I stepped out of the foggy alley, looked around the lobby of the clinic, and groaned. I’d come by hoping to convince them to grab a later dinner with me and let me rant about the scam that was Potent Potions to blow off some steam.
Instead, half a dozen small golden chests littered the plastic chairs and topped Heidi’s tall desk. “Snakes, you guys! How many of these did you buy?”
Will sat on his rolling stool and uncorked a tiny vial of glowing purple liquid. He raised it to his nose and sniffed. His face crumpled. “Ew.”
Heidi held up a finger. “Sue told me the worse they smell, the stronger they are.”
Will replaced the cork. “Makes sense.”
I dragged both hands over my hair. “Does it, though?” I whimpered at Will. “Really? You, too.” I threw an arm out at the chests and tiny vials scattered around the room.
Will lifted both bushy brows. “You left before the end of the presentation. You don’t have all the information.”
I glared at him. “I’m investigating the death of the Potent Potions’ founder and have spent all night snooping around in their dirty laundry, so—”
“Gross.”
I rolled my eyes at Heidi. “Figuratively.” I turned back to Will. “So I know plenty. This is a scam.” I pointed around the room at all the merchandise. “You should insist on getting your money back—immediately.”
“Did you know you can make up to fifty thousand merkles a month? A month!” Will’s already huge eyes got bigger. He sighed, his gaze dreamy. “I could get my penthouse back, eat at Oyster Blue every night….”
“Get my own place….” Heidi swept over, glossy pamphlet in hand. “Look! These ladies even earned the super bonus and got a company-branded airship! Eek!” She squealed, then immediately sobered. “So, want to join my downline?”
“Uh!” Will gasped. “How dare you!” He rolled over on his stool. “Jolene, we’re closer. You’ll be in my downline, right?” He winked.
I backed away from both of them. “You’re both delusional—I’m not going to be in anyone’s downline.”
Will looked smug. “That’s what I said, too… and look at me now!”
I shook my head at him. “Yeah. Look at you.”
I felt like I suddenly weighed a thousand pounds and just wanted to be sleeping in my bed. I couldn’t handle the zombie horde of Potent Potions taking over my friends’ minds on top of everything else I had going on. “Okay, suckers, I’m going home.”
“Wait!” Heidi grabbed my hand, and I paused midstep.
“What?”
She held up a vial of orange, bubbling liquid. “Who needs sleep? Try Pick Me Up Orange for a little more pep in your step instead.” She uncorked the bottle and wafted it under my nose. I recoiled from the sickly sweet smell. “Only forty-five merkles.”
I frowned at her. “I can barely afford my rent—no.”
Will rolled over and bumped her out of the way.
“Hey!” She stumbled a few steps away.
Will winked and held up a gold liquid with steam curling into the air. “Try Bags BeGone to help with those unsightly under-eye circles you’ve got.” He circled an enormous finger in the direction of my face.
I shot him a withering look. “Wow. What salesmen you two are.” I backed away toward the door. “First of all, you know that stuff doesn’t work, right? Pearl and Opal and everyone claiming beauty enhancements from these things is full of detritus—”
“Psh.” Will and Heidi exchanged disbelieving looks. My friend, a former top surgeon on the island, turned to me. “Oh! We know—those women have had so much work done.”
He and Heidi chuckled.
My jaw dropped. “Am I missing something here? You two know the potions aren’t doing what they claim, and that it’s the result of magical medical enhancement? Then why’d you still buy all this stuff?”
Will held up a long finger. “Answer me this—how’d they get so much money for the procedures, huh?”
Heidi nodded. “That stuff’s expensive.”
They giggled at each other. “We’re gonna get so rich.”
I heaved a great sigh. “Sure. Totally.” I grabbed the door handle. “Point two, I’m not going anywhere near those potentially contaminated tiny vials.”
Will’s smirk faltered. “What?”
I raised my brows. “You’ll get no sympathy from me if you turn into a lizard.”
Will shot a questioning look at Heidi, who waved it off. “Just rumors.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I met the lizard man personally earlier this evening.” I yanked the door open.
Will had a moment of pause, then shrugged it off. “I’m sure he did something wrong, then.”
Ah, the self-soothing delusion of those committed to believing. I rolled my eyes. “I’m going home and hope tomorrow I wake up and find this was all a nightmare.”
“Ooh!” Glass tinkled as Heidi rummaged through one of the golden chests. “There’s a potion for nightmares.”
25
LIES
The next night, I jogged down my steep stairs to find Peter and Daisy outside my front door. Peter’s scruff was even bushier and his eyes just as bloodshot, but as I stepped into the drizzly night I smelled coffee on him. I pondered this as I turned my back and locked up. He stopped to get coffee but didn’t bring me any. He always used to bring me some.
I tried to stuff down the sinking sadness in my gut. I guess I’d partly hoped that by working together again, we’d be able to work past some of this. But each interaction only seemed to cement our new dynamic—distant and functional. I heaved a great sigh and shoved my hands into the pockets of my old quilted green bomber jacket. I missed the old Peter and our easy, flirty vibe. But no point wishing for what couldn’t be.
“We looked into Maria Wu’s alibi.” Peter’s voice came out flat. “Didn’t check out.”
I scoffed. “Huge shocker there.”
He nodded as Daisy trotted along up ahead. She turned her head this way and that, sniffing at passersby and food carts. Neon signs flashed overhead, blanketing her glossy, damp fur in bright oranges and hot pinks. A
