Chapter 13

“Father!” she heard Tucker bellow. “Knock it off!”

Esther, who still had her tail and fins, slammed down against the hard ground when the water hit her full force, knocking the breath from her lungs. She wheezed as she tried to get ahold of anything to give her leverage to sit up, but failed miserably.

“Esther!” She vaguely saw Tucker scramble toward her, his arms reaching out to scoop her up and sit her upright. But from the corner of her eye, she realized she didn’t need his help as much as Nina would.

“Get the vampire,” she wheezed to him, as she watched helplessly while Nina stormed toward Tucker’s father and shook her head, her long hair spewing droplets of water everywhere, her eyes seething with rage.

“Is that the best you got?” Nina hollered, scaring everyone who’d gathered as she rushed Tucker’s father and jammed her face up toward his. “C’mon, you fishy fuck! Let’s go!”

Giving her over to Marty, Tucker ran to prevent an argument that she supposed would be epic if it got out of hand.

“Nina!” he yelled, putting himself between the vampire and his irate father. “Stop! Both of you stop!”

But Tucker’s father wasn’t of a mind to listen. As displayed when he howled, “How dare you bring these people here and expose us, Tucker! Have you lost your bloody mind? How dare you come here after I’ve banished you! Get off my land—take these miscreant ground people, and get off my land!”

“Getty Pearson!” a female voice shouted from the lake. “What are you doing out here, carrying on like some unleashed animal? I won’t have this in my home, you beast!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the lake, where a beautiful woman, her long golden hair spilling around her shoulders and down into the water, trudged forward as someone ran to her with a towel and wrapped it around her. Moonlight shone down on her perfectly sculpted face, her cheekbones high, her lips full, her alabaster skin unlined.

Tucker was the first to react as he turned around and nodded curtly. “Mother,” he acknowledged.

So, this was Tucker’s mother? God. Why was everyone so pretty? She didn’t look like she could be anyone’s mother, let alone someone as old as Jessica or Tucker.

As she strode to stand where Nina, Getty and Tucker faced off, she did so regally, ignoring the stares and gaping open mouths of the other merpeople until she approached her husband.

Delicate hands on slender hips, she gazed up at her husband with angry eyes. “What are you out here screeching about, Getty? Honestly, why must you communicate as though you were raised by Neanderthals?”

Getty—strong, proud, very, very loud—blustered then waffled, his wide chest deflating when his wife cocked an eyebrow at him and waited for an answer. “You know why, Serafina,” he offered quietly. “Yet, I’ll say it again for posterity. Money is missing from our company. Some of it accounted for and found in Tucker’s accounts, some of it not accounted for and still missing. And not some small amount, wife. Over a million dollars. I want to know where the money is. The money that feeds our pod, the money that belongs in pod members’ 401Ks—not in Tucker’s pocket. Until such time, he’s banished from the pod. And again, I’ll say, you know this. You know why I had no choice but to take such swift action.”

Wait. There was more money missing? Beyond what they’d found in Tucker’s accounts? Had she heard that right? Oh, hell on wheels, this just kept getting worse.

But Serafina wasn’t to be thwarted, her freakishly deep purple eyes flashing. “I most certainly do not! All of this—all of it is foolishness, Getty, and you know it. There’s no one more trustworthy than your own son! But if you must be such a dolt, I won’t have you out here screaming like some animal in pain and frightening everyone who wishes to enjoy the light of the moon because of your stupidity! Do you understand me? I will not allow you to tear my family apart because you won’t trust his word!”

As Getty attempted to gather his manhood, Tucker stepped in and wrapped an arm around his mother’s slender shoulders, his face pleading and soft. “Mum, please don’t fight on my behalf. Father chose this path. It is what it is. Let it be for now. Don’t interfere. Please.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed Tucker’s cheek, inhaling deeply. “Who are your friends, son? Why have you brought them here? Are you all right?”

Tucker gave his mother a quick hug and set her from him. “I’m sorry we came and disrupted you and your nightly swim. My friends are here because they’re helping me, and it’s a long story. For now, I’m asking you to let this be, and we’ll go. I’ll call you in the morning, okay?”

Her beautiful face fell—until she caught sight of Esther, lying cold and wet on the ground, watching all this play out but afraid to move. “Is this…?”

Jessica appeared from behind the crowd, Chester’s hand in hers, pushing her way through the people until she reached Tucker, her eyes full of guilt. “She knows, Tuck. I told her about Esther because she was so worried. She hadn’t heard from you, and…”

But Serafina wasn’t paying attention to anyone, her eyes zeroed in on Esther. “Oh, you’re beautiful!” she declared, crouching and holding out her hand for Esther to take. “I know the circumstances are outlandish, but I’m so pleased to meet you, Esther. I hope we’ll be able to have coffee and get to know one another soon? Please say yes.”

