Silence Is Golden (A Pet Psychic Mystery No. 3) (22 page)
Read Silence Is Golden (A Pet Psychic Mystery No. 3) Online
Authors: Shannon Esposito
Tags: #Mystery, #Paranormal, #fantasy, #pets, #female sleuth, #urban fantasy
"Well, he's only half Jinn."
But, even as I said it, I knew that didn't matter.
He'd already proven how powerful he was. He could invade my dreams, for heaven sakes. But, a slave to my desires? A flash of being in his arms made me flush deeper. If this was true, this was bad. I had to get him out of my life somehow. But, even as I thought that, I felt a thread of disappointment. I pushed it away.
No.
He was nothing but trouble for me. And Will.
"He knew about me being half water Elemental. He could tell." I rolled my head toward my sister to gauge her reaction. "And he knew about father."
Her eyes slid to mine and then back to the road. "What about father?"
"He knew that he broke the rules with mom, about magick and mortals not being allowed to mix in this dimension. He knew father is imprisoned... somewhere."
Willow's mouth tightened. "Sounds like he's got more than a casual interest in you, Darwin."
Goldie rested her head on the seat beside my head, Gator stuffed firmly in her mouth, and let out a deep sigh. As I turned to give her a cuddle, I saw Willow glance at me with definite fear in her eyes.
"What?" I asked.
"I'm going to stay with you a few extra days."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'm glad. But, I hope it's not because you're worried about me. Everything's back to normal now and Zach's gone."
"You don't know that for sure," she said. "Besides, you wouldn't know what normal was if it snuck up and bit you on the behind."
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
I hugged my knees to my chest. The sand held a chill that leached through the blanket as day began to sink into evening. An empty picnic basket and a few empty wine bottles lay on the beach beside us. We had decided to celebrate on Willow's last evening here. Celebrate Victoria's and Josie's murders being solved, justice being served, new friendships forged, old secrets unburied and well, just life, really. Being alive. Being together.
Big Barnie rested in a beach chair, his arm in a sling. Jade stood beside him, talking as they looked out at the Bay waters. No doubt trying to make sense of all that had happened in their little circle of family and friends.
Willow followed my gaze. "Seems like those two have gotten past their differences."
I nodded. "I think Barnie has made amends. He handed over Renny's letter to her, the one that said Renny was leaving the treasure map to her and Kimi. The police recovered the map from Eugene's house, and Jade's given it to the museum."
"So, they're not going to dig up the Mound for the treasure?"
"No. Not yet, anyway. The archeology department at the University has agreed to take on the project. They'll use ground penetrating radar to see if anything's there, but it may take years to get the permits to excavate. Anything they find will be of historical value and given to the museum, per Jade's request."
"Guess everything's working out then."
I leveled my gaze past Willow, toward 2nd Avenue. We were on the north side at Spa Beach, right across the street from where Victoria had lost her life. "I guess. Still a shame Victoria and Josie were killed over something that was buried almost 200 years ago."
"Sure is."
Frankie ambled up from the shoreline. "Why are you two looking so serious?" She grinned at us as she pulled her faux fox fur wrap tighter around her shoulders. Itty and Bitty were on her heels, trying to navigate the sand with their tiny paws. "We're supposed to be celebrating."
"Just taking a moment to remember Victoria and Josie," I said, smiling up at my friend. Her red hair had been whipped around by the wind and stuck up every which way, and her eyes were shining. I patted the blanket next to me. A wave of gratitude rushed over me. "Have a seat."
"Oh, I almost forgot," Kimi said from the other side of Willow. She dug through her bag and pulled out a small box. "This is for you, from me and mom."
Willow took the offered box and opened it. "Oh, wow. Kimi, I can't... I can't accept this." She held the clay effigy urn once again. "This should be in a museum."
"And it will be. One day." Kimi smiled gently at her. "It's been admired in private for a long time, a bit longer won't hurt."
"I don't know what to say," Willow whispered. "Thank you." She gave Kimi a hug and then gently rewrapped the artifact. "I'll take good care of it."
"Oh no, watch out," I said as Goldie came bounding toward us from down the beach, flinging sand, and dropped the soggy tennis ball at my feet. Will had been playing fetch with her for the past twenty minutes.
"Guess she's done with me," Will said as he walked up behind her.
"Okay, that's just nasty, girl." I grimaced, holding the ball between my thumb and middle finger. I tried to chuck it to my left, but it slipped from my fingers and headed straight into the water, making a small plop. Goldie stared at it, her ears forward, then she looked back at me.
"Sorry, girl. I'll get it." I went to push myself up but Goldie suddenly took off. Sand flew off her back feet as they dug in, her tail like a high flag behind her. She bounced right into the water. An audible gasp came from me and Frankie cheered.
"Wahoo! You go, Goldie!" she yelled. "Hey, that's the first time she's gone back in the water, isn't it?"
"Yes," I said, grinning. "Yes, it sure is."
"I'll be."
The gang, knowing the significance of the moment, began to whoop and holler as Goldie trotted back out of the water, her tail whipping back and forth, her head held high.
Itty and Bitty circled her and yipped as she stood over us, dripping, with a silly grin and eyes sparkling. Will came around and sat behind me. I leaned back against him, feeling the sturdiness of his chest and arms as he wrapped them around me, and sighed with contentment as he pressed a kiss on top of my head.
"You and that sunset are all the treasure I need," Will whispered in my ear.
We all laughed as we watched Goldie roll around in the sand, her legs up in the air as she wiggled her rump back and forth, the other pups darting in to jump on her.
There was a moment, as the sky softened from fluorescent orange hues to signal the day's end, and I watched Goldie play with Itty and Bitty, a moment the world seemed to pause and grow silent. And in that moment, on the wind, the words
thank you
were dropped into my ear. I glanced at Willow and Frankie. They didn't seem to hear anything.
"You're welcome," I mouthed, just in case I really wasn't hearing things.
"So," Willow turned to me, "think you can stay out of trouble until we come back for the wedding in August?"
"I don't have a clue why you would ask me that," I said, feigning irritation.
"I have to say, this has been an interesting visit. You sure you don't want to move back home to get away from all the crazy?"
I squeezed Will's arm. "Not a chance."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon Esposito is a Florida author who believes in the power of an open mind. Exploring the unknown through writing fiction is her idea of magic. Her novels are sometimes steeped in science and sometimes wrapped in the paranormal but, as in real life, the heart of all stories is the mystery.
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