took what I needed, but I'm asking for your help.'
'And because you decided to not break the law means I should?' he said, feet spread wide against the boat's movement. 'Even if I wanted to, I couldn't let you swim off like that. Even if I believed you, I wouldn't let you swim off like that. Not only would I lose my license, but you'd probably kill yourself.'
'I'm not asking you to break your license,' I said belligerently. 'I'm asking you to let me borrow a set of gear and tanks.'
Marshal ran a hand over his bald head, nearly laughing in anger. 'It took me three years to get my license,' he said with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. 'Three years. That was for the dive business. Add on another four to get my earth magic degree so I could make my own amulets and the boat could be cost effective. You're a selfish little white-bread brat if you think I'm going to jeopardize that because your boyfriend ran off and you want to catch him cheating on you. Everything was given to you, was it? You know nothing about hard work and sacrifice!'
'He did not run off with another girl!' I shouted, and the guy at the front of the boat sat up to look at us. Furious, I lowered my voice and stood so I could poke my finger at his chest—if I had the guts. 'And don't you dare tell me I don't know anything about hard work and sacrifice. I worked for seven years as a peon in the I.S., busted my butt to break my contract with them, and put my life on the line every day trying to make rent! So you can shove your holier-than-thou crap right back up where it came from. My old boyfriend bit off more than he could handle and he needs my help. The Weres took him,' I said, pointing to the island, 'and you are my best shot at getting over there undetected!'
Seeming taken aback, he hesitated. 'Why didn't you just go to the I.S.?'
My lips pressed together, thinking this could go south really fast if he called the I.S. out here with his radio. 'Because they're incompetent boobs and rescuing people is what I do for a living,' I said, and he eyed me suspiciously, his gaze going to my bruised neck again. 'Look, I'm usually better at it then this,' I added, refusing to explain the teeth marks. 'I'm sort of out of my element up here. I tried to ask you earlier, but Debbie kept interfering.'
At that, Marshal smirked and relaxed. 'Okay. I'm listening.'
I glanced at the bow of the boat and the man with his game. Like he would even notice if a great white shark bit off the back of the boat? 'Thanks,' I breathed, sitting down again. Marshal did the same, and Jenks dropped to sit cross-legged where he could see both of us. The sun glinted on his yellow hair, and it was obvious the warmth spell was working: his lips were red again and he was very relaxed, almost basking.
'See,' I said, embarrassed, now that I seemed to have my hat in my hand. 'My boyfriend, my old boyfriend,' I reiterated, flushing, 'turns out he's…' I couldn't tell him he was a thief. 'He recovers things.'
'He's a thief,' Marshal said, and I blinked. Seeing my muddle, the man snorted. 'Let me guess. He stole something from the Weres and got caught.'
'No,' I said, tucking a windblown strand away. 'Actually, he was contracted by them to recover something, and when he found it, he decided to give them their money back and keep it. I need to get him off that island.'
Marshal looked at Jenks, who shrugged.
'Fine,' I said, feeling stupid. 'I don't blame you if you want to take me back to the dock and tell me to get lost in a ley line. But one way or the other I'm going over the side of this boat. I'd rather it be in a wet suit with one of your charms.' Eyes squinting, I peered at him. 'Could I at least buy a spell from you? So he doesn't freeze on the way back?'
Marshal's smooth face scrunched up. 'I'm not licensed to sell my charms, only use them in my work.'
My head bobbed, and I felt a finger of relief wedge itself between my heart and the band wrapped about it. 'Yeah, me too. How about a trade?'
He leaned toward me, and after meeting my eyes to ask for permission, took a deep sniff of me. I could smell a hint of chlorine on him over his redwood scent. Apparently I smelled witchy enough, since he settled back, satisfied. 'What do you have?'
A exhalation of relief slipped from me. Pulling my waist pack around, I dug in it. 'Ah, on me? Not much, but I can send you something once I get home. I've got some sleepy-time potions in splat balls and three scent amulets.'
Jenks closed his eyes, seeming to soak in the sun. He was smiling.
'Scent amulets?' Marshal said, a hand tracing the line of muscle of his upper arm, hidden under his windbreaker. 'When would I ever use one of those?'
Affronted, I froze. 'I use them all the time.'
'Well, I don't. I bathe every day.'
Jenks snickered, and I warmed. 'They aren't deodorant charms,' I said, offended. 'They disguise your scent so Weres can't follow you.'
Marshal glanced from me to the island. 'You're serious. Damn, who are you, girl?'
Sitting straighter, I stuck my pasty white hand out, thinking it must be really clammy from the cold damp on the water. 'Rachel Morgan, third partner of Vampiric Charms out of Cincinnati. That's Jenks, second partner of the same.'
Marshal's hand was warm, and as we shook he gave Jenks a sideways glance, a smile quirking the corner of his lips. I didn't think he believed me yet. 'You're the silent partner, eh?' Marshal said, and Jenks cracked an eyelid and let it shut. 'You know,' he went on, releasing my hand, 'I was willing to go along with the joke because you're cute and we don't get many cute witch tourists. But this?' He gestured to the distant island. 'Can't we just go to dinner?'
My eyes narrowed. I leaned forward until I was too close for my comfort. 'Look, Mr. Captain of the good ship Lollypop. I don't care if you believe me or not. I need to get to the island. I'm going over the side of your boat. I want to trade for an extra charm from you so my boyfriend—' I gritted my teeth. '—my ex-boyfriend doesn't freeze on the way back. Actually, I want to trade for three, because I don't have any warmth amulets and I think they're pretty cool. The equipment, I'd like to arrange for an extended rental. If I lose them on the way, which is a distinct probability, you can take the price of them off my card. You got it on file.'
He looked at me, and I felt queasy from the adrenaline. 'Is it real?'
'Yes it's real! It ran through, didn't it?'
Hairless brow furrowed, he eyed me. 'How do I know your magic is good? You smell good, but that doesn't mean fish guts.'
I looked at Jenks, and he nodded. 'He's a pixy,' I said, tossing my head to him. 'I made him big so he could handle the cold temps up here while we rescued his son.' Okay, technically Ceri made the curse, but I could stir rings around this guy.
Marshal seemed impressed, but what he said was, 'His son is your boyfriend?'
Exasperated, I felt my hands start to shake with my desire to scream. 'No. But Jenks's son was with him. And he's not my boyfriend, he's my former boyfriend.'
Exhaling long and slow, Marshal eyed first Jenks, then me. I waited, breath held.
'Bob!' the man shouted to the front of the boat, and I stiffened. 'Come on back here and help me get my gear on. I'm going to take Mr. and Ms. Morgan on an extended tour.' He looked at me, taking in my obvious relief. 'Though I don't know why,' he finished softly.
Twelve
I didn't like the cold. I didn't like the feeling of so much water pressing on me. I didn't like that in some way I was connected to the ocean, with nothing between me and it but water. And I really didn't like that I had watched Jaws last month on the Classic Channel. Twice.
We had been swimming for some time, caught between the gray of the water surface and the gray of the unseen bottom, deep enough that a passing boat wouldn't clip us but shallow enough that the light still penetrated well. Marshal was clearly on edge about leaving the security of the diving-boat flag, but he was young enough to like breaking the rules when it suited him. I think that was why he was helping me. Life up here couldn't be that exciting.
