He rubbed his sculpted jawline. “I’ll look into it. Let you know if we’ve had any reports on our end.”
“Thanks.”
Vale tugged a purple grape from a bunch on the table and popped it into his mouth. “Naked pickleball to a square dance to a birthday party for a cat. Your Neighbors aren’t idle, are they?”
“They like to take advantage of the island’s amenities. Nothing wrong with that.”
“And when’s the last time you took advantage of the amenities outside of your security assignments?”
“Most things I do are work related. That’s the reason I’m on this island. They don’t pay me to loaf around.”
“Are you being deliberately obtuse?”
I shrugged. “Obtuse is my favorite shape.”
“Twice in one day,” Stella exclaimed, approaching us at a swift pace. “Aren’t I lucky? Come on, Maya.” The vampire grasped my hand. “We’re about to start a conga line.” She smiled, showing her fangs to Vale. “You, too, Protector.”
I disengaged from her tight grip. “I’m here to make sure the festivities don’t get out of control.” I faked a cheerful smile. “But Vale is here to partake in everything the Neighborhood has to offer. He’d love to conga.”
Stella didn’t wait for his reply. She yanked him forward and forced him into the blossoming line. He tossed me a dark look that threatened bodily harm as he was swept away by the crowd.
The look sent shivers down my spine, but not because I was afraid.
I gulped down a Pyramid Paloma to escape my feelings. Suddenly there were shadows everywhere, spinning and dancing around the room. It was impossible to determine whether they were each anchored to a body. I was tempted to shine a giant spotlight and see if one of them scattered into the darkness to escape detection, like a cockroach.
I also risked blinding half the attendees, so that seemed like a bad idea. Dr. Adam would never forgive me if his office was swarming with patients tomorrow morning.
Screams erupted from across the room, by the entrance. I tore through the crowd, mindful not to step on any smaller creatures running around on the floor.
“What is it?” I shouted. “What’s happened?”
Gina ran over to me, clutching her cat against her chest. “A ghost kicked my precious Nefertiti.”
“A ghost?”
“It must’ve been. Nefertiti hissed and someone kicked her hard, booted her a couple feet in the air, but I was standing right there and didn’t see anyone.”
“Show me.”
Gina marched across the room to an alcove near the entrance. “Right here.” She stroked and kissed her cat’s head. “Poor baby. On your birthday too.”
The walls and floor in this section of the room were drenched in darkness. A shadow would’ve blended right in.
I whirled around to face the ballroom. If Darlene’s killer was here, we were all at risk. I had to get Jinx out of here before the shadow incited a stampede.
“Jinx!” I scoured the ballroom for any sign of the cat. “Jinx, where are you?”
Calm down, Maya, I told myself. The cat could take care of herself. She’d been fine on her own before I came along. A moment of chaos wouldn’t faze her.
Then I spotted a splotch of black. Not a shadow.
Jinx.
Tears invaded my eyes as I sprinted toward her. “There you are.”
The cat squirmed as I attempted to hug her. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been until now.
She meowed, blowing tuna breath directly in my face. I kissed her soft nose anyway. “I need to take you home.” Ireleased my hold on her before she repaid me with scratch marks that matched Gina’s.
