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“Do people do that here?” Dimitri asked. “The water is really cold, isn’tit?”
“Yes, it is, and yes, they do. In cozy warmwetsuits.”
Out of curiosity, I searched for SCUBA rental outfits. There were a couple right by the lake. “Interesting. Wreck diving in Lake Union is a popular hobby. I didn’t know that. This says there are a whole bunch of old ships down on the bottom. Maybe one of them is on top of my theoretical entrance to the dark-elflair.”
My phone rang, and I jumped. It was Mom, so I hurried to answer. I’d tried calling her as soon as I’d woken up earlier but had gotten her machineagain.
“Hello?” I answered warily, afraid one of those agents might have gone back to her cabin and was using herphone.
“It’s me. Are you allright?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Areyouokay?”
“Yes. I hung out behind the trees on the top of the cliff, and I think they thought I’d disappeared for good. They left once they got their tires fixed. They did come back this morning, so I took off for a few hours, but they’re gone now, hopefully forgood.”
“They should all be up here chasing menow.”
“Care to explainwhy?”
“It’s a long story. Willard is being investigated too. I’m going to clear our names though. Is her cat allright?”
Mom hesitated, but she decided not to question me further. “Maggie is doing fine. She’s claimed the loft and keeps knocking things over up there. Rocket can’t get up the ladder, so he barks at her to let her know how naughty she is. The last time he did, she pushed a book over the side and it almost whacked him on the nose. I’m positive that book was on a shelf in a bookcase, not on the floor. This cat isn’t magical, isit?”
“No. Just obstreperous, from what Igather.”
“Hm. She’s eating and doing fine, if you want to tell yourboss.”
An unexpected lump formed in my throat at the thought of the cat possibly not seeing her owner again. And of Willard possibly not seeing her cat again. I wished I’d brought Maggie by the hospital before I left town. I had no idea if that was allowed—probably not—but I should have done itanyway.
“Thank you. Stay safe,Mom.”
“I think I’m supposed to say that to you. Stay safe, and don’t let my roommate get in trouble either. He owes me his three hundred dollars nextweek.”
I imagined government agents outside my apartment, police competing with dark elves to find me, and killer krakens swimming around in Lake Union. Somehow, I doubted staying safe was going to be a possibility for me. But I said, “I’ll try,” before hangingup.
“Mom’s okay,” I said to Dimitri’s inquiring expression. “And you better drive back and sell some yard art. Your rent is due nextweek.”
“I have the money for it. You’ve been kind enough to pay for all my gas.” The waiter dropped off the bill, and Dimitri pushed it toward me, adding, “Andfood.”
I took it. He deserved more than gas money for hauling me from one state to the next and around the city in the middle of the night. But I didn’t want him following me againtonight.
“You can’t come with me to find the kraken and the dark elves,” Isaid.
He frowned. “Look, I’m not saying that I’m some epic war hero, but don’t you at least want someone nearby with a ride? In case you need torun?”
“I thought you came up here to club, not to man my getawaycar.”
“It’s a getaway van, now missing abobblehead.”
“I’m sure you can find another one at a garagesale.”
“Not vintage. Maybe if I come with you, I’ll find one stashed in the dark-elflair.”
I leaned my elbow on the table and rested my forehead in my hand. I didn’t usually have this much trouble getting rid of men—they all said something about the package not being worth fencing with my sharp tongue and my surly disposition. Dimitri had touched my tiger. What else did hewant?
“I think your mom would be super pissed if I let you get killed,” Dimitriadmitted.
“You can’t keep that fromhappening.”
“You never know. The getaway van can do zero to sixty in under thirtyseconds.”
“That’s acceleration that NASCAR drivers fantasize about.” I leaned back and dropped my hand. “All right, how does this sound? You hang out at Nin’s tonight, and I’ll text you if I need help.” I mentally put waterproof baggies on my shopping list for the night’s activities. Chopper and Fezzik would survive getting wet, but my ammunition and my phone were another matter. “Maybe you can get some business tips from her. She’s smart. She’s only been in the U.S. for a few years, and she came with something like a suitcase and fiftydollars.”
Dimitri’s face shifted through a number of expressions as he seemed to war with wanting to go along with me and this new enticement. “I guess that’s not that far from Lake Union,” he finallysaid.
Depending on the traffic, it wasn’t. I only nodded encouragingly. Then started doing more research. Right now, I had a fancy hunch and not much more. Before I went for a midnight swim, I wanted to be reasonably certain that the tunnel entrance wasinthe lake. I didn’t want to miss the dark elves because the entrance was three blocks away in somebody’s wine cellar. I was positive that Willard didn’t have until the next newmoon.
