by Rose Pressey
“Maybe we should just head back to shore,” Jennifer said. “We can wait in the parking lot for Shelby to return. It doesn’t sound like such a bad idea now, right?”
Maybe so. But yet part of me didn’t want to leave until I knew for sure.
“I think whatever hit the boat is gone now. It’s not likely to hang around,” I said.
“I don’t normally doubt you, Rylie, but in this case, I have to disagree. I think that thing’s just underneath the surface waiting to pop up again,” Jennifer said.
We looked to Jack for his opinion.
He looked at Jennifer and then back to me again. “I think Rylie’s right, Jennifer. Whatever was there is gone.”
He’d barely finished the sentence when another loud thump sounded against the boat and it rocked again. Jennifer screamed. I tried to hang on so that I wouldn’t fall overboard. Jack wasn’t so lucky. With a huge splash he tumbled over into the ocean. Jennifer and I rushed over to the edge. For a second, he was nowhere in sight, just the ripples from his splash. A few seconds later he popped up.
“Jack, are you all right?” I asked.
“I’m okay,” he said as he swam toward the boat.
After grabbing the life preserver, I tossed to him. He latched onto it.
“Are you holding tight?” I asked.
“I got it,” Jack said breathlessly.
Jennifer and I pulled the preserver toward us as if reeling in a marlin. I wasn’t sure how we’d get him back onto the boat. “He’s heavy,” Jennifer said.
“I’m normal size for my height,” Jack said.
We had him back to the boat now. Jennifer and I grunted as we pulled again. Jack held onto the side of the boat and pulled himself the rest of the way. He flopped over as Jennifer and I took a deep breath.
“Good catch,” I said.
Jennifer chuckled.
“Funny,” Jack said.
“Do you think whatever hit the boat will return?” I asked.
“We seriously need to get out of here,” Jennifer said.
This time I would follow her advice. Now that Jack had had a dip in the ocean I figured he was ready to leave too. With water dripping from his clothing and hair he went back to the front of the boat.
Before he got the boat moving again a loud splash caught my attention. Peeking over the edge of the boat, I spotted a guy looking back at me. Jennifer screamed again when she saw him.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
The man glared at us.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
I was surprised by this question until I realized he must be with the mermaids. He’d probably been on the other boat.
“Are you trying to steal our boat?” he asked as he floated in the water.
“No, of course not,” I said. “We were just concerned that it had been abandoned.”
That excuse just came off the top of my head. But I thought it sounded kind of good.
“It’s not abandoned.” He glared at us again.
Jack came over and stared at the man.
“I know what you’re really up to,” the guy said.
“We’re not trying to take the boat,” I said. “Why would we want your boat when we have our own?”
Well, it wasn’t exactly our boat, but he didn’t need to know that. Maybe he saw the boat rental label on the side. Nonetheless, it didn’t matter.
“You’re here because you’re looking for someone,” he said.
How did he know?
“Maybe we are,” Jennifer said.
I glared at her.
“Why did you have to say that?” I asked out of the corner of my mouth.
Now I had to tell the truth.
“Is Shelby with you?” I asked. “We’re concerned for her.”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” he said.
So he was going to pretend that he didn’t know her? If he didn’t know her then who did he think we were looking for?
“You have to know her. I saw her talking to you and I know she got on your boat.”
“Never heard of her,” he said.
He was really starting to irritate me.
“Then how do you explain that I saw her get on your boat?” I asked.
“I don’t think you saw her get on my boat,” he said. “You must be mistaken. Now go away and leave my boat alone so that I can finish my swim.”
“Where are the other mermaids?” I asked.
“Whoever you’re looking for isn’t here.”
“Maybe Shelby was using a different name,” Jennifer said. “Maybe that’s why he doesn’t know her as Shelby.”
That could be possible.
“Shelby has blonde hair that falls to her shoulders and big blue eyes.”
“Plus, kind of a squeaky voice,” Jennifer added.
“Is she on your boat?” I asked.
“No one matches that description on this boat.”
Ugh. He was completely frustrating. And totally lying.
“Now I suggest that you leave this time. Or I’ll call the police.”
“Oh, please, you’re not going to call the police.” I smirked.
Jennifer snorted. “Do you have a waterproof phone?”
“The police would probably discover that you’re hiding something,” I said with my hands on my hips.
The man stared at us for a moment longer and then he dived back under the water. We all exchanged a look, wondering if he would pop back up again. I knew he had to be the one who had been hitting our boat. How many more mermaids were down there hitting the boat as well? I peered over the side of the boat looking for him.
Jack grabbed hold of me. “I don’t want you to fall in. That guy might hit the boat again. Maybe we should just leave.”
“I vote for leaving,” Jennifer said, holding up her hand.
“All right. I guess we’ll leave for now, but we’re going back to Shelby’s car. And maybe I’ll call the police so that they can investigate this further.”
“I think that would probably be for the best,” Jack said.
