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“Outside Capricorn’s this morning.”
No one had seen Thora in seven years. I’d been so preoccupied talking with Selene, I might’ve looked past her altogether if she hadn’t stopped short when she saw me and run the other way. By trying not to be seen, Thora made herself stand out that much more, drawing the attention of more than a few locals. Tongues had been wagging ever since. Before I went back to Audrey’s shop, I called Hank, who confirmed that he brought her over on the ferry Saturday night. They docked just after midnight.
Finn swallowed like he was choking down a log. “Was she alone?”
“Yeah.” I gave him a side-eye. “No ring either. If you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t.” The denial came too fast, but I’d let him have the lie. It had been a rough morning. “Thanks for the heads-up. At least I’ll be prepared, so I don’t end up looking like a jackass when I run into her.”
“I wouldn’t count on that being soon. Seems like she’s trying to lay low.”
“Huh. Maybe I should…” He shook his head. “Nope. Not my business.”
“Another thing.” As if I hadn’t dropped a big enough bag of shit on him already. “I had a little run-in with Paige this morning. Told her to stay away from you.”
“Oh, yeah?” He smirked. “How’d that go?”
“She unscrewed my balls and shoved them up my ass while a couple of tourists filmed the whole thing. If I get internet famous, you can say you knew me when.”
He let out a deep rumbling laugh. “That’s your own damn fault.”
“I’m well aware. Please tell me you’re done with her for real this time?”
“I already told you, I stopped seeing her last month.”
“She threatened to comfort you.” I shuddered at the thought of curling up with Paige. She offered about as much comfort as a boa constrictor. “Fair warning.”
“Thanks, but I’m good.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Can’t wait to see that video though. Maybe I’ll throw it up on my company website.”
“Great.” Why was this guy my best friend again? “I’ve still got some shit to do in town, so I’m going to head out. Let me know if you need anything later.”
He went back to working on whatever he’d been in the middle of when I arrived. At least he didn’t look like a ghost had just passed through his body anymore. Even if it had come at my expense. Thora being back in town definitely threw him more than he was letting on, though. It didn’t matter if she didn’t want to see anyone, I had a feeling he’d be seeking her out sooner rather than later. And that reunion would not be pretty.
I took the long way out of Dale’s subdivision to avoid the area in front of the credit union. The sidewalk next to the stone retaining wall offered a little bit of shade from the overhanging trees. Not enough to keep the sweat from rolling down my back.
From out of the woods, that same dark fog I’d seen the night of the earthquake flowed over the sidewalk, covering my feet in black smoke. It was thicker than last time. My pulse began to speed up as a sense of foreboding squeezed my chest.
The smoke swirled around me, as if it were attempting to swallow me whole. I swiped my hand through the vapor and it retreated back into the trees. Either because it realized it couldn’t do anything, or because it had gotten what it wanted from me already. A shiver crept down my spine. I didn’t wait for it to return and try again.
Once I got back into town, I cut across the road by the hotel. The assistant manager, Jocelyn Everett, came running out the front door as soon as she saw me. Because I could not get five feet without someone needing something. She usually kept her long, strawberry blonde hair in a neat ponytail, but it had come loose, blowing wild tendrils around her stunning face.
“What can I help you with, Jocelyn?” I used my curt, all-business voice. The one I trotted out whenever I wanted to make it clear I wasn’t interested in talking.
She was a good assistant manager and did her job well, but if it had been up to Cole, she would’ve been let go years ago as a favor to Rafe Wilder. I would’ve been onboard with it myself, truth be told, but our mom insisted she stay on, and she was the real boss of our operation. No one went against Aurora Latham’s final word.
Jocelyn faltered at the chill in my tone, then straightened her shoulders, slipping on her own mask of indifference. “It’s about the cave. I took one of the hiking tours up there this morning and it’s a mess. Cracked rock, rubble spread around, none of the birthstones are glowing anymore. I think the earthquake did some serious damage, and I’d like your permission, or Cole’s, or whoever’s, to suspend upcoming tours until repairs can get done.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You felt the earthquake too?”
“Yeah.” She looked at me like I was a few screws short of a hardware store. “I overheard some of the staff say it was just a couple of drunks making up stories, but I don’t drink. Weird that the cave is the only thing damaged though.”
“When’s your birthday?”
“December fourth. Why?”
“No reason.”
Except it looked like I’d just found our Sagittarius. Now if we could just figure out who the Leo was, we’d have all our fire signs in place.
