Page 22 of A Dash of Wolf

“You could,” Cassie pointed out. “You’re an air elemental.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“Maybe he said ‘cute’ because he thinks you’re cute,” Emory offered with a grin.

Tempi pointed her cracker at Emory. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare go there.”

Adeline laughed. “I don’t know. I sometimes think he⁠—”

“I will launch you all into the bay,” Tempi said with a laugh.

“Think of the lovely aquatic-wind babies you’d make,” Princess Muffin Top said from the railing. “On second thought, forget I said that.”

They ate and drank and laughed as the sky turned from gold to purple. Emory told a story about one of her customers wanting to try something new, so he ordered a matcha. He took one sip and asked why she was serving grass clippings as a drink. Cassie told them about the dozens and dozens of “suspicious activity” calls the station had received the first two days the new chief had been on duty. They all knew it was code for gossip chain.

“Speaking of the new chief,” Tempi said, looking pointedly at Adeline. “What’s going on between you two?”

Adeline took a sip of her wine. “Let’s table that for later.” She looked out and saw the lights from a shrimp boat bobbing in the water. “I’d rather talk about the bulldozer vandalism. Because it’s not me, but I’m afraid I’m going to be blamed for it.”

“You know everything we know.” Cassie set down her wineglass. “Someone is sabotaging Ivan’s equipment. Twice now battery cables have been taken out, and magical glitter spray paint was used to write a message on the bulldozer last night.”

“It was disappearing glitter,” Tempi said. “So what’s the big deal there? I get the battery cable thing is annoying, but what’s really going on here?”

Since she wasn’t driving anywhere, Adeline poured herself a little more red wine. “I think Ivan is trying to make a bigger deal out of this so he can try to get people on his side. Make it seem like I’m causing major damage for the sake of the squish-squids.”

Emory nodded. “Which in turn will make people side with him and his building.” She popped a grape into her mouth. “Sneaky of him.” Her eyes went wide. “You spelled the grapes! Mmm…chocolate-covered cherry flavor for me. Goes great with my red wine.”

“Could Ivan be sabotaging his own equipment?” Tempi giggled. “I just realized how naughty that could sound.”

Princess Muffin Top snorted. “Someone take the wine away from her.”

Cassie chuckled as she topped off Tempi’s glass. “I’m driving them all home, so she’s drinking my second glass for me.”

“Back to Ivan,” Emory said. “It could be he’s the culprit.”

“Who else?” Adeline asked. “Who else has a grudge against Ivan?”

The girls all stared at each other.

“I mean, it could be anyone,” Emory said. “There are a lot of people angry at the projects Ivan has done over the years. Especially this one.”

“I still can’t believe the council gave him the go-ahead,” Tempi said.

“I’m not,” Adeline said. “Grandmother Lavinia said something to me that makes me wonder if it wasn’t on purpose. She basically implied if I didn’t like what was going on, then maybe I should step up and take her seat.”

The girls all gasped.

“What did you say to that?” Tempi asked, shoving a cracker of hot crab dip into her mouth. “How did you keep your cool?”

The girls knew where she stood on taking over her grandmother’s council seat.

“I told her there was more than one way to reach a goal.”

“Good for you,” Cassie said. “To be honest, I’m shocked Chief Wolfe gave Dixon and me tonight off. Chief worked until three today, then went home for a few hours before coming back and working seven until midnight. I’m sure he’ll be parked out at Drury Marsh the entire time tonight.”

“He seems determined to catch the culprit,” Emory said.

“But he’s looking at us,” Princess Muffin Top said. “It’s insulting.”