could hold on to such a woman. I mean, she's really got that independent thing going, doesn't she?' He accepted a tuna sandwich with effusive thanks, took a bite and winced. 'Not light mayo?'
'No.'
'Never mind, Mike. I'm sure you meant well. Now, then, as it's just the two of us, have you ever considered investing in a time-share'
Mike Celluci had never been so glad to see anyone as he was to see a van full of bleary-eyed and stiff caterers arrive at four that afternoon. As Vicki had discovered during that initial phone call, Stuart Gordon was not a man who took no for an answer. He might have accepted 'Fuck off and die!' followed by a fast exit but since Vicki expected to wake up on the shores of Lake Nepeakea, Celluci held his tongue. Besides, it would be a little difficult for her to chase the developer away if they were halfway back to Toronto.
Sunset.
Vicki could feel maybe two dozen lives around her when she woke and she lay there for a moment revelling in them. The last two evenings she'd had to fight the urge to climb into the driver's seat and speed towards civilization.
'Fast food.'
She snickered, dressed, and stepped out into the parking lot.
Celluci was down on the beach talking to Frank Patton. She made her way over to them, the crowd opening to let her pass without really being aware she was there at all. Both men nodded as she approached and Patton gestured towards the barbecue.
'Burger?'
'No thanks, I'm not hungry.' She glanced around. 'No one seems to have brought their kids.'
'No one wants to expose their kids to Stuart Gordon.'
'Afraid they'll catch something,' Celluci added.
'Mike here says you've solved your case and you're just waiting for Mr Congeniality over there to pay you.'
Wondering what Mike had been up to, Vicki nodded.
'He also says you didn't mention any names. Thank you.' He sighed. 'We didn't really expect the spirit of the lake thing to work but'
Vicki raised both hands. 'Hey, you never know. He could be suppressing.'
'Yeah, right. The only thing that clown suppresses is everyone around him. If you'll excuse me, I'd better go rescue Anne before she rips out his tongue and strangles him with it.'
'I'm surprised she came,' Vicki admitted.
'She thinks he's up to something and she wants to know what it is.'
'Don't we all,' Celluci murmured as he walked away.
The combined smell of cooked meat and fresh blood making her a little light-headed, Vicki started Mike moving towards the floating dock. 'Have I missed anything?'
'No, I think you're just in time.'
As Frank Patton approached, Stuart broke off the conversation he'd been having with Anne Kellough — or more precisely, Vicki amended, at Anne Kellough — and walked out to the end of the dock where a number of large rockets had been set up.
'He's got a permit for the damned things,' Celluci muttered. 'The son of a bitch knows how to cover his ass.'
'But not his id.' Vicki's fingers curved cool around Mike's forearm. 'He'll get his, don't worry.'
The first rocket went up, exploding red over the lake, the colours muted against the evening grey of sky and water. The developer turned towards the shore and raised both hands above his head. 'Now that I've got your attention, there's a few things I'd like to share with you all before the festivities continue. First of all, I've decided not to press charges concerning the damage to my vehicle although I'm aware that'
The dock began to rock. Behind him, one of the rockets fell into the water.
'Mr Gordon.' The voice was Mary Joseph's. 'Get to shore, now.'
Pointing a finger towards her, he shook his head. 'Oh, no, old woman, I'm Stuart Gordon'
No call-me-Stuart , tonight, Celluci noted.
' and you don't tell me what to do, I tell'
Arms windmilling, he stepped back, once, twice, and hit the water. Arms and legs stretched out, he looked as though he was sitting on something just below the surface. 'I have had enough of this,' he began and disappeared.
Vicki reached the end of the dock in time to see the pale oval of his face engulfed by dark water. To her astonishment, he seemed to have got his cell phone out of his pocket and all she could think of was that old movie cut line, Who you gonna call ?
One heartbeat, two. She thought about going in after him. The fingertips on her reaching hand were actually damp when Celluci grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She wouldn't have done it, but it was nice that he thought she would.
Back on the shore, two dozen identical wide-eyed stares were locked on the flat, black surface of the lake, too astounded by what had happened to their mutual enemy, Vicki realized, to notice how fast she'd made it to the end of the dock.