We were just getting ready to take off when another hit came at the boat. It rocked back and forth violently. Whatever was hitting it was really strong. Maybe it was more than one mermaid doing that this time. But unfortunately, I lost my balance and slipped right over the side of the boat. For a moment it was as if everything was in slow motion. I hit the water with a huge splash.
Immediately I panicked as adrenaline overwhelmed me. I wasn’t a good swimmer. And I didn’t know how I would get out of this. Jennifer and Jack yelled out to me, but it was too late for either one to get to me. I would have to try my best to keep myself above water and swim. I had to float long enough to get back on the boat. That was all I had to do.
My descent under the water started rather quickly, as much as I tried to keep myself afloat. When I opened my eyes, I saw the mermaids. My eyes adjusted to the water quickly. But nevertheless, I was still panicking, and this wasn’t good for me.
I couldn’t believe I was under the water. I looked up and realized I was under the boat. And I knew that the mermaids and merman were the ones hitting the boat. Why were they doing this? Did they want me out of there and in the water? Maybe they wanted me to drown. Maybe that was their plan for murdering me. That way they could keep me from snooping around and finding out what happened to the man. I’d been so obsessed with finding that murderer that it hadn’t crossed my mind that the killer would come for me.
The voices from above the water drifted down. Even though they were muffled, I knew that it was Jennifer and Jack calling out for me. They must be completely panicked. I needed to get back up there to them, but I was so captivated by what I saw underneath that I was reluctant to leave just yet.
That was assuming that I could even get back up there. What if the mermaids wouldn’t let me go back? The mermaids swam around. They looked beautiful as they drifted through the water. Some of them were farther away than others, so I wasn’t quite s
ure how many there were, but it was a lot. The ones who were staying close to the boat I didn’t recognize. But they were watching me.
I was kicking my legs and trying to push myself above the water, but I felt as if I was making no progress at all. Maybe I felt that way because I wasn’t making progress at all. I sure wasn’t above water yet. What else could I do? Why wasn’t anyone jumping in the water to grab me? Where was Jack? The mermaids obviously weren’t going to help me.
Just as I was beginning to think no one was ever coming to save me, a splash surrounded me and I realized that it was Jack. Thank goodness he’d come to save me. Because obviously I couldn’t swim. I was a werewolf, so it was just one of those things. I didn’t particularly like the water. Jack spotted me and swam over to me. Thank goodness I would be saved now. I’d been pretty sure that I was going to drown.
Just as Jack was making his way over to me something grabbed me from behind, causing me to completely panic. Jack was no longer in sight. What was the thing trying to drag me away? Was it a mermaid or some other creature? Was it the shark like Jennifer had warned me about? Only I wasn’t being taken away. It felt as if something was taking me to the water’s surface. Totally not a bad thing, but strange that I didn’t know who was doing this lifesaving act.
It was almost like this thing was trying to help me. In spite of the unknown I tried to remain calm. When we reached the surface, I gasped. Thank goodness I was finally able to get a good deep breath. After holding it for so long underneath the water I’d thought I’d never get air in my lungs again.
Jennifer screamed. “Oh, my God. Thank God you’re okay, Rylie.”
I turned around to see what had brought me up to the water, but there was no one there.
Panic overwhelmed me again. Where was Jack? Had he made it to the surface too? His head popped up.
“Oh, thank goodness,” I said.
He swam over to me and grabbed me in his arms. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m okay now,” I said. “I just want to get back on the boat.”
Jennifer tossed the life preserver over the edge and into the water again. I doggy paddled my way over and managed to grab it as I floated onto the top of the water. Thank goodness I was safe momentarily. I would never go out on the water again once I got back on land.
“Who helped me get to the top of the water?” I asked, pushing the wet hair out of my eyes.
“I couldn’t see exactly who it was, but it was definitely a mermaid,” Jennifer said.
“I felt as if they were going to murder me down there. But whoever that was wanted to help me. They saved me.”
“Hey, I was there too.” Jack frowned.
“Yes, you were. Thank you. It was a nice thing to do.”
Chapter 18
At least I was back on the boat now. After that terrifying experience I just wanted to see land. But I still didn’t know who had grabbed me. I knew it had to be one of the mermaids down there. Why would they help me? Unless it was Shelby, but where was she now?
Jack directed the boat back toward the rental place. Once we got off the boat Jennifer almost collapsed from relief.
“It was really touch and go there, Rylie,” she said.
“Yes, I know, Jennifer, but we’re fine now.”
“It’s going to take me a while before I calm down.”
She wasn’t even the one who’d fallen off the boat into the water. I needed to make a mental note not to take her back on a boat. I wasn’t even sure I could take her to the pool. My parents wanted to take us to the lake for Fourth of July this year. That was out of the question.
Jack returned the boat and we headed back to the parking lot beside the mermaids’ house. We got out of the car and kind of just looked around checking things out. I was looking for any sign of the mermaids or the boat or anything. And I wasn’t sure how much longer we could hang around.
