle free of Alice’s grasp. He made it up onto the counter and started examining a display of marbles.

“While you’re working on that,” Drake said to the group, “I’m going to start a few rumors in town.”

Rachel raised her brows. “Rumors about what?”

“I want to get the word out that, thanks to Alice, I’ve got some old North family records that describe a method of de-escalating the unstable frequencies generated by the crystal Keys.”

Jasper nodded. “Trying to build a fire under whoever is behind this?”

“No harm in giving our man an incentive to move quickly,” Drake said.

Charlotte shot him a thoughtful look. “You’re making yourself a target.”

Drake’s smile was cold. “One I’m hoping Zara Tucker won’t be able to resist.”

Fletcher smiled. “This is a pincer-move. Between us narrowing down a list of suspects and you setting yourself up as a target, we’re going to force someone’s hand.”

“That’s the idea,” Drake said.

There was a short silence. Alice heard a small noise behind her. She whirled around in time to see five colorful glass marbles roll across the counter.

“Houdini, no,” she yelped.

She dove for the marbles and managed to snag two. The other three sailed off the edge of the counter and landed with three loud, sharp cracks on the wooden floor.

Houdini chortled euphorically.

Alice looked at Charlotte. “I’m sorry. Are they, uh, very valuable antiques?”

Charlotte smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure the marbles will be fine.”

“If they aren’t, send the bill to the Foundation,” Drake said.

Charlotte laughed. “Deal.”

Alice whisked up Houdini and started toward the door. “If you’ll excuse us, I have to get to work.”

Everyone, including Drake, looked at her with varying degrees of surprise.

Drake frowned. “Where are you off to?”

“You could say that I’m engaged in some behind-the-scenes work,” Alice said.