The Passionate Delegate

by Sarah Noffke

“Oh, well, that makes sense. So you’re off on another adventure?” John asked.

  Liv glanced at Freddie. He handed her a piece of parchment, which she hoped wasn’t as convoluted as the instructions that Bermuda had given her. “Yes, unfortunately, I’m off again. But I want to make some time to talk to you as soon as I get back.”

  John’s face went slack. “If this is about Alicia, I can explain.”

  Liv’s eyes drifted from side to side. “It wasn’t, but I’m intrigued.”

  “Oh, well, I was just kidding about Alicia,” he said with a fake laugh.

  “No, you weren’t,” Liv said. “But we can discuss that later, or not at all. Your business is yours.”

  He laughed and waved as she started for the door. “Be careful, Liv.”

  “Thanks,” she said, waving back. “And thanks, Freddie! You’re the best!”

  The brownie beamed at the compliment, his complexion growing pink. He also waved as Liv left the electronic repair shop.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Twelve mosquito bites.

  Liv had been in the swamp in Louisiana for less than an hour, and she already had a dozen bites from the little bloodsuckers. She had spells that could make her see in the dark, become invisible, change appearance, and knock down a legion of soldiers. However, she couldn’t figure out the incantation to keep mosquitos off her.

  Freddie’s note had stated that Zeno Dutillet was hiding out somewhere in the bayous in the south of Louisiana. There were hundreds of miles of inlets and outlets of swamp passageways where he could be. The brownie apparently couldn’t be more specific because, as he put it, “He’s moving around a lot.”

  That was fine, Liv thought. She’d just have to put on her detective hat and narrow down her options. She did have magic, after all, and even if it didn’t work on mosquitos, hopefully, it would help her find an ancient man who could put mortals to sleep if he wasn’t asleep himself.

  The idea that the SandMan had not randomly awoken wasn’t lost on Liv. It had been strange timing. They’d finally gotten rid of Adler and Decar, awoken mortals to magic, and freed the lost history, and then, bam, the SandMan comes back from a century of slumber. And what does he do? Put mortals to sleep. The whole thing reeked, but she needed more information before drawing conclusions.

  She slapped her arm. “And bug repellant. I need freaking bug repellant. And a boat.”

  Liv crossed the parking lot of Jeb’s Trading Post, scowling at the graffitied chair out front. The brownie had given her a location down by the docks, half a mile away. After walking up and down the rocky bank, she’d decided it was time to enlist some help.

  The door chimed when she strolled into the small shop, which smelled like fish and rot. A man in overalls with a blank expression looked up from his crossword when she entered.

  “Are you Jeb?” she asked, flashing a forced smile.

  “The one and only,” he said, his Southern drawl sort of endearing.

  “I need a boat, Jeb,” she stated. “It says out front you rent them.”

  “They are all being used,” he said at once.

  “But I saw a whole line of them at the side of your shop,” she argued.

  “Those need to be repaired.”

  “Well, I’m actually in the repair business,” Liv countered. “Maybe I can fix them in return for using one.”

  “I don’t think so,” the man said, scowling at her without reason.

  “Okay, it sounds like you’re not in the business of making money.” Liv picked up a bottle of bug spray. “Will you object if I pay you real cash for this?”

  He lifted an eyebrow, seeming to consider the proposition. “I don’t see why. It’s six dollars, and I need exact change.”

  Liv returned the skeptical expression. “Yeah, that’s not a problem, Jeb.”

  She strode over and laid down the money. “Do you know of another place that rents boats?”

  “I’m afraid not,” he said, no remorse in his mechanical tone.

  “Hmmmm. That’s strange. There are miles and miles of swamps, and strangely no boats for hire.”

  “It’s our busy time of year,” he stated.

  “Yes, and it seems I’m in the wrong line of business,” Liv said. “Guess I need to set up shop next to you.”

  If Jeb was offended by that, he didn’t show it.

  “How about a bathroom?” Liv asked, pointing to a door at the back. “I’ve been on the road for a while, and could use a break.”

