I walked towards the wardrobe. The doors were glossy and seamless, and I could see my own reflection distorted in them like I was underwater. It was quite a cool trick. Someone had designed this place with care and with a merman in mind.
I pulled open the wardrobe and it was organised with the same kind of precision that said either OCD or serial killer.
Shirts hung in a row, perfectly spaced, all colour-coordinated in line with the rainbow. I took myself to the blue section, but while there were some lighter shades, none of them matched the shirt I’d seen on Robbie’s phone.
There was very little in the way of casual clothes – one pair of jeans, some plain t-shirts, but that was it. No hoodies, no cargo trousers, nothing that said relaxed and chilling at home.
I scanned the lower shelves.
He had shoes lined up like soldiers. Smart leather. Polished. Once again colour-coordinated, though these – without exception – were only in ranges of brown, grey and black. Suffice it to say, Troy wasn’t adventurous with his footwear.
‘Robbie!’ I called. ‘Come in here. I want to double-check that shade of blue on your phone.’
He walked in, phone out and ready. I looked at the screen and rummaged through the blue shirts again, and no, not a single one was the right shade or cut.
I checked the dirty laundry basket in the marble-white bathroom: depressingly empty.
I had nothing.
Chapter Twelve
I rang Kate while Robbie drove us across the Mersey and back to my far more modest flat in Chester.
‘Hey, Stacy!’ Kate answered warmly. ‘Thanks so much for coming for dinner, even with your scry headache. I really appreciate it.’
‘You’re welcome. It was a lovely evening.’ I hesitated, unsure of how to broach my reason for calling. I decided to go with blunt honesty whilst holding back the more deadly elements. ‘Look, Kate. I’ve found out Troy is doing some dangerous deals, and I need you to keep away from him for me, just while those go down. Something is going on with the merpeople, and you need to stay away from him for a bit. It’s too dangerous for you.’
‘Dangerous?’ she asked, alarmed. ‘Dangerous how?’
‘I can’t go into it, but I need you to take me at my word.’
‘But … what’s changed since last night?’
‘Nothing but the fact that I know more. I’m sorry. I know this will be hard for you, but trust me, you haveto stay away from Troy. Just for now. Not forever.’ Hopefully.
‘Is he … is he in trouble?’
‘Troy isn’t in any trouble,’ I assured her. Though Troy surely was in a difficult situation, it wasJingowho was in trouble. ‘But Troy is mixed up with some dangerous people, and I don’t want you to get caught in the crosshairs. Look, I’ll tell you everything I can when it’s safer, but promise me you won’t meet up with him? Just … fob him off with being too busy at work or something. For me. Please?’
After a heavy pause, she said, ‘Okay, I won’t meet up with him, but when you can give it, I’d really like to hear that proper explanation.’
‘I promise I’ll give it when I can. Just … stay on your guard, Kate. Stick with Beth and public spaces.’
Her voice was shaky as she said, ‘Stacy, you’re scaring me. How much trouble is he in?’
The worst kind, I thought, but I didn’t say it.
‘I’m working hard at resolving it,’ I said instead. ‘Leave it with me. Everything is going to be okay.’
‘I … I like him, Stacy.’
‘I know you do, Kate. But for now, if you see him, run like hell in the other direction. I promise I’m going to sort this out for you. You have my word.’
I hung up before she could ask more and as I pocketed my phone, Robbie reached out with his free hand to lace his fingers through mine.
‘This situation might not resolve in an okay way, Stacy,’ he warned softly. ‘The odds are not in his favour.’
‘I know,’ I admitted. ‘But I can’t give up on somehow ousting Jingo from his body and freeing him, you know?’
