2 Lady Luck Runs Out (9 page)

"More as an educating the public thing. Me and my partner, Sammy Harris, we opened up the Serpentarium over on 6th Street. Got over thirty poisonous species in there right now. You should come by."

Over thirty poisonous snakes in one place?
I shivered and forced a smile. "Sure."
Walk right into a big den of snakes. On purpose. Who wouldn't think that was a good idea?

While Frankie was introducing herself to the guys, I decided I should befriend these two, since I was trying to solve a murder with a poisonous snake as the weapon of choice.

"So, this snake place, is it open to the public?" I asked McGillis.

"Yep, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday nights get pretty busy."

"Guess I can check it out next Saturday." I turned to Frankie and smiled. "You up for coming with me?"

She shook her head. "Sorry, Darlin'. Not too fond of snakes. Saw my share of 'em at Pirate City."

I nodded my understanding. Pirate City was St. Pete's local homeless camp. Frankie lived there before she won the lottery a few years back. I'd get Mallory to go with me. She wasn't afraid of much. Might have to bribe her, though.

*     *     *

The party didn't start winding down until three in the morning. Mallory and I collapsed at a table with Landon, Sylvia, Frankie and Jack. Parts and pieces of our costumes were piled up in front of us, and we had switched to water and finger sandwiches as we chatted, tired and happy.

 I stroked Mage, Landon's black shepherd, who had left Landon's feet to rest his head in my lap. I cringed at first, but no visions came so I happily gave him whatever attention he wanted. My ears perked up when I heard Frankie pumping Landon for more information about Zach.

"Zach Faraday?" Landon picked up a sandwich triangle. "I've known him for a few years. Just ran into him last week and got him to agree to be the entertainment tonight. Guess he's back in town for his mother's funeral. I'm surprised he came back, actually, considering he and his mother weren't on speaking terms. Seems to really impress people with his psychic ability." He took a bite and chewed. "What'd you think of him?"

Mallory stiffened beside me at the mention of Zach's name and glanced at me, her eyes wide. I nodded. Well, at least he didn't live here in St. Pete. Now that the funeral was over, he'd probably go back to wherever he came from. That wouldn't be soon enough for me.

Then Landon's words hit me.
Wait, he and his mom weren't speaking? They must have really had a falling out
.
Was it bad enough that he could have been the one that slipped the rattlesnake into her condo? Is he dangerous enough to murder his own mother?

"Oh, I thought he was amazing. No way could he fake what he told me," Frankie said. Her wig looked like road kill on the table in front of her. Her cropped red hair stuck up on her head. "I really believe he was communicating with my great aunt Violet."

Sylvia was shaking her head. "Not good. People should not mess with the spirits."

Forget spirits. Living people were the dangerous ones.

"I don't see what the harm is. If all they want to do is get a message to their loved ones that they're okay, what's wrong with that?" Jack asked.

"How do you know it's really your loved one? Could be a deceiving spirit just trying to turn you away from God." Sylvia made a sign of the cross over her chest. "Is not for us to mess with."

"Oh, I don't know, Sylvia," Mallory spoke up. "Don't you think that if someone had a gift, like being a psychic, that gift came from God and He would want the person to use it?"

"No," Sylvia said emphatically. "Is only trouble."

I could see Mallory's disappointment in that answer. She could deny caring what other people thought all she wanted. I knew deep down it bothered her, too.

"Well, I think there are lots of things we just can't fathom with our limited human brains," Landon said. He turned to me. "You've been awfully quiet, Darwin. What did you think of our party psychic?"

"He seemed to shake you up good, Darlin'," Frankie said. "You never did tell me why."

Mallory stared at me. I could feel the anxiety wafting from her.

"He, um... knew some things about my father." I felt Mallory's anxiety jump up to a new level. "I think he's the real deal. Kind of scary. And on that note, I think it's time I get my little sister home."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Monday, we officially started Mallory's training to help in the boutique. I figured since she was going to be around for awhile, I'd keep her busy and out of trouble. Plus, she really was good with the customers. She was in her element helping the dog owners pick out costumes for the annual Dog-O-Ween contest coming up. One problem solved. On to the next.

We took a cab Saturday morning to McGillis's Serpentarium. Mallory stared out the window, scowling, her arms crossed over my favorite turquoise silk shirt. My bribe to get her to come.

"It won't be that bad." I paid the cab fare and we stepped out, staring up at the large 3-D metal cobra draped around the entrance.

I adjusted my straw bag and straightened my shoulders. "Come on. That's the biggest one we'll see today."

"It better be," Mallory whispered.

We paid the guy at the window and stepped through the door. The air inside the building was warm and moist. The lighting was dim. The smell was not pleasant. Rows and rows of glass cages lined the room. In the middle of the room sat tables with displays of skeletons, papery skins and laminated information about the reptiles.

I walked cautiously to the first glass cage to my right and peered in.  Curled up on the pebbles and straw was a mass of light brownish muscle with beady black eyes. I read the sign on its cage.

"The King Cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world." Yikes. I glanced at him. "Well, hello there largest venomous snake in the world. So glad you're behind that glass." I fought a shiver.