“You will do no such thing!” Getty thundered.

But Serafina patted her on the shoulder then rose, her eyes wild, her hands on her slim hips. “I will do exactly that and more, you big ape! I might even have them over for dinner. What do you think about that, loud mouth?” she yelled, rounding on her husband. “And another thing—if you don’t end this foolishness soon, you’ll be sleeping alone for eternity!” With those words, she turned apologetic eyes to Esther before glaring at her husband and pointing a finger to the lake with a stern face. “Go home, Getty. Now!”

Nina smirked at Getty, crossing her arms over her chest, but thankfully she didn’t rub it in his face with words.

As Tucker’s father stomped back to the lake and dove in, making a loud splash, Serafina gripped Tucker’s hand and held it against her cheek. “I’m sorry, Tucker. My apologies to all of you for his atrocious behavior,” she whispered to the group before she followed her husband, her shoulders slumped.

Silence fell over the crowd, despite their curious eyes, but Jessica intervened by shooing them away. “Nothing to see here, folks. Go back to your swim, please,” she ordered, pointing to the water before she turned to Tucker. “I don’t know how he found out, Tuck. He never swims at night anymore. He’s been such a bear since this whole thing went down…”

Grabbing his towel, Tucker gave his sister a quick hug. “It’s okay. We’ll get through it. We have some ideas. But for now, we have to go. I need to get Esther home. I think she’s had enough mermaiding for one night, don’t you?”

Jessica squatted down next to Esther and sighed sadly. “I’m sorry you met my family this way. I swear, we’re not all heathens. Just my father, and usually he pretends to be nice enough around strangers, if not gruff. Can you forgive me for outing you? I had to tell my mother. She was so upset as it was. I’m sorry.”

Esther reached out and squeezed her hand, still shivering so much her teeth were chattering, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the fear of Tucker’s father or the cold. “It’s fine. Family drama happens. Thanks for your help tonight. It was awesome while it lasted.”

Jessica rose, blowing Tucker a kiss before she headed back into the water without another word, diving into the dark depths and disappearing.

Looking up at Nina, who stood beside her like a guard dog, she said, “Vampire? At ease, huh? It’s over. No harm, no foul.”

“I shoulda kicked his scaly, loud, overbearing ass,” she muttered, her eyes narrowing as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles, still posturing.

But Esther tugged at her wet pant leg. “There, there, Dark One. Let it go. We have bigger fish to fry,” she said, then laughed at her own joke. “Get it? Bigger fish to fry?”

Nina knelt down and covered her with another towel, scowling while Marty rubbed her tail. “I get it, Lucille Ball Fish. Now shut it.”

Esther tweaked the vampire’s cheek and giggled, then she looked to Tucker, who’d begun to help Marty dry her tail, too. “Hey, merman. You okay?”

“He’s a loud son of a bitch, isn’t he?”

Esther nodded, trying to relax enough to make her tail disappear and her legs return. “My ears are still ringing. But it’s okay. He’s under a lot of stress right now. Some people display that stress by yelling…and in your father’s case, creating a tidal wave. Oh my God, he made a tidal wave! Can I do that, too? No, forget it. This isn’t about me. We’re talking about you. Anyway, it’s just water, right?”

Tucker grimaced, unconvinced, the lines above his eyes deepening. “I’m sorry, Esther. He behaved so poorly. I’d have at least expected him to have some decorum around strangers.”

She cleared her throat before she reminded him of something. “Well, let’s be fair here, Pearson. You did introduce me in an in-your-face fashion.”

Tucker smirked, but he didn’t stop rubbing her tail, continuing to warm her. “I did not. I was simply stating a fact. It’s true. I did turn you into a mermaid, didn’t I?”

Esther snorted, her sarcasm clear. “Oh, sure, you were simply stating a fact, Tucker. ‘Hey, Daddy-O. Are you good and angry yet? Because I’ve got some icing for your cake made of ire. Meet the chick I turned into a mermaid. Neener, neener, neener.’ You all but waved my tail under his nose, Tucker. And don’t get me wrong, I understand the need to strike out. You’re angry and hurt that your father didn’t take your side in this mess—despite irrefutable proof on his side—because that’s what father’s do, and that makes your rebellious streak get flaunty. Like I said, we all handle stress in different ways.”

“Flaunty, eh?” he asked on a chuckle, still rubbing vigorously.

Leaning back on her elbows, Esther nodded, her head not quite as heavy as her hair began to dry. “Yes, flaunty. Either way. I get it. But you can’t blame him for all of it. You have to own some of your part in this. One doesn’t make things better when they get mouthy and showboaty.”

