Page 49 of Just the Pool Boy at Vampire Mansion

They came back identical. Numbers didn’t lie.

The Witherbornes’ and Briars’ pools were exactly the same. Somehow, they weren’t different pools, they were the same pool in different locations.

Even more interesting, at least for me, were Jay’s attempts during his last few visits to soften the water to the point it had almost become toxic.

That didn’t make any sense at all. From his previous work logged in the notebook, he’d clearly been competent at his job. Why had he suddenly altered the chemical balance to make it near toxic?

By the time I’d finished, it was two p.m., and the Briars still weren’t home. On my way back to the car, I called the number Jeremy had left for me and explained that the pool had been set up and was safe to use. After hanging up, I opened Theo’s messages and typed out a quick text to let him know I was safe.

He sent back,

had a dream about u - U were a fish Benny gutted and ate u

If I were a fish, I’d be poisonous

When I looked up, I’d walked myself into a dead end in the garden, surrounded by trimmed bushes and odd-looking topiary shaped to look like a row of creepy people. Their limbs were too long and weirdly double-jointed.

A shiver trickled down my back, despite the heat.

Turning on my heel, I started back the way I’d come, but within a few steps, I slowed. This path wasn’t the same one I’d just walked down. I’d had my face in my phone, but I was sure there hadn’t been those grasses along one side.

My phone pinged.

freckles, u r a goldfish

I laughed a little.

what does that make you?

butterfly fish

Very pretty, highly venomous. It tracked. Shark would have been too predictable.

your guest remember anything yet?

she said to call her Fleur Thinks it’s her name

that’s a start

she also said something about salt, said to tell u

I looked up from my phone again and found the path blocked by another high hedge. What the heck? I’d had my head down for a few seconds, and this wall of hedge had not been there before.

Gotta go

I turned again, looking around. A bush shaped like a giant gull, wings partially spread, stared at me.

“Creepy.” I headed back the way I’d come. Again. This time I kept my head up and my gaze on the path, so the damn thing couldn’t move.

The driveway and my car emerged ahead. I managed to weave my way through the garden and onto the gravel path I’d used when I’d arrived. I must have taken a wrong turn when looking at my phone earlier, because gardens didn’t move.

found something weird with the pool next door

I sent to Theo, once I was back behind the wheel.

I cranked the wheezy AC and turned my car around, heading out. On the road again, my phone buzzed in the cupholder.

come by