Page 24 of Rise of the Melody
“Ooh, this is comfy.” My legs savored the buttery soft sheets covering the pillow top mattress as I slid in and snuggled the back of CooShee. When my eyes closed I imagined two dimples and felt my face go warm.
Bryant MacCray’s nephew. Of all the bad luck. He seemed nothing like his uncle, but I didn’t know him. And if the mayor had anything to do with it, I wouldn’t be getting to know him either. I chewed my lip. I’d always been my own person, not handling authority very well—at least not when the authority seemed to be working on their own terms and agenda for their own benefit. Bryant MacCray may have been able to force me here to “help” with something that only I could do, but who I made friends with when he wasn’t around didn’t need to be his business. This didn’t have to be the worst summer of my life.
I snuggled in and tried to clear my mind. When I settled down and listened carefully, I could hear the waves crashing outside. It was the fastest I’d ever fallen asleep.
Chapter7
The Plan
Ron picked us up at nine in the morning to go to the mayor’s house. Bryant specifically said not to bring CooShee, who was not happy when I closed the car door on him. I felt bad watching him stand there in the driveway while we drove away. My stomach was in knots and it would have been nice to have the big, furry lug at my side.
We wound our way through the lush roads to the outskirts of town where larger houses stood on massive plots of land overlooking the sea. It was overcast and a thick layer of fog lay over the water beyond the mansion homes. When we stopped in front of the mayor’s estate, I gaped. The lawn was bright green, perfectly sculpted, and seemed to go on forever, lined by trees with luscious white puffs of tiny flowers that looked like cotton candy from afar.
Aunt Lorna sighed as she stared at the house. “I have missed the English Tudor style homes here.”
It did give off Shakespeare vibes. The base of the house was white, with dark wood overlays making x’s and parallel lines.
“Yes,” Ron said. “There are a few on the island. But this is the largest by far.”
Of course, it was.
My guts seized tightly as the electronic gate beeped and swung wide. We pulled up the long driveway and parked. I let myself be distracted by the gorgeous landscaping. So many types of flowers and bushes that I’d never seen before.
Sounds of commotion came from behind me and I heard Ron say, “Whoa!”
I spun and my eyes widened to see CooShee barreling past Ron and Aunt Lorna to stop at my side. They both eyed me, and I shook my head, throwing my arms up. “I mean, we tried. He does what he wants.”
“Clearly,” Aunt Lorna said. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”
She swept past me looking annoyed, and Ron gave me a quick wink behind her back.
At the massive door, Stevens opened it wearing his signature dirty jeans, old boots, and an oversized T-shirt that said MAINE. Again, Stevens’ power crackled, setting me on edge. His eyes bulged when CooShee walked confidently past him.
“That thing’s not supposed to be here!”
“You can try to make him leave,” I offered, making the man glare.
“Don’t get smart with me, girl.”
“All right,” Ron said, putting a hand on my shoulder and leading me past Stevens.
We were led to a sitting room with dark wood furniture and rich-colored velvets. A lady in a crisp skirt suit brought a tray of tea and quietly sat it on the coffee table, pouring us each a cup, then left. I’d never felt more out of place. I’d showered and put on my full face of leave-me-the-hell-alone dark makeup, then pulled the same hoodie on as last night with some cut off black jean shorts. Goose bumps broke out on my pale legs. I took a cup and loaded it with sugar, then stared into it wondering if he would poison me. Aunt Lorna and Ron both sipped theirs and didn’t die. I guess he wouldn’t kill me off before I did my job, so I took a sip and hated that it was some of the best tea I’d ever tasted. Plus, it kept my hands warm when I wrapped my fingers around it.
I glanced at the mantle and immediately stood to approach it. Next to a vase with fresh daffodils was a picture in a large wooden frame. A family portrait. The mayor looked pretty much the same other than slightly longer hair and a huge smile, like something had made him laugh. Beside him was a handsome brunette woman, also smiling big, her light green eyes crinkling. And to her side was a boy. He looked young, maybe four. He had their dark brown hair and his mom’s light eyes that crinkled at the edges. My heart squeezed.
“That was his wife Maeve and their son Xarus,” Aunt Lorna explained quietly. “Zar and his mom went missing with your parents.”
“Becauseof your parents.” Stevens mumbled this under his breath from the doorway and I turned.
“Excuse me?” I said.
Aunt Lorna jumped to her feet and pointed a finger at him. “You hush your mouth right now, Stevens. I saw you stumble out of the pub drunk with my own eyes just hours before everything happened. Right there on Main Street! You have no idea the damage you’ve done starting those rumors.”
“I know what I saw,” he said softly, as if haunted. “It was only for a second, but I saw her mouth open out there on that boat, and I heard a song before I blanked out?—”
“You mean you passed out,” Aunt Lorna said.
“I was entranced,” he told her through clenched teeth.
