2 Lady Luck Runs Out (12 page)

"Will?" I shifted to try to get him to look at me. "Say something, please."

"All this time." He still wasn't looking at me. That wasn't a good sign. "When I asked you what you and Mr. Faraday had to talk about, you were discussing this? This theory that his mother was murdered, but you couldn't mention it to me?" He turned to me then and I almost choked on the betrayal swimming in his eyes. "A homicide detective."

"I was going to talk to you about it, Will. I swear, but I wanted to have some kind of evidence so you didn't just think I was crazy."

He worked his jaw back and forth, staring at me. "Okay, so if there's no evidence, why do you both think she was murdered?"

Oh heavens. I couldn't tell him about my visions. Not like this, when he was so angry with me already. My body sank with my heart. I could do nothing but stare at him helplessly.

He nodded, his head dropping. After a moment of silence, he rubbed his hands roughly on his jeans and stood. "I have to trust you, Darwin. Or this won't work. Have fun at the party with Mr. Faraday."

I watched him walk away, stunned that things had taken such a wrong turn in such a short amount of a time. I wanted to run after him, hold on to him, beg him to understand. Instead, I stood and went to find my sister, my heart shattering in my chest.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I had called the vintage shop we bought our Halloween costumes from and asked for the saleswoman's help in dressing for the Ball. She had assured us she could find something perfect for me and Mallory, and she had delivered.

We stepped out of the taxi in front of the 18th street mansion in our fabulous gowns. Mallory wore a red satin number which shimmered like rubies in the moonlight. I wore a pink feathery gown that made me feel like I was wearing a cloud. Her mask was black velvet with red sequins and a red feather, mine was white with diamonds and pink pearls. I felt like Cinderella. If only my Prince Charming were here.

"There's Mr. Tall, Dark and Scary." Mallory nodded at the gate. Sure enough, Zach stood there waiting for us, dressed in a black tux and holding a black mask in his clasped hands.

The closer we got, the stronger I felt the pulse of power he exuded. His eyes met mine and then he let them move down my gown, a soft smile curving his mouth. "You look beautiful, Darwin." He caught my eye again and I suppressed a shiver.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

He turned his gaze on Mallory and chuckled. "Red suits you. I feel sorry for the man that betrays a creature such as yourself." He held out both arms. I glanced at Mallory. She looked confused and wary. I wondered if he could sense her power, too.

"Mal, come on," I whispered, taking Zach's right arm. "We're his dates, remember? We have to at least act like we like him."

"Right," she sighed, finally slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow.

Zach handed his invite to the muscles-in-a-tux at the front gate. He glanced from me to Mallory and shot Zach a sly smile. I noticed the C-shaped scar on his left cheek that ran from his eyebrow to his mouth. Violence must play a big part in his life. "Have a nice evening, Mr. Faraday, ladies."

 Zach led us down the tiki torch lined travertine pathway, through the jungle of tropical plants to the front door.

"Good evening," a plump, dark haired woman greeted us. I wondered if this was the woman I spoke to through the speakers? I detected the same accent. "Follow me, please." She led us through the marble entranceway, around a staircase more suited for a hotel and into a cavernous ballroom. "Music and dancing in here. Food and drinks out by the pool. Enjoy the party."

"Ready?" Zach slipped on his mask.

"As I'll ever be." I, too, slipped on my mask, adjusting it so I could see through the holes. "Try to stay out of trouble," I threw at Mallory before Zach led me deeper into the room.

Men in tuxes and women in gowns were milling about and dancing to the jazz band playing on the stage. A colossal gold and crystal chandelier hung suspended above us from a high, rounded ceiling. Tables huddled on one side of the room, adorned with crisp, white table clothes and crystal lamps. The lacquered hardwood floor sparkled from two mirrored disco balls slinging light around the room.

I glanced up at Zach. Behind the mask, he was scanning the room.

"Would you know Mr. Grayson if you saw him?" I asked.

"Yes, I looked him up on the internet so I would be sure to recognize him." Distracted, he slipped his hand in mine. The jolt of energy startled me. "I don't see him. Come on, let's dance."

Pulling me to the middle of the floor, he positioned my arms around his neck, and then slid his arms around my lower back. I was suddenly glad my gown had so many layers. I was sure the heat radiating off this man was capable of lighting my underwear on fire.

