Page 10 of Oceansong
“Of course,” Mia said. “We were able to get Amy and Carol’s last two pounds of bison. And the prices definitely went up, oneverything.”
“I heard.” Angie stepped into the kitchen. She turned the sink on and ran the hot water over the plates and mugs.
Bàba raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Beibei, I was thinking about what you said. About the mermaids.”
“Wait, what?” Mia cut in. “Mermaids?”
“Gonggong! Gonggong!” Rosie rushed to Bàba. “Papa told me to say thank you for inviting us for dinner. So, thank you!” Then she stopped short and spun around to face Angie and her mother, her mouth agape. “You found mermaids?” She bounced up and down and clapped her hands with glee. “I have to go tell Papa!” She dashed back into the living room.
“Great, she’s never going to leave me alone.” Mia cursed, and then groaned. “Angie, did you actually see mermaids? Because it’s nuts if you did.”
“Angie ayí! Did you see the mermaid that dropped my bracelet?” Rosie had returned, waving her bracelet at Angie and Mia.
“Okay, that’s enough about mermaids for now. Let’s go find Papa.” Mia rubbed her face and took Rosie’s hand, leading her from the kitchen.
Folding her hands behind her back, Angie twiddled her nervous fingers where Bàba couldn’t see them. “What were you thinking about, with the merfolk?”
“I think we should find out what they’re doing.” Bàba’s voice rang flat and even.
Angie stood straighter. “And where all the fish are going.”
He gave an absent nod, dark brown eyes trained on the floor. “Yes. I willarrange to have deep sea cameras placed around where you found them. See if we can follow their path.”
Dave and Jenny flashed in her mind. How many other villagers were also suffering? Her thoughts were a jumbled mess. “I’ll help.”
“Good.” Bàba nodded, still not facing her. “But, the mer have seen us lurking in their area. They could be dangerous. We don’t know a thing about them.” His tone sounded unnaturally stilted. “Be ready for anything.”
Five
Angie stepped down from Baba’sbrand new Toyota Tundra and shook her hands. They cramped from death-gripping the steering wheel after off-roading twenty miles in the rugged wilderness to get to the closest shooting range and after Bàba’s thinly veiled threat that she’d be fully responsible for any damages she incurred to his brand-new pickup truck.
Fortunately, she got here without incident. After settling in, she loaded the magazine of her Glock 19X, pointed it downrange, and turned the safety off.
Bàba’s words, “Be ready for anything,”blared in her mind.
After her and Bàba’s talk yesterday, Nick texted asking her to come in for today’s afternoon shift.
She had a free morning, and she was going to take full advantage. Brilliant sunlight beat down on her, glinting off her targets. She gripped the barrel with both hands, index finger hovering over the trigger. Crisp, cool air filled her nostrils, carrying the nearby woods’ natural fragrance. There was one other young man at the range firing a shotgun, leaving behind the metallic scent of gunpowder. The pungent and ashy smell reminded her of home.
Her parents had insisted she and Mia learn to handle a gun for self-defense when they were young girls. The loud bangs and violent kickback used to terrify her and make her cry. Later, Bàba and Mama took her and Mia on weekly shooting range trips, and when she was proficient, Bàba gifted her a handgun as her high school graduation present.
She let the bullet fly, the grip digging into her palm when it recoiled, and she held firm.
Bullseye.
Angie aimed again, going for a second one.
A muffled voice slipped past her protective earmuffs.
“Nice Glock!”
Tian, who was bothering her? She had to keep her focus. One wrong slip of the finger could mean a potential injury, or worse, for her or the other person.
Another shot, an inch away from the bullseye. Adrenaline flowed. The muffled voice came back, but this time, it was unintelligible.
Angie cast him a side-eye and gave a brief nod. Maybe if she acknowledged the pest, he would leave her alone.
The voice came again. “Hey, you’re Angie, right? From the docks?”
