'The rest of the land around the lake isn't for sale.'
'Neither was this lodge until he decided he wanted it.'
Crushing the paper in one hand, Vicki's eyes silvered. 'There's got to be something we can Shit!' Tossing the paper aside, she grabbed Celluci's arm as the end of the dock bucked up into the air and leaped back one section, dragging him with her. 'What the fuck was that?' she demanded as they turned to watch the place they'd just been standing rock violently back and forth. The paper she'd dropped into the water was nowhere to be seen.
'Wave from a passing boat?'
'There hasn't been a boat past here in hours.'
'Sometimes these long narrow lakes build up a standing wave. It's called a seiche.'
'A seiche?' When he nodded, she rolled her eyes. 'I've got to start watching more PBS. In the meantime'
The sound of an approaching car drew their attention up to the lodge in time to see Stuart slowly and carefully pull into the parking lot, barely disturbing the gravel.
'Are you going to tell him who vandalized his car?' Celluci asked as they started up the hill.
'Who? Probably not. I can't prove it after all, but I will tell him it wasn't some vengeful spirit and it definitely won't happen again.' At least not if Pete Wegler had anything to say about it. The spirit of the lake might be hypothetical but she wasn't.
'A group of villagers, Vicki? You're sure?'
'Positive.'
'They actually thought I'd believe it was an angry spirit manifesting all over the side of my vehicle?'
'Apparently.' Actually, they hadn't cared if he believed it or not. They were all just so angry they needed to do something and since the spirit was handy She offered none of that to call-me-Stuart.
'I want their names, Vicki.' His tone made it an ultimatum.
Vicki had never responded well to ultimatums. Celluci watched her masks begin to fall and wondered just how far his dislike of the developer would let her go. He could stop her with a word, he just wondered if he'd say it. Or when.
To his surprise, she regained control. 'Check the census lists then. You haven't exactly endeared yourself to your neighbours.'
For a moment, it seemed that Stuart realized how close he'd just come to seeing the definition of his own mortality but then he smiled and said, 'You're right, Vicki, I haven't endeared myself to my neighbours. And do you know what: I'm going to do something about that. Tomorrow's Victoria Day. I'll invite them all to a big picnic supper with great food and fireworks out over the lake. We'll kiss and make up.'
'It's Sunday evening and tomorrow's a holiday. Where are you going to find food and fireworks?'
'Not a problem, Mike. I'll e-mail my caterers in Toronto. I'm sure they can be here by tomorrow afternoon. I'll pay through the nose but, hey, developing a good relationship with the locals is worth it. You two will stay, of course.'
Vicki's lips drew back off her teeth but Celluci answered for them both. 'Of course.'
'He's up to something,' he explained later, 'and I want to know what that is.'
'He's going to confront the villagers with what he knows, see who reacts and make their lives a living hell. He'll find a way to make them the first part of his expansion.'
'You're probably right.'
'I'm always right.' Head pillowed on his shoulder, she stirred his chest hair with one finger. 'He's an unethical, immoral, unscrupulous little asshole.'
'You missed annoying, irritating, and just generally unlikable.'
'I could convince him he was a combination of Mother Theresa and Lady Di. I could rip his mind out, use it for unnatural purposes, and stuff it back into his skull in any shape I damn well chose but I can't.'
Once you start down the dark side, for ever will it dominate your destiny ? But he didn't say it aloud because he didn't want to know how far down the dark side she'd been. He was grateful that she'd drawn any personal boundaries at all, that she'd chosen to remain someone who couldn't use terror for the sake of terror. 'So what are we going to do about him?'
'I can't think of a damned thing. You?'
Suddenly he smiled. 'Could you convince him that you were the spirit of the lake and that he'd better haul his ass back to Toronto unless he wants it dissolved off?'
She was off the bed in one fluid movement. 'I knew there was a reason I dragged you out here this weekend.' She turned on one bare heel then turned again and was suddenly back in the bed. 'But I think I'll wait until tomorrow night. He hasn't paid me yet.'
'Morning, Mike. Where's Vicki?'
'Sleeping.'
'Well, since you're up, why don't you help out by carrying the barbecue down to the beach. I may be willing to make amends but I'm not sure they are and since they've already damaged my car, I'd just as soon keep them away from anything valuable. Particularly when in combination with propane and open flames.'
'Isn't Vicki joining us for lunch, Mike?'
'She says she isn't hungry. She went for a walk in the woods.'
'Must be how she keeps her girlish figure. I've got to hand it to you, Mike, there aren't many men your age who