"He's kind of cute." Mallory pressed her face closer to the glass. "Hey, big guy. It's gotta be boring in there for you."

"I'm not sure snakes can get bored." Though, who knows? Maybe they do. I moved to the next cage, leaving Mallory to her conversation. "Wow, hey, Mal, check this guy out." I scooted over to make room for her. We stared at the slim snake decorated with red, yellow and black bands of color.

"You're a pretty one," Malory said, leaning down to get closer. "Must be a girl."

I glanced at the sign. "Eastern Coral Snake. Reclusive, has to literary chew on you to inject venom."

Mallory laughed. "Poor thing. It needs longer fangs." She moved on to the next cage.

I glanced around.
What was that noise?
It sounded like someone had turned on a sprinkler. I crossed the room and peered into the cages. Some of the snakes were very active, bobbing around and pressing themselves against the glass. They were all stunning in their own way.

 Ah, there was the source of the noise. I stepped closer, feeling just a bit uncomfortable as I stared the large rattlesnake in the eye. It was coiled up, a pile of brown scaly muscle, the end of its tail shimmying in warning.

"That's her," a male voice said behind me.

I jumped a little and turned. "Oh, hey, McGillis. Startled me. I didn't hear you come in. This is her? Oh, the snake that killed Rose Faraday?"

He had his hands resting on narrow hips, an appreciative smile on his face. "Yep. She's a bugger, too."

Mallory joined us. "So, this is the murderess."

I shot her a look. "She was just doing what comes naturally to snakes. Following her instincts." I pictured the man-sized shadow creeping up to the lanai from the vision.
Yeah, he or she was the one responsible for Rose's death. Not this stunning creature behind the glass. How was I going to find out who that person was?

"So, McGillis, I know that these snakes are native to Florida but do people also keep them as pets?"

"Well, not pets
per se
. But there are currently five people in St. Pete that have class three licenses to own venomous reptiles."

"Do you think this snake could have..." I chose my wording carefully, "escaped from one of those people and ended up in Rose's living room?"

He stared at the snake for a moment. "I suppose it's possible. That would explain her close proximity to civilization. They're pretty shy and tend to stay away from people. But we are acquainted with all the herps in the area and I don't recall any of 'em keeping a rattler. Besides, if she was a pet, she should have been microchipped. It's the law."

"Herps?"

"Herpetologists. People who are into reptiles."

"Oh." I nodded and wiped at my brow with the back of my hand. Boy, it was warm in here. "Is there a public record of those licenses?"

"Everything is a matter of public record nowadays." His eyes darkened and then he forced a smile. "Hey, do you want to watch a feeding?"

"What do y'all feed them?" Mallory asked, a touch of panic in her voice.

"Nothin' live, don't worry," he chuckled. "Frozen rats or mice."

My stomach clenched. Even if they weren't live, I didn't want to see a feeding. Thank heavens the door opened and another man sauntered in. I heard Mallory make a noise deep in her throat.

This man stood in stark contrast to McGillis's Bermuda shorts and sleeveless t-shirt. Mid-thirties and tanned, he wore khaki pants and a pink polo shirt, his sandy blond hair cut stylishly. He oozed confidence and charm.

"Hey, Sammy." McGillis waved him over and introduced us. "This here's Darwin and Mallory Winters."

"Nice to meet you." Sammy shook our hand, holding Mallory's hand longer than necessary. I noticed she didn't mind a bit. "You ladies don't strike me as the reptile type." His tone was teasing, but his eyes were sharp.

Funny, he did strike me as the reptile type. The way his hooded eyes were glued to my little sister. I looked back at the rattlesnake. She was less intimidating. At least she was behind glass.

"Hey Sammy, any of the guys keep a rattler that you know of? Jamison maybe?"

"Last time we talked, he was planning on acquiring some." He put the word
acquiring
in air quotes. "Why? What's up?"

I snuck a glance at Sammy. His attention was still completely on my sister. I wanted to throw my body between them. I shifted my glance to McGillis. I also nudged Mallory and when she turned to me, I shook my head in warning. She was staring back at Sammy like it was her feeding time. I didn't like this at all. Mallory had never even been on a date. This guy had probably dated every girl on the planet.

"Well, Darwin here thought maybe this gal was being kept and escaped. That would explain how she was so close to a populated area."

I would have preferred McGillis not throw my theory out there for the world to hear. Wouldn't want it getting back to the killer that I was suspicious.
Thanks for throwing me under the bus, McGillis.

 Sammy just shrugged. "I can ask him if he lost one next time we talk."

"Just a thought," I mumbled. Thank heavens a group of boy scouts came in the door at that moment. Their energy and voices were a welcome interruption. "Well, thank y'all for the tour." I grabbed Mallory's elbow. "We'll get out of your hair now."

"See y'all later." Mallory waved, smiling at Sammy as I pulled her through the door.

"Hope so." Sammy threw a thousand watt smile back at her.

"No, Mal." I pulled out my cell phone to call a cab but kept walking to put some distance between us and the snakes, especially the human one.

"What?" There was more than a little irritation in her tone.

"He's too old for you, and too slick." I asked for a cab and then sat down on a bench.

Mallory plopped down beside me, her face flushed with irