Page 7 of Bargain with Fate
“Good morning,” I said.
“Not when security is my second call of the day.” As a wereskunk, Justine wasn’t known for her cuddly nature.
“Quick question. Is there any chance we’ve recently registered any giant blue Neighbors? Or any giant green ones that aren’t so jolly?”
Justine was quiet for a moment. “Are you telling me there aretwounauthorized creatures on the island?”
“Wait. You know about one of them already?”
“I said you were my second call of the day. Have you seen either one of these creatures?”
“Not yet, but I’ve been looking. They seem to have appeared, scared the crap out of someone, and then disappeared. How did you hear about yours?”
“I got a call from Buff Base. Tennis practice was interrupted by the blue monster. The thing seized control of the ball dispenser and started shooting at the players, then it ran off laughing.”
Buff Base was the nickname for the clothing-optional section of the island. I didn’t want to contemplate what the creature was aiming for when it commandeered the ball dispenser. Then again, some targets would be hard to hit if Neighborhood gossip was to be believed—which it generally was.
“The blue guy has a sense of humor,” I said. “That’s interesting.”
“Terrorizing Neighbors isn’t funny, Maya. Find out how they got here too. I thought we secured the perimeter after the last intrusion.”
“We did.” I’d personally overseen the installation of the new ward after intruders managed to infiltrate the island.
“I expect you to take care of this immediately. We can’t afford another crisis, especially so soon after the last one.”
“I’ll handle it. I promise.” I hung up before she could launch into a speech about responsibility and filling Judd’s shoes. I needed no reminders.
I stared at my blank computer screen, thinking about everything I knew so far about our unwanted visitors. Bright, vibrant colors. Horned. Claws. Sharp teeth. The salient point seemed to be their failure to actually attack anyone, despite their dangerous appearances. I typed a few key terms in the search bar, reviewed the results, and created a short list of the most likely suspects. The top candidates were all East Asian in origin and relatively unfamiliar to me.
I logged into the Neighborhood security system and tracked down the person most likely to help me identify the creatures. Kaito was a quiet Neighbor, but he liked company. He also like origami, which is what I found him doing in the Palmetto clubhouse while another group of residents held a meeting to plan an upcoming square dance. I couldn’t think of anything I’d like to do less than do-si-do.
I spotted the familiar head of dark hair hunched over a small table nestled in the back corner. I skirted the main event and slid into the empty chair across from him.
Kaito glanced up from his creation. “Hello, Maya.”
“Hi. Cherry blossom?”
He nodded. “Some people knit. I prefer this.”
“No dragons today?” Kaito was capable of infusing his creations with magic. I’d seen him craft animals, including a small dragon, and breathe temporary life into them. Too bad there was no children’s birthday party market to corner on the island. His handiwork put balloon animals to shame.
“I woke up in a flower mood. Sakura remind me of home.”
His accent was almost undetectable. “How long have you lived in America?”
“Since 1883. That’s the year I was recruited to work on a sugar plantation in Hawaii. I signed a five-year contract. From there, I went to San Francisco.”
“Were you there for the 1906 earthquake?”
“I was, indeed. A very scary time. Many moments I have forgotten, but not that one.”
I whistled. “Damn. You’ve been through it.”
“I was fortunate to have left for Australia in 1933, or else I would have found myself in an internment camp.”
“I’m surprised you came back.”
His gaze drifted to the windows behind me. “There is something about this land that speaks to me. I returned in 1954, this time to the East Coast, and have been here ever since.”