As he led me effortlessly around the ballroom, I could feel his frustration growing.

"What's wrong, Zach?"

He sighed and his hot, iron-scented breath warmed the side of my face. "I don't recognize anyone here."

"Kind of hard, with everyone wearing masks. We'll just have to ask around. Surely someone here can point out Mr. Grayson."

He lowered his eyes to meet mine. "That might raise suspicions. Admitting we don't know the host?" He held my eyes, pulling me in closer to him with barely a movement. "The mask suits you. Emphasizes your eyes. They're stunning. So blue in this light they're practically violet."

I blinked.
Yeah, and yours are like staring into a bonfire.
"Thanks," I said out loud, clearing my throat and trying to clear my head of the sudden woozy feeling coming over me.
Was he causing me to feel like this? Or was it the maddening spots of light from the disco balls?

Zach lifted a hand off my back and cupped my cheek, letting his thumb run softly across my bottom lip. I froze as his eyes moved to my mouth. The woozy feeling escalated to floating. All sound and movement ceased to exist.

From far away, I heard my own voice. "Zach. No."

With a whoosh, the ballroom and inhabitants returned. Zach dropped his hand and broke eye contact. "Come on."

I was trembling as he led me off the floor. Confused and feeling way out of my league, I knew I couldn't let myself be that vulnerable around him again.  

We found Mallory standing where we left her but with company.

"Hey." She waved at us, her eyes luminous behind the mask. "You remember Sammy Harris, Darwin? From the Serpentarium?"

"Of course, hi, Sammy." I groaned inwardly, plastering a smile on my face and introduced him to Zach. "This is Zach Faraday."

The two men shook hands and Sammy's eyes narrowed. "Faraday? Any relation to the woman killed by the rattlesnake?"

"Yes," Zach answered, clasping his hands in front of him. "She was my mother."

"Wow," Sammy shook his head, "sorry for your loss, man. Such a freak thing to happen."

"They actually have the snake that bit her at the Serpentarium," Mallory told Zach.

Heavens, Mallory! Don't tell him that.
I tensed and shook my head at her. What if Zach wanted revenge? He could take it out on the poor snake.

"Really?" Zach's tone was sharp as a blade as he stared at Sammy. "Do you own the snake?"

"Well, we do now. We take in unwanted snakes. Use them to educate the public." Sammy turned his attention back to Mallory. "She's a wild one." I wasn't sure whether he was talking about the snake or my sister. I had to stop myself from digging a heel into his foot as they smiled at each other. "Of course, the girl we brought to the party tonight is a sweetheart. An albino boa named Marsha. Want to meet her?"

"Sure," Mallory said.

"No," I said at the same time, trying to give Mallory a warning look. She wasn't paying a bit of attention to me.

Sammy chose to ignore my answer and led my sister out of the ballroom on his arm. I pulled Zach after them.

We ended up at the back of the house on the pool deck beneath the lanai. Some of the guests were lounging and chatting on the blue and white striped patio furniture with their champagne glasses and plates of food. Some were standing around in small circles, laughing and talking. Everyone looked amazing and seemed to be having a good time, without a care in the world. Must be nice.

 The breeze blowing off the Gulf felt good, cooling off the dampness around my hairline. The pool water was like balm on my frazzled nerves. We followed Sammy around the left curve of the pool. As I walked, the water rippled beside me. My eyes widened.
Oops!
I tapped into the part of my mind that had wandered. Concentrating, I smoothed the water out. Whew. The effort was like moving a rusty door. Mallory was right. I should be practicing. If only to keep control on my power.

A low chuckle came from Zach beside me.

"What?" I threw at him. I didn't appreciate his sense of humor.

He smiled knowingly and kept walking.

We came to the open patio with a shiny, silver outdoor kitchen and stone fireplace. There, surrounded by a group of partygoers snapping pictures, was McGillis—looking dapper in a black tux with satin lapels—his hair slicked back. He was positioning a large albino snake around a cringing woman's shoulders.

"Oh my, it's so heavy," the woman squealed. "Hurry up, David, take the photo!"

A robust man—his face red, his mask discarded—held up the camera and the flash lit up the duo. "Got the proof! Our daughter's not gonna believe you touched a snake."