Stopping, Tucker looked up at her from where he sat at her feet and smiled in the dark. “I can see why you’re a mediator by profession. Now, look at your feet and behold the magic of relaxing.”

Never, for as long as she lived—and apparently that was forever—would she ever get over how her feet disappeared and reappeared with no warning at all. Wiggling her toes, Esther grinned back at him. “Perfect. Now, let’s go back to the cottage and plot ways to get you back into this pod where you belong.”

As Tucker helped her up, their chests met and connected, and all those lovely things he’d said back in the cave before his father had shot in there like a torpedo came back to her, while her girlie bits burned lava-like flames of lust and longing.

But Marty nipped that in the bud when she put a hand on each of their shoulders, her hair soaked, her clothes, too, and said, “How about we save the mating dance for a time when Marty doesn’t have a big fat headache?”

Esther hissed her disapproval of yet another headache, and she said as much. “Another Spanx headache? Maybe you should just let your freak flag fly and quit wearing them altogether?”

But Marty shook a finger at her. “Nuh-uh-uh. Don’t you try to mediate me out of my Spanx. That’ll never happen,” she said on a chuckle. “Now move it. To the car, fishes! We have a big day tomorrow if we hope to crack this case of the tainted water.”

Yes. Tomorrow they’d go to Tecton and speak to her uncle’s co-workers, or maybe even a friend or two. At least, she hoped he had a friend or two.

Either way, it was time to find some answers.

Because who wouldn’t want the chance to rejoin this pod with a man who yelled at the top of his lungs and had the ability to create a hurricane?

* * * *

Esther looked up at the big glass and steel building with large block letters spelling Tecton Inc. and sighed when she looked to Tucker, cupping her hand over her eyes to block out the sun.

Last night, she’d gone home and literally passed out from exhaustion. Being a mermaid was work. Being around Tucker’s father was no small task, either.

He’d made it clear she was unwanted, but she wasn’t sure what that meant. Did it mean she was forever doomed to swim the endless depths of the ocean alone with no pod of her own? Which sounded ridiculously dramatic, but could be the case if Getty decided she had no business being a part of his group. But did she need a group? Did she need other mermaids to survive?

Not technically, but it might be nice to have someone to relate to. Sort of like when you went to an AA meeting for support or a critical disease support group. Everyone in the group could relate to the way you had to live your life.

And had that been Tucker’s hands grabbing at her neck last night in an effort to save her? They’d felt different, but it had all been so chaotic that, now, in the clear light of day, she couldn’t be sure.

But those questions hadn’t haunted her until this morning as she’d grabbed a quick shower—where she thankfully did not sprout a tail and fins—threw on some makeup, pulled her hair into a neat bun, covered it with a scarf, and put on her most professional work suit.

All while she’d applied her makeup and dried her hair, she’d pondered what last night had meant for her. If they figured out someone had killed Gomez, and Tucker was exonerated of any wrongdoing, where did that leave her?

And then she chastised herself for being so selfish. This was about Tucker and her uncle, and the possibility Gomez hadn’t left this world of his own volition.

Yet, now that they stood in front of the imposing headquarters of Tecton, her stomach empty save for a cup of coffee, dark glasses and scarf on to hide her identity, she became nervous. What if they were talking murder here?

As the cool morning air swished his hair around his ruggedly handsome face, Tucker gazed down at her as he tipped his dark sunglasses forward, his hazel eyes almost green today because of the color of his crew-neck sweater. “Esther? You okay? If you’re not ready to do this, we can forget it. I’ll find another way to get information. I don’t want you involved in anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

Smoothing her scarf around her face, she almost laughed. “You’re a real noble guy, aren’t you?” she teased.

He rocked back on his heels and clucked his tongue. “The noblest.”

“So, how long do you suppose we can last in there before people realize who you are?” They’d both put on dark glasses and attempted to at least cover their faces, but it might not be enough.

“Or you, for that matter,” he reminded, pushing his glasses back on his nose. “You were in the article, too. Which is why I’m against this, Esther. I’m worried for your safety.”

“Are you saying you don’t think I can handle myself with a bunch of science nerds? You suppose they’ve brushed up on their ninja skills between studying quantum physics and the theory of relativity?”

“I don’t mean I think they’re going to beat you up. That would never happen as long as I’m here. I’m worried that if someone in there hurt Gomez, and you’re fishing around for some answers beyond suicide, they’ll hurt you, too.”

Clucking her tongue, she shook her head. “We don’t have a lot of choices. I’m his niece. His only living relative. If they’re handing out information like Halloween candy, I’m pretty sure I’m the one they’ll give the Snickers bar to.”

His sigh rasped from his lips—lips she couldn’t stop thinking about since she’d kissed him. “You have a point.”

