He blinks over at me as if hearing those words out loud startled him.
A dull smile bounces from him. “It was that obvious, huh?” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “If you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you didn’t say anything. It’s not something I’d like to advertise.”
“Can I ask what happened between the two of you? I mean, if you’ve been keeping it bottled up, it might be good to get it off your chest.”
“Nothing happened.” His cheek flickers. “That’s the long and short of it.” And how I wish it wasn’t true. “I met Bernie in high school. We dated a bit, graduation came, and I went off to college. She didn’t. When I came home on break, I wanted to pursue something more with her, but it turned out she was taken.”
“That’s too bad.”
He glances over his shoulder before leaning in. “Please don’t think less of her, but Bernie was caught up in a relationship with a married man. She had no idea in the beginning, but once she found out, he strung her along. He was older, showered her with money, paid her rent, bought her a crappy secondhand car that hardly sputtered up the street, and promised she’d be the next Mrs. Julian Fletcher as soon as he broke it off with his wife.”
“Julian Fletcher?” I nearly gag on his name as I say it. “No wonder she looked affronted when he plucked her out of the audience that night.” That conversation I had with Michaela comes back to me. “He and Bernie broke it off, though, right?” Abruptly according to Michaela.
He nods. “Bernie had enough one day. She wanted out of that nightmare he dragged her into and she wanted him to suffer for it, too. She waited until Julian went to work and then knocked on his front door. She told his wife everything.”
“That’s pretty brutal.” I shrug. “I guess Julian’s wife wasn’t too thrilled.”
“She was furious. So was Julian. But after the dust settled from the divorce, he tried to get Bernie back. She wouldn’t have anything to do with him.”
“But she kept the job at the Magic Castle?”
His lips harden in a knot. “She was no longer his assistant, but she still made her money there. Bernie doesn’t have family. She needed the security.”
“Surely she could wait tables anywhere.” I shake my head at him.
“Not necessarily.” He ticks his head to the side as he says it.
It doesn’t make sense. Sherlock barks.
No, it doesn’t.
That name…Bernie—Lucky moans my way—that’s the name he was shouting when he was talking about the Collective.
I suck in a quick breath as I look to Zeke.
“Michaela mentioned something the day I was shopping for a dress”—I clear my throat because here goes nothing—“something about Bernie. She mumbled something about a collective, or maybe it was about a collection? But when I asked her about it, she brushed it off. I guess Michaela knows Bernie, too.” Okay, so I just took him around the block, but let’s see if that kicks off a thought that could lead me to some real answers.
His brows lift a solid inch. Michaela mentioned the Collective to this poor girl? What in the heck was she thinking? Don’t tell me Michaela is in the recruiting game now. That was Julian’s gig. He shakes his head. But I guess someone has to take over now that he’s gone. I hate the damn Collective. I hate that Bernie was so wrapped up in it, addicted to the dollars, the safety net. More than that, I hate that she feels the need to avoid me at every turn because of it.
“Zeke?” I lean in. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” He snaps out of his trance and tries to laugh it off, but the laugh never quite initiates.
“Zeke? What do you think this Col—”
Before I can get the word out, Juni runs my way.
“Bizzy!” Juni howls so loud you’d think she was being chased by a swarm of bees. “I gotta get back to the inn. My credit card was hacked back at the Magic Castle to the tune of five thousand dollars! I need to call the sheriff’s department. I want this swindler arrested. I want to kill the arse who thought fit to steal from me with my own bare hands.” She stalks over and plucks Georgie from a crowd of beefy construction workers who look rather mesmerized by whatever it is she’s regaling them with. “Come on, Mama. I need you to hold my hand until I can get these charges reversed. I’ve got a financial bone to pick with someone, and I don’t know who to take my aggression out on just yet.”
They take off in a hurry and Zeke scoffs in their wake.
“Did she say she got her credit card ripped off at the Magic Castle?” He closes his eyes a moment. “Do yourself a favor and steer clear of that place—especially the bar. I’ve heard dark things.” Like it’s the heart of the Collective. I’d hate to break it to that poor woman, but she didn’t get her credit card stolen. Although, in all fairness, it does seem it was a bit of a misunderstanding. He nods my way. “I’d better get back to work. Thanks for the brownies, Bizzy.” He gives Lucky a quick pat before taking off toward his crew.
“Blondies,” I call out after him.
The Magic Castle is the heart of the Collective?
Hey, wait a minute…
Didn’t Macy have her credit card swiped at the Magic Castle to the tune of five thousand dollars as well?
What in the heck is going on?
I think I have five thousand new reasons to head back to the Magic Castle.
I’m feeling awfully thirsty for answers—and something tells me
