“What are you hiding?”
“Can you do an interview? We’ll pay you.”
Sid throws her arms out, blocking a handful of the mob behind me. “Hey guys, I’m his rep. You want to ask him something, you go through me.”
Liam and Scott are by my side now and begin shoving those who have followed me. The guard at the front door opens it and closes it as soon as I’m through. Scott and Liam stay outside. Scanning the room, there’s no sign of Crystal.
I consider going back when Sid rushes through the door, Crystal by her side.
Then her crew comes in, walking their bikes.
“Who did this?” Crystal’s shaken up and angry. “Scott told everyone to keep their mouths shut. Nathan deserves some peace.”
Pulling Crystal to my chest, I try to calm her.
“Daddy Dearest.” Sid glares at the stage. Garrett and Finn are already there. “Sorry, guys. This was a rotten thing to do. Even for him.”
“Thank you for your help,” I say.
“I’ll be in the back. Let me know when it’s time to pick up Natalie.”
Holding her hand tightly, I escort Crystal toward the stage. “Are you sure you want to do this? You could call in sick.”
“It’s a little too late for that.” She laughs half-heartedly and brushes down the creases in her dress and squeezes my arm.
Finn notices Crystal and walks over.
“You okay?” Finn asks her, “This is a mob.”
“We’re good,” she says.
Then he looks at me and grins. “You’re famous. Seems like everyone in this town wants your autograph.”
He rests a hand on her shoulders. “Mind if I steal her?”
What I want to do is punch his arm away, but I nod, and he guides her the rest of the way to the dais.
I find a seat a few rows away from the stage. Thankfully, no reporters were allowed inside, but I can feel the heat of hundreds of curious eyes burning my skin. As soon as I meet anyone’s gaze, they dart their eyes away.
And the whispers—I try to ignore them.
One set of eyes grabs my attention—because they are hidden behind dark glasses and seem to be fixed on me.
And the man they belong to is smiling. At me?
Immediately, I’m on guard. But then a woman walks up to him and whispers something in his ear. They laugh and walk off.
Something’s off. I get the sense that I know him. I look for him again in the crowd, but he’s gone.
The audience is getting restless, the chatter louder, and less of the crowd’s attention is on me as they become focused on the stage.
A heavyset man finally walks in from the back of the curtain to the microphone. Tapping it, he clears his throat and begins speaking with a warm, easygoing drawl.
“Welcome, folks.” He smiles and calmly waits for most of the chatter to stop. “Most of you know me, but for those I haven’t met, I’m Mayor Bent.” There’s still some light murmuring in the crowd. But most have quieted down and are waiting to hear what’s going on.
“You want answers. I do too. That’s why we’ve got these smart folks here with me.” He gestures to the speakers behind him. “Dr. Harlow—you may know him from the Carter’s Drop dives, Dr. Phineas Clark from West Virginia, and Mrs. Crystal Glassier, our very own marine biologist.” He gives a curt nod. “They’ll bring us up to speed. Hold your questions till the end, and we’ll get to ‘em.”
He steps aside and motions for Finn to come forward.