“Wait,” she said, gripping his arm briefly. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about this money that’s missing, according to your father. I remember you saying some of it showed up in your accounts, but what about the rest of it?”

Tucker’s eyes narrowed. “You mean the one-point-five-million dollars that someone stole and no one can find?”

“Yeah, that,” she said, her tone dry.

“Someone stole it, Esther,” he said, deadpan, shifting his glasses to glare down at her.

She rolled her eyes and nudged his arm. “I know that, but why didn’t you mention it before—or at all? You just said money turned up in your account.”

Rolling his head on his neck, he grimaced. “It didn’t really matter at that point. Money gone is money gone, no matter the amount. I’m still being accused of doing something greedy and detestable.”

She peered up at him and narrowed one eye against the sun penetrating her sunglasses. “You know, if I didn’t believe you, I’d wonder why you didn’t tell me.”

He ran a finger down her nose and smiled. “Then it’s good you believe me.”

“Here’s something to chew on. Does your father think you’d have the balls to show up at the lake after allegedly doing something so horrible? That’s audacity, and as far as I’m concerned, maybe even preposterous. Why wouldn’t you just take off with the money and go join another, less troublesome pod?”

Tucker ran his hand over his jaw and stared off down the quiet sidewalk. “You know, in a way, I almost understand what my father is doing. All the evidence points to me. He’s letting everyone in the pod know even his own son can’t steal from us.”

She thought about that for a minute and decided, sure. That was fair. But why spend years proving yourself if you can’t at least expect a modicum of trust in return when things go awry?

“Okay, fair enough. Your father’s in a shitty position, but in this instance, I’m on your side. Yes, the evidence points to you, but he’s known you for however many ridiculous years you’ve been alive. He ought to know you better.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but things got very ugly at H2O-Yo, very fast. Word spread like wildfire after the police showed up. Many in the pod were waiting for my father to take action, and he did, and while it makes me as angry as I’ve ever been that I was someone’s scapegoat, he did me a favor, because all those hushed whispers and angry faces looking at me around the H2O-Yo cooler weren’t a pleasant way to spend my workday.”

She reached out a hand and grazed his arm. “I’m sorry, Tucker. But that’s why we have to do this. Redemption and all, and I’d like to do it before the police start asking you questions. I keep looking over my shoulder, thinking they’re going to pop out at us around every corner and take you into custody. Especially after the news broke that it was supposed to have been you who approved those tests.”

His face went hard under the morning sun and his fist clenched. “I could kill whoever the leak is.”

Esther pointed to the big revolving glass door. “Well, we’re not going to get any answers killing anyone or standing out here. So, let’s get ’er done. Are you ready?”

Tucker put a hand to her waist and nodded. “As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

With yet another excuse to touch him, she patted him on the arm. “This is the easy part. My uncle was a respected member of this company. There’s no reason why his co-workers shouldn’t want to talk to me.”

“And if they don’t?”

Esther made a face at him as though the answer were obvious. “Duh. I’ll cry, of course. Big, ugly, snotty tears. Obviously, you’ve borne witness to my acting skills when we tried to get into my uncle’s apartment. How can you doubt I’ll get us in there?”

Tucker’s shoulders shook as he chuckled. “Ah, yes. Your thespian efforts surpass even that of an Academy Award winner. How could I have doubted?”

She held her fist up to him, knuckles facing forward, and smiled. “Wonder Twin powers, activate.”

He withheld his fist and frowned. “Who twins?”

“Forget it. How’s teamwork makes the dream work?”

He bumped her knuckles with his, lifting his glasses to wink a sexy eye. “That I get. Now, scoot. We need to find Armand first, and maybe he can help us to find other people Gomez connected with.”

Without another word, she strode through the shiny revolving glass doors of Tecton and crossed the equally shiny marble floor to approach the blonde behind the sleek white and black desk.

She sat prettily in front of the Tecton logo, a computer before her, Bluetooth in her ear, her red dress formfitting, accentuating her teeny-tiny waist.

Esther immediately smiled at her with as much warmth as she could muster, despite the fact that Tecton gave her a cold, sterile vibe, and tucked her scarf tighter around her nape. “Hello, I’m Esther Sanchez,” she said, emphasizing her last name. “I’d like to see Armand Mendes. He was my uncle Gomez Sanchez’s lab assistant.”

The pretty blonde with the high ponytail and even higher cheekbones pursed her raspberry-colored lips and frowned. “You can’t see him.”

She had to remind herself to stay calm and not start demanding things. All good mediation began with compromise. “Any particular reason why?”

The receptionist tapped a nail on the marble counter in front of her, pressing her other hand to the Bluetooth earpiece. “You can’t see him because he no longer works here.”