Page 23 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
“So you broke up with Lawrence, then tried to buy the house out from under him, and the mystery guys took your money and disappeared?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way, but technically, yes. If you’re being ungenerous.”
“Got it. Okay Mom, I need to find out more about Flex Knock.”
“Flex Knock! That was it! Yes, great work, Adelaide.” She cleared her throat. “I needed to talk to you about my neighbor here, too. I think she plays a harmonica at night and it’sextremelyirritating.”
“Uh huh.” She looked down, glancing ever so quickly at Rick. His eyes were hidden behind black sunglasses, his head slowly scanning around the car.
If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was tuning all of this out somehow.
At least he was polite.
Eight
Someone across the street was looking at her. Mia knew that squinting, focused glance. They were early in the process of recognizing her.
Maybe she could prevent it from happening.
Adelaide was still talking to her mom. She mouthed a “Sorry!”
Mia shook her head, smiled, and compressed herself down into the car seat. If only she could slip a little lower…
“Look alive,” Rick said. “We’ve got company.”
Bang, bang, bang.
Mia jumped as the glass of her window shook. How had he gotten here so fast?
She rolled down the window. “Yes?”
“Are you Mia Westwood?”
She nodded. “I am.”
“I can’t believe it! I’m a writer for the Bellingham Star. Movies and entertainment.”
Was it a full moon today? “Oh, hi. Nice to meet you.”
His mouth was frozen in a stiff, toothy grin. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
Mia looked over her shoulder at Adelaide. She was pulling her phone away from her ear. “Mom, I’ve got to go. We’ll talk later.”
“Um,” Mia turned back to the man at her window. “Sure.”
“Thanksso much. First, whatwas it like to work in the Apex Universe?”
“It was really great, and I appreciated the opportunity to…be a part of it.” She was terrible at this. What was she even trying to say?
“What do you think about some people saying they wished your character had been killed off sooner?”
She sucked in a breath. His teeth were still in her face, their false friendliness making her brain short circuit.
It was jarring – the mismatch between his smile and the intensity of his eyes.
“Get out of here!” Adelaide said, leaning over the center console. “Don’t you have better things to do?”
“This is my job,” he shot back, leaning into the car.