  He stood to the side, making a wall between her and the counter, protective menace in his eyes. “There’s no public restrooms here. You’re best moving on.”

  Liv took a step backward, unnerved by the strange blankness in his eyes. She’d seen that expression before recently, but couldn’t place it.

  “Okay, sorry for troubling you,” Liv stated. “I’ll be on my way.”

  Without another word, Liv strode out of Jeb’s Trading Post, the strangest feeling tickling her spine with unease.

  Kayla Sinclair waited until the door was completely shut and Olivia Beaufont had marched across the dusty parking lot.

  She closed her hand, making the illusion of Jeb disappear. When she’d been in the Chamber of the Tree, she’d suspected that Olivia had found the location of the SandMan. Just as Talon had stated, this girl didn’t quit. That was fine. If this Beaufont wanted to hunt around in the swamps for Zeno Dutillet, she was going to regret it.

  Kayla Sinclair flexed her hands by her sides, ready to do whatever it took to stop this warrior from putting the SandMan to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The boats at the side of Jeb’s store looked fine, but Liv wasn’t going to argue with the local. Instead, she spotted a truck with a boat getting gas at the pump. Pulling down her hood and fanning out her hair, she summoned her best Southern charm.

  She sidled up to the side of the truck, plastering a smile on her face. It dropped as soon as she peered into the compartment. The guy behind the wheel, a young man with a beard that made him appear much older than he was, slept with his head back and his mouth wide open.

  The SandMan had struck again. At least the guy wasn’t driving. Liv peered over the side of the bed and noticed that the pump was done filling the tank. Who knew how long this guy had been there sleeping in his car while getting gas?

  Liv leaned back to the window. “Hey, Mister. Wake up.”

  The guy didn’t budge.

  She snapped, making a sharp clicking sound.

  Still nothing.

  She thought about dowsing him in water, but when he came to, he might not be happy with her, and she needed his help.

  Liv remembered the sleeping spell she’d put on the suits of armor. What the SandMan could do was obviously much more intense than her spell, but it gave her an idea. Reversing spells wasn’t easy and sometimes had strange results, but she thought in this instance, she could chance it, even without knowing the proper incantation. Liv recited the words under her breath, carefully trying to do the spell exactly as she’d done it before, but in reverse. When it was done, she straightened, holding her breath and hoping for the best.

  “If it works, then—”

  The guy bolted upright, jumping so high he hit his head on the roof of his truck. Grabbing his head, he looked around, disoriented. “What? Where am I? What’s going on?”

  Liv smiled, batting her eyelashes at him. “You appeared to have fallen asleep. It must be this humidity.”

  He blinked at her in confusion. “And who are you?”

  “I’m Liv,” she said, extending a hand to him.

  He took it, shaking it with more fervor than she thought necessary. “I’m Al. And wow, I feel awake. I can’t remember when I’ve felt this alert.”

  And there was the side effect, Liv thought with minor regret. The spell would wear off in a day or two. Until then, this guy would be wide-eyed and probably more productive than he’d ever been.

  “Well, Al, I’m looking to rent
a boat.”

  He pointed at Jeb’s Trading Post. “You can do that there. They’ve got a lot of swell options.”

  Liv glanced over her shoulder at the store. “Yeah, apparently they can’t help me.”

  Al’s brow scrunched in confusion. “Really? That’s weird.”

  “That was my thought too, but maybe you can help me out. How much to rent your boat here?” Liv pointed to the flat-bottom aluminum boat on the trailer behind the truck. It sat twelve people and appeared to be patched in several places.

  “Oh, I don’t rent my boat out,” he said, shaking his head. “I give swamp tours. Can I interest you in one of those, Miss?”

  Liv feigned a polite smile. “No, thank you. I really need to get out on the water on my own.”

  Al scratched his head. “With all due respect, ma’am, I reckon you’re not from around here.”

