Deep Betrayal Page 0,67

come down and check it out before going inside.”

“Us too,” Jules said, and she took Robby’s hand.

My eyes followed the gesture and then I looked up at Jules, who looked at me sheepishly. Her and Rob? Well, that was … unexpected.

“Come on,” said Rob to Calder. “I’ll get you something to drink.”

Calder followed slowly, kissing my cheek as he passed. Jules and I watched them go, and then she turned to me with a whip of her hair.

“You and Robby?” I asked. “Since when?”

“I tried to tell you before, but I chickened out. I thought you might be mad.”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?”

“Well, we got together just a couple days after you left, and I thought you kind of liked him. I thought maybe you’d been playing hard to get, but then you have Calder, so I …”

“Jules, you’re worrying over nothing. I’m happy for you. Both of you.”

“It’s nothing serious. It’s just fun to have someone to hang out with for the summer.”

“Sure. Whatever you say. You guys look great together.”

“Yeah, he’s great.” She watched Rob climb out of sight.

“Let’s get up to the house,” I said. “I don’t want to leave Calder alone with those guys for too long.”

“Yeah, God help their self-esteem,” Jules said.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Seriously, Lily. He’s so hot. What’s your trick?”

“I won him over with Tennyson.”

“No, seriously,” she said.

I threw my arm around her shoulder and we walked into the house together. I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Calder already in the thick of things—like one of the boys—laughing with Phillip.

“Hey, Hancock, Cal here says he can give us a tour of the islands tomorrow.”

I bet he did. “Sounds great,” I said, wondering which of my friends would pose the greatest lure for a bloodthirsty mermaid with death on her mind.

26

BAIT

The next morning I stumbled into the kitchen, where Jules was already up making French toast and bacon. Phillip and Rob were at the table, shoveling food in as fast as Jules could cook it.

“Are you two doing anything to help her?” I asked.

Phillip answered with his mouth full. “I opened the orange juice.”

“Where’s Calder?” Jules asked.

“Probably down by the water,” I said. “I think he slept on the dock.”

Jules raised her eyebrows and looked at Rob and Phillip, who stared at me for a long three seconds before going back to their food.

“He likes to sleep outside,” I said.

“Yeah, sure,” Jules said encouragingly. “That sounds great. We should all try that tonight.”

Tonight. My stomach lurched at the word. Would they all be coming home tonight? What was I doing, using my friends as bait? This was twisted and wrong. They should at least be given the opportunity to choose. But who would choose to be a lure? I hated this plan. I had half a mind to call in sick.

“Eat something,” Jules said.

“I’m not hungry,” I said.

Colleen and Scott came out next, Scott’s hair sticking up in the back and Colleen’s mascara smeared under her eyes.

“Attractive, guys,” said Phillip.

Zach trailed out behind them, scrubbing his finger over his teeth. “Did anyone bring an extra toothbrush?”

“Hurry up and eat,” Jules said. “It’s already ten. Half the day will be wasted before we get out on the boat.” She flipped another eight pieces of toast onto a platter and blotted the bacon with a paper towel.

“Calder and I can start loading the boat up. Do you have a cooler?” I asked.

“Already packed,” Jules said. “It’s on the back porch.”

“And my uncle said there are life jackets in a plastic bin out there,” said Phillip. “There should be enough for everyone.”

“I’m on it,” I said, and I hustled out the back door. Calder was already waiting for me. He picked up the cooler without any effort, and I threaded eight life jackets onto my arms. Calder and I wouldn’t need them, but it was good to keep up appearances, not to mention comply with the law.

“I’m going to have to get some of that breakfast,” Calder said. “It smells amazing.”

“You’ll have to hurry,” I said, and then, “Are you sure about this? It doesn’t seem fair, not telling them what we’re doing.”

“You’re going to have to trust me, Lily. I believe in you. You need to believe in me. I won’t let anything happen to them. You’ve got two jobs: First, to keep them happy. Keep them laughing if you can, it will make the emotions stronger. Second, to send the message to Maris. Two jobs, Lily, and neither of them is