“Maybe I was. I’m having a major, major issue and I just found your business card in Mason’s jeans pocket.”
“Talk to me. I gave him my card because I suspected my help might be needed. I just didn’t know what it’d be needed for, but my instincts are rarely wrong. So maybe you’re meant to call me.”
“Hm. You see, my ex is a psycho and was about to hurt me and Mason kind of um… showed who he really is.”
“Oh,” she says softly.
“And I don’t want him to get in trouble for it. And he could. Big trouble. Someone saw it happen that could mean big problems. So, if we can’t turn back time, but we can make the person that saw it forget they saw it I’m wondering if that might make the big wig that witnessed it let it go.”
“That’s entirely possible. I can’t promise. But again, there’s always a cost.”
Something hits me. Something Mason told me. My eyes drop to the patio door track.
I peer down in between the silver tracks and there it sits. The ugly, cursed engagement ring.
I lift it up and look at it. And a shiver runs up my spine.
“What about a very expensive diamond ring?”
Rick lost the money I invested from the sale of my condo. That’s how I’m justifying this. Rick got us into this mess. He can give up this cursed thing to get us out of it.
“Um, I’m not sure that’s enough,” she says.
“It’s apparently very valuable. But it supposedly has a curse attached to it. Or some bad juju. There’s a long history of ugliness attached to it so full disclosure on that but it’s an heirloom and I’m told it’s worth a lot of money. Even if it is kind of gaudy.”
“A curse?” she asks.
“So I’m told.”
“Bring it to me,” she says excitedly.
This is a surprise. I was sort of just throwing that idea out there. I figured it was at least a start to the negotiations. But could this be the answer?
“Where are you?” I ask.
“Marblehead. The outskirts. Right on the ocean. Call again when you’re in the city and we’ll go from there, I’ll give you directions. Are you bringing any wolf shifters with you?”
“No. Um…” I look outside and see a bicycle down by the boats. An idea hits me. “I might bring my sister. If we can sneak away.”
“I see. But it’d actually be really good if you did,” Vivica says. “Not all my sisters are here and if we have to get things going, you and your sister could help with that. Believe it or not, your lineage has some magical abilities in it.”
“I think we can be there in about four or five hours. I’ll try, at least. If… um… if you don’t see me in six, can you come here and try to find me? I know you don’t know me, but it’s really, really important and I’d find a way to make it up to you.”
“I know it’s important. I feel that. And no problem. But try to get here if you can.”
“Will do. But… do we need to bring the person we want to forget?”
“No. We don’t need them here for that. Even better if you can bring something that belonged to them.”
“The ring did. He gave it to me, but he also gave it to someone else first.”
“Perfect. Bring that ring.”
“Gotcha. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Just get here. And be safe.”
“Okay.”
I stick the ring into the change purse of my wallet and decide to hustle. Mason will probably be back soon. The sun is already coming up.
He’s got to be gone for his run. And I probably don’t have much time. So I hunt for my keys. I can’t find them. I hunt for Mason’s keys. I can’t find them, either.
So, I rush to the waterfront and grab the bicycle I saw from the window. It’s a bit of a mess back here. Leftover from the bachelor party, I guess. There’s poi balls, the bicycle, some lacrosse equipment, some dishes covered in bugs, and a whole bunch of empty beer bottles by the fire pit along with an empty bottle of peach schnapps and some sneakers. Strange booze choice for a manly man like Tyson Savage, but okay, then…
And then I pedal like crazy and miraculously find my way to Ivy and Tyson’s house. And I think I’ve done it undetected, because Mason told me there’s cameras at the intersection where the town hall and gas station are, so I didn’t go through the intersection. Instead, I wound my way through the back parking lot of the town hall and cut through a couple back yards of local homes. And… I think I managed to avoid the cameras.
I’ve phoned my sister, but it just rang so I’m thinking she’s still asleep.