  Liv glanced down at her all-black clothing and the cape that hid Bellator on her hip. What gave it away? she thought.

  “Is that a problem?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Not at all. I make my living from tourism. But it’s just that if you aren’t acquainted with the swamp, well, you can get mighty lost out there. Why do you want to take a boat out on your own, anyway?”

  This guy was genuinely nice. Liv could see it in his eyes. For that reason, and many others, she didn’t want to use any brainwashing on him. She only did that when absolutely necessary.

  “I’m looking for someone, actually,” Liv said discreetly.

  “In the swamp?” Al asked. “Like a missing person? Have you called the authorities?”

  “No, it’s more like a guy who I suspect doesn’t want to be found. A criminal of sorts.”

  The guy’s face contorted with surprise. “Again, have you contacted the authorities?”

  “It’s not really one of those criminals the police can track down,” Liv explained.

  “Oh, you’re like one of those private detective types, aren’t you?” he asked with awe.

  “Something like that.”

  Al pulled his hat off his head and ruffled his dark-brown hair, making it spike from the sweat. “Well, between you and me, there are some questionable things going on in the swamp right now. I’ve been giving tours for over seven years, and recently, I’ve seen things no one can explain or comprehend.”

  “Like what?” Liv asked.

  The guy stuck his hat back on his head and showed her a sheepish expression. “You’ll think I’m crazy if I say it.”

  “Try me,” Liv encouraged.

  “Well, I know it sounds nuts, but some of the stuff is like magic. The animals, well, they don’t act normal anymore. Some of them don’t look normal, either. And, well, it’s hard to explain all the strangeness going on out there.”

  Liv nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard about these strange events.”

  “Is that why you’re going out to the swamp?” Al asked. “Are you investigating these weird happenings? Is your criminal behind them?”

  Liv thought about that for a moment. This mortal was seeing magic for the first time ever. That would be a lot to process. Maybe she could help him understand it, but she’d need to ease him into the new reality.

  “The person I’m after is connected to these strange events,” Liv stated. “What if you take me on a tour of the swamp, and I explain some of what’s going on?”

  Al grinned. “Well, that would be just about perfect. Let me just finish with my gas, and we can be on our way.”

  He cleared the passenger seat for her and patted it. “Go ahead and hop in and get comfortable.”

  “Thanks, Al.” Liv slapped her arm and wiped the dead bug on her pant leg. She was pretty certain she wasn’t going to be comfortable until she was out of the hot and muggy swamp, but at least she’d made a friend, and hopefully, she’d stop the SandMan.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Have you seen any questionable characters out here?” Liv asked as Al lowered the boat into the water. He was skilled at this, doing it without even thinking.

  “Well, like I said, I’ve seen a lot of things out of the ordinary,” he began. “Makes me think I’m losing my mind. My momma says I’m spending too much time on the water and the heat is getting to me.”

  Liv fanned herself since her cheeks were warm. “Although the heat does crazy things to people, I don’t think that’s it.”

  “But to answer your question, I ain’t seen nobody out. It’s a bit strange. There hasn’t been anyone wanting to tour, which is why I’m mighty grateful for your business today, Liv.”

  So Zeno Dutillet was hiding. She had expected that. Liv didn’t know where to start to draw him out, but she hoped she got a bright idea while they were out on the water.

  Al pushed the boat out once he’d gotten the truck parked. The water was calm and a murky green color. Liv peered over the side of the boat, curious what lived in these waters.

  “Okay, today we’re going to be out exploring the Atchafalaya Basin,” Al began, powering up the motor. “Because I use a smaller boat, we can really get into the nooks and crannies of the bayou, giving you an experience unlike any other.”

  Liv wanted to tell the nice guy that he didn’t have to do his normal spiel, but she didn’t want to tarnish his spirit, so she sat on the edge of her seat, peering intently into the dense forest that surrounded them.

  “This area we’re exploring is the largest contiguous forested wetland in North America,” Al continued.

  “How deep is this water?” Liv asked.

  “It’s eight to nine feet, currently.”