"Okay, get it off!" She had her eyes squeezed shut.

 McGillis chuckled. "You were very brave, Mrs. Rosen." He shook her hand and called out, "Who's next?"

I heard Sammy's voice behind me. "Mallory, go ahead, she's really harmless."

"Sure, why not." Mallory stepped past me and walked up next to McGillis. "I'll hold her."

"Brave girl," he said, grinning.

 I watched as he wrapped the creamy boa with pale orange spots around my sister's bare shoulders, its tongue flicking the air in front of her. I leaned toward Sammy. "So, boas don't bite?"

"Well, they can. Unusual though," Sammy said, folding his arms and rocking back on his heels, as he watched Mallory. "Don't worry, they're non-venomous. They kill by squeezing their prey to death. Marsha's not big enough to take down your sister."

Well, that didn't make me feel any better. I was relieved when the pictures were taken and the snake was lifted off her without incident. My relief was short lived though as Mallory grabbed my hand and pulled me over to McGillis.

"Your turn," she said, holding me there despite my protests. "Come on, Sis. Live a little."

"She really is a sweetheart," McGillis chuckled, unwrapping the albino snake from his own neck and holding her above my shoulders. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," I sighed. A few clicks of a camera and then...
ZAP!

 This time, it wasn't an image, but a searing pain that shot through my stomach like a lightning bolt. I fought to stay upright as the weight of the snake, together with its recent trauma, about sent me doubling over and crashing to the floor.

"You all right, Sweetheart?" McGillis was rushing to slide Marsha off my body. "You look like you're gonna pass out."

"Fine, just a muscle spasm," I said through clenched teeth, trying to breathe through the pain. I was too weak to dispel the energy myself so when a light bulb burst above us, Mallory finally understood what was happening and rushed in to move me away from the crowd.

Zach followed us to a corner of the lanai. "Darwin? Everything all right?"

Ignoring him, I glanced at Mallory, gasping and feeling the blood rush back into my head as the pain began to subside. I pressed a hand against my stomach through the layers of my gown. "I need you to find out anything you can about that snake. How long they've owned it. What they feed it. Anything and everything."

She nodded and glanced at Zach warily. "Find her a place to sit down." Then to me, "I'll be right back."

"What's going on?" Zach asked, searching my face. "Something happened with the snake. Tell me."

Before I could answer, a voice behind us interrupted. "Ah, Mr. Faraday."

Zach and I both turned. I felt Zach tense up beside me, and then he shook the man's offered hand. "Mr. Grayson."

"Please, call me Bernard."

 
So, this was Bernard Grayson?
The man was over fifty but fit, his eyes an almost fluorescent blue in his tanned face. He held a champagne glass and cigar in one hand and offered me the other one. "And the lovely lady?"

I fought to stand straight as a wave of nausea made my stomach lurch again. "Darwin Winters. Beautiful home you have." The pain had dulled enough to allow me to force a smile. 

Bernard's eyes narrowed as he stared at me. I had a feeling he didn't miss much. "Thank you. Come, you two look in need of a drink." We followed him over to the outdoor bar where he instructed the bartender to give us whatever we wanted. I opted for water as my stomach still felt queasy.

"This really is a great party, Mr... Bernard," Zach began as he sipped his martini. "But, I'm afraid I don't understand why I was given an invitation. Do we know each other?"

Bernard's eyes narrowed but his mouth stayed locked in a smile. "Your mother never mentioned me to you?"

Zach's shoulders moved slightly. "No. We weren't very close. Should she have?"
             After a moment of studying Zach, Bernard took a puff on his cigar and blew the smoke out thoughtfully. The breeze immediately swept it away. "Well, no, I suppose not. I asked you here because the weekend before her death, I had hired her for a private party. She completely amazed my guests with some of the things she told them. I doubled her fee, I was so impressed. Very talented woman. When I came back in town and heard what happened, I was shocked. Such a loss. I wanted to extend my sympathies to you in person."

I watched Zach take him in, his guard still up. "Thank you. She will be missed."

Suddenly Bernard's face lit up as a tall, lithe woman with a silky black bob came toward us. Her eyes raked us over from behind a gold mask as she slipped her hand in the crook of Bernard's elbow.