If this was going to go nowhere then we had to make a new plan. Now what that new plan was I hadn’t thought of yet. However, I was sure I would figure out something. I didn’t want to just do nothing. I had a business to open, but right now that was on hold until we found Shelby. Before I’d just been trying to solve the murder, but now it had turned into so much more than that.
Jennifer was still pacing around and talking about the boat trip. Jack was standing there peering out over the water. I was leaning against the car.
“Here comes the boat back,” Jack called out.
I rushed over to his side. “I sure hope Shelby is on that boat.”
Now was our chance to confront them.
“Let’s go down there to the beach,” I said.
“Yeah, we probably should,” Jack said.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll stay here,” Jennifer said, wrapping her arms in front of her as a shield from unforeseen dangers.
“I don’t think I can let you do that. What if the crazy mermaids come out here? It’ll be fine. I promise we won’t get back on the boat.”
“Okay, if you promise. No canoes, rafts, surfboards, etc.” She ticked each one off on her fingers.
“No watercrafts, water vessels, etc.” I held my hand up.
We took off across the sand toward the water.
“I bet they’ll be surprised to see us here,” I said.
“Do you think you’ll recognize them? The one who was causing trouble and hitting the boat?” Jennifer asked.
“I’ll never forget his face.”
“You should tell him that you want to know why he was trying to do that to us. Plus, he was trying to keep you under the water.” Jennifer shivered. “I don’t even want to think about that. You were almost shark bait.”
When the group started walking our way, Jack and I headed toward them. Jennifer was a good distance behind us. It was probably best that she stayed back there as long as there were no mermaids coming around to harass her. Jack and I stepped up to the guy.
“Where’s Shelby?” I asked.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about. Why are you harassing us?”
“I’m not harassing you. You’re the one who hit our boat. You’re the one who tried to drag me under the water.”
He laughed. “You’re crazy.”
“I was there. I saw you do it.”
“You’re lucky I don’t call the police.” He stepped closer to us and got in Jack’s face. “You’re lucky I don’t do something bad right now.”
This confrontation wasn’t going well. I stepped between Jack and the guy, letting him know that the conversation was over as far as I was concerned.
There was one fact though that I couldn’t understand. Shelby hadn’t come off that boat. And we hadn’t seen her under the water. I knew for sure I’d seen her go out there on the water. Well, maybe I hadn’t seen her for sure. But if it wasn’t her then who was it? And where was that woman now?
The group walked away. Clearly, they weren’t going to answer any more of our questions. I was no closer to finding Shelby now than I had been before.
“I guess we have to start all over again with finding Shelby,” I said.
“If she’s around we’ll find her,” Jack said.
“We’ll go back to the car for now. We’ll think of something, don’t worry.” I pulled out my phone and tried Shelby’s number one more time. No, I didn’t expect her to answer and I was right because the call just went straight to voicemail. I would have to call the police and ask if they had any new clues to her whereabouts.
We had just reached the car when we noticed something at the mermaids’ house. There was a strange guy over there. And it looked as if he was peeking in the windows.
“What’s that all about?” I asked.
Jack and Jennifer looked at the guy.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look like he’s supposed to be there,” Jack said.
All of a sudden, the back door opened to the mermaids’ house. The guy walked right in. Apparently, someone was expecting
him.
“Why he was looking into the windows before someone let him in is beyond me,” I said.
“They are so strange,” Jennifer said.
“You got that right,” I said.
We moved around to the front of the house. The mermaids were just coming home. Who had opened the back door and let the guy in? Why was someone sneaking into the mermaids’ house?
“Should we tell them?” I asked.
“I have a feeling they wouldn’t listen even if we did,” Jack said.
“True, but I’ll feel bad if we don’t.” I waved my arms. “Excuse me, mermaids.”
They stopped in their tracks and stared at us.
“Oh, my God. You’re such a psycho. What are you doing, stalking us?” Melinda flipped a strand of her blonde hair from her shoulder.
“We’re not stalking you. But I thought I would warn you that someone was peeking into your house.”
“It was probably you.” She pulled out her phone. “That’s it. I’m calling the police.”
Before she had a chance to dial though, one of the mermaids screamed and pointed toward the other side of the house. “I just saw someone run away from our house.”
Jack took off in the other direction, hoping to see who was running away once he reached the back of the house. If the person ran around the house toward the beach, then Jack would have to be able to see them.
The mermaids raced over to us and huddled close. Actually, they were now behind me as if I was going to save them. They were accusing me of being a stalker just a minute ago and now they wanted me to take the brunt of an attack if one came along. I hated to leave Jennifer there with the mermaids, but I also wanted to check up on Jack. I was torn on what to do.
I’d stay with Jennifer. Jack could take care of himself. Although I had no idea who the men were running from the house.
“Do you have any idea who those men were?” I asked.
“No, of course not. No one’s supposed to be at our house.”
“You should call the police and have them check it out. Make sure no one’s still in there.”
“Why don’t you just go in there and check it out?” Melinda said.
“I’m not going in there. What if there’s some sort of psycho in there? I know you think I’m crazy but I’m not that crazy.”