  “Is it safe to swim in?”

  Al laid his hand on the throttle. “Well, sure. I’ve been swimming in it all my life, but I’m not sure a girl such as yourself would like it so much. There’s a lot of slimy things in there and you’d for sure mess up your hair.”

  Liv nodded like that was a concern for her. She had no plans to go swimming, but she wanted to be prepared for just about anything.

  “Are you ready to go fast?” Al asked, a dimple surfacing on his face when he grinned.

  “Yes, let’s do it.”

  The boat kicked it into high gear, speeding them across the placid water ahead. For a few minutes, they veered one way and then another, taking multiple routes through the swamp, getting deeper and deeper.

  Al was right that Liv would have easily gotten lost in these wetlands. However, he didn’t know she had a phone that worked anywhere and magic that worked in most places. Still, she was strangely grateful to have this mortal with her. He had kind eyes and an easy grin, and something told her that when the little critters came out, she’d be glad he was there.

  “Now, because it’s almost sunset, we’re going to see some animals coming out to feed,” Al explained, slowing the boat down and coasting them through leaves that floated on the water.

  Al dipped his hand into the water, pulling up a pile of leaves. “If you look real close, you’ll notice a frog here. They, like everything in the swamp, camouflage themselves real good. You won’t even be able to spot half the creatures out here unless I point them out, which is part of the fun. Spotting animals takes a trained eye.”

  Liv noticed the tiny frog nestled in the leaves. But in the distance, she spotted a large spider on a tree. It was easily the size of her hand.

  “What’s that?” she asked, pointing.

  Al blinked in that direction. “Oh, you do have a good eye. That’s a fishing spider. Guess why we call them that?”

  Liv gulped, her skin suddenly feeling itchy. “I’m guessing because they eat fish. What about people?”

  Al laughed. “Well, I think that’d be damned near impossible. And don’t worry, they won’t bother you unless you mess with them.”

  “Isn’t that the rule for most things?” Liv asked as the boat floated closer to the large brown spider.

  Al gave her a reluctant expression. “Sometimes.”

  She didn’t like the uncertainty in his eyes, but s
he forced a smile anyway. “I think we need to get deeper into the swamp. Can you do that? Get us as far from civilization as possible?”

  Liv’s instincts told her that Zeno Dutillet would want to be far from people, making it impossible for him to be found. And he’d picked the perfect place to hide.

  “Oh, sure. But I’ll warn you. When I’ve gotten deeper into the swamp lately, that’s when I see things I can’t explain. This place has always been strangely magical, but lately, well, it’s something else entirely.”

  “These strange things you’ve seen,” Liv began. “Can you expand?”

  Al pointed into the distance. “I can do one better. There’s one of the weird creatures now. What does that look like to you?”

  Liv squinted, trying to make out the shape swimming ahead of the boat. “Is that an otter?”

  The creature barked suddenly, its call echoing through the forest.

  “That’s what I would have thought,” Al started. “I’m telling you that I rarely have seen an otter in these waters, but now I see these things all the time in these parts.”

  “Things?” Liv asked as Al cut the engine.

  The boat floated closer to the otter, who didn’t seem to be making fast progress across the water.

  Al removed the necklace he was wearing and held it over the side of the boat. “Watch this.”

  The otter swam over immediately, water gliding over its head as it moved gracefully. When it was right underneath where Al had the necklace dangling, it poked up its head, but instead of an otter’s face with dog-like eyes and whiskers, it had the features of a human child. Its rosy cheeks and blue eyes were a strange sight surrounded by the dark fur. Liv recognized it immediately as a Lutrinae. They were carnivores that had long, slim bodies, short limbs, webbed feet, sharp claws, and human faces. They were very playful and also quite mischievous, stealing shiny objects.

  Right on cue, the Lutrinae grabbed Al’s necklace and ducked back under the water.

  “That’s pretty crazy, huh?” Al asked, giving her a look of surprise. “They look just like otters, don’t they?”