Page 3 of Fish out of Water
But Mr. Frazier seemed a little more insistent about it tonight.
I rolled to one side, bunching my pillow up to a more supportive position before shutting my eyes.
Was Mr. Frazier sweatier than normal when he came in?
I bet he was just in a hurry. Probably ran himself out of breath coming up the steps too fast.
I wiggled my toes, tapping them against the sheets.
Maybe I should go check on him. Make sure he locks his own damn door before leaving for his trip.
Find out exactly what this trip is for.
I tossed the covers back and shoved my feet into the padded cow slippers one of my geriatric friends found for me during their weekly trip to the local dollar store. I snagged my keys and stepped out into the humid mid-June air of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Mr. Frazier lived in building B, which was across the parking lot and down a slight incline. I nearly blew out Bessie, the left slipper of my pair, on the down sweep but she held on, managing to make it all the way to Mr. Frazier’s first floor unit.
I didn’t see his Oldsmobile in the lot but that didn’t necessarily mean he was gone, so I knocked on the door. Hopefully I hadn’t already missed him and he could fill me in on the reasons for his trip since God knew everyone and their brother would be asking me about it tomorrow.
I tapped Bertha, the right slipper, against the WELCOME mat outside his apartment while I waited, listening for any sign that he was still inside.
I rapped again, leaning my ear against the door, holding my breath so I could hear better.
Still nothing.
I turned, giving the parking lot a full once-over, looking more closely for any sign of his car.
It wasn’t there. I’d missed him.
I guess that meant I should go back to my bed. Hunker down for the night. Mr. Frazier was a grown man capable of doing what he wanted, including sweatily taking off for a random trip at midnight.
As I stepped away something clicked against the concrete. I peered down at the hearing aid stuck in Bertha’s fluff.
What was it with these people and losing their hearing aids?
I picked it loose from the black and white synthetic fur and turned to Mr. Frazier’s door. He’d probably be back for this. The best thing to do was put it where he’d be able to find it quickly and get back on his way.
I unlocked the door and let myself in. His unit was positioned the same as mine, which made our floor plans identical, so I expected to walk into a combo dining room-living room.
But instead of a dining table and chairs, Mr. Frazier had a set of giant aquariums in the space, one along the right wall and one backed up to the kitchen peninsula. The water in them radiated with a blue light that bathed the whole space in what some people might consider a relaxing glow.
And it might be if there wasn’t a giant, angry-looking fish staring at me.
This was the freaking fish I was supposed to feed?
I crept into the room, keeping my distance from the tanks as I edged toward the kitchen. The thing’s eyes followed me as I walked to the counter of the peninsula and set the hearing aid down.
I leaned in, trying to get a better look without having to actually get closer to the monster that might be glaring at me. He had the aquarium all to himself outside of some ornamental rocks and grasses.
Probably meant he didn’t get along well with others.
The other tank was filled with smaller fish swimming in constant circles, bouncing from one side of the glass to the other, like they were in some sort of panic.
And maybe they were. Maybe they knew their days were numbered.
“Oh, God.” I shook out my hands. “No. No, no, no, no, no.”
Mr. Frazier wouldn’t make me do something like that.
