"Why would your friend do that?" Rissa asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
I shrugged. "He rents the yacht out sometimes. Probably doesn't want guests messing with the electrics. No worries." I injected confidence into my voice. "The key should be in the cockpit. I'll grab it and be right back."
I hurried to the cockpit and rummaged through the small drawer where I’d found spare tools and keys. Screwdrivers, pliers, a hammer... but no key for the breaker box. Damn it. I clearly remembered seeing that distinctive brass key in here yesterday when boredom had driven me to snoop. And what about the key to the fuel door? That was gone too. This couldn't be a coincidence.
Frustration simmered under my skin as I slammed the drawer shut with more force than necessary. Someone was messing with us, but who? And why? Jeanette wouldn't, and I couldn't picture Rey or Cathy doing anything. Was someone else on board somehow, or finding a way to come and go?
A shifter who could take on a marine shape?
I grabbed a screwdriver, the gears in my mind churning as I hurried back to Rissa and the others. Thomas wouldn't be happy about me destroying his lock, but we needed power. Explanations and apologies would have to wait.
"Sorry, buddy," I muttered under my breath as I approached the bow. "I'll make it up to you later."
Rissa's eyes locked onto mine as I neared, a silent question in their green depths. I gave a subtle shake of my head. No key. Her lips pressed into a grim line.
With a few deft movements, I jammed the screwdriver into the lock, applying pressure until the cheap metal gave way with a satisfying crack. I yanked the panel open, revealing the neat rows of switches inside.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered, flipping the main breaker.
Instantly, the yacht hummed back to life. Lights flickered on, the low thrum of the AC kicked in. Relieved sighs echoed around me.
I shut the panel, turning to face the others. "Well, that solves one problem."
Rissa stepped closer, her brow furrowed. "The key was missing?"
I nodded, frustration creeping back in. "I’m sure they were there yesterday. I remember seeing them when I was poking around. It's just...weird."
Rey glanced at us from where Cathy and Jeanette were chatting, their voices relieved.
Rissa caught his eye and bit her lip, glancing back at me. "You don't think..."
She trailed off.
Rey shook his head minutely.
I caught both their drifts. This wasn't the time or place. "Maybe I'm just imagining things," I said with a shrug, raising my voice slightly. "We must've done something to overload the system. I'll double check everything later."
Rissa played along, forcing a smile. "Right. Well, I'm just glad we've got power again. I was starting to feel like I was in a floating haunted house."
“Poker?” Rey asked, Jeanette’s favorite game. She eagerly agreed and Cathy accompanied them to get the cards.
As they drifted back inside, Rissa and I lingered at the bow, the sea breeze whipping around us.
"This isn't right," she murmured, her voice low and urgent. "First the engine trouble, now this? Someone's targeting us."
"We need to stay alert," I said quietly, meeting her gaze. "Keep an eye out for anything suspicious, someone sneaking on and off the boat. Portaling somehow, maybe. I don't like this one bit."
As we stood there, the vast expanse of the ocean stretching out before us, I couldn't shake the worry.
I didn’t like all the variables in this situation.
17
RISSA
The leather couchcreaked beneath me as I turned another page, the musty scent of the old book tickling my nose. Luce sat across from me, his massive frame hunched over his own book, brow furrowed in concentration. We’d found a small stash of novels under the couch in the main cabin, thank goodness. The boredom was getting pretty strong.
Yes, Luce could conjure all kinds of entertainment or books or whatever. But it cost him magic. And he wanted to conserve all he could, just in case we ran into problems retrieving the diamond.
