Page 88 of My Sister is Going to Kill Me

“Bankers are into some strange stuff,” PK said.

“It’s not strange,” Stefan said. “It’s foundational. Our investment group makes money off modern-day lotus flowers. Social media. Reality TV. Face serums and sleep aids and hope.”

He nodded at Imogen. “We were the first backers of the platform where you are famous. Videos that last exactly eight seconds? They are petals of a digital lotus flower melting on viewers’ eyeballs. Like Lord Tennyson said: Surely slumber is more sweet than toil.”

“I don’t put my fans to sleep,” Imogen said.

“No. What you do is better. You invite them into suspended animation, onto your own little raft on the vast river of consumerism. You take their attention. You distract them. You make them love you and yearn for what you have. It’s perfect.”

Imogen just stared at him.

“Right,” Guy said. “I definitely vote to tie him up.”

“Nobody’s voting,” Liv said. “Unless someone has information they want to share right now about how Babette died, we’re sticking to my plan.”

“What if it wasn’t any of us?” Charlie said. “What if it was the guide?”

Big Pete looked insulted. “Can you please stop blaming the guides?”

“Marc made it back to the Wild Adventures office this evening,” Liv said. “He hiked all the way to the rim to seek medical attention for Babette. If he meant to kill your sister, I don’t know why he’d check back in at the office and try to send a team down to save her.”

“Maybe because he succeeded,” Charlie mumbled.

“You three each had the opportunity to be alone with her.” Liv crossed her arms. “We have to take appropriate safety measures.”

“This is hardly appropriate,” Guy retorted.

“Dad’s right,” Mandy said. “We can’t tie anyone up. It’s inhumane.”

“What’s inhumane is what happened to Babette,” Liv said.

“And the fact that we left the mule behind,” Imogen muttered. “That was messed up.”

“Well.” Guy clapped a hand on Mandy’s shoulder. “There’s one thing we agree on: We need to get some sleep. Plenty to discuss when the sun comes up. Mand, you got a patch of sand picked out where we could roll out the old sleeping bags?”

There was a loud click, and everybody froze. Across the circle, Liv could see the metallic gleam of a pistol wavering in the twilight.

“Do what she says,” Katy said. Her voice was hoarse. Maybe a little desperate. She was holding a gun in both hands, pointing it at Guy. Her legs were planted, arms stiff, fingers vibrating. Without seeing the guide’s eyes, Liv couldn’t guess at whether she was more angry or scared.

“Katy,” Big Pete said, “put that down.”

Thor came up beside the girl, but she swung the pistol in his direction, and he froze, opening his hands. “Whoa, girl. There’s no need for that.”

Now Liv could see her eyes. Katy was furious. She glared at Thor, then spun back and trained the gun on Guy, more confidently this time.

“The woman who died,” Katy said. “Babette. I wasn’t there. I didn’t see what you saw. But I’ve heard enough to know that someone here hurt her. Someone killed her. That’s a real and present danger to all of us.” She looked around the circle. Everyone was quiet. Even Guy had quit posturing.

“Pete’s right,” Katy said. “We’re professionals.” She turned to her boss, her eyes still hot. “And I’m not just your supply girl. I’m a trained guide just like you. Our duty is to keep these people safe. If you want me to keep watch over a bunch of might-be murderers? Either I’m using this”—she waved the gun in the air, and everyone flinched—“or we’re getting out the rope.”

No one said anything. No one moved. Liv could hear her heart pounding in her throat.

Then Charlie broke the silence. “You can tie me up.” His voice was tired, resigned. “Just keep me on the other side of the boat from him.” He shot an angry stare at Guy.

“Me as well,” Stefan said. “Though I would prefer to change into dry clothes first if that is permissible.”

Big Pete moved to take the gun, but Katy brushed him off and shook it one more time in Guy’s direction. “And you?”

Guy gave her a long, lazy smile. “You can tie me up anytime, darling. Just as long as you lock that pistol up and throw away the key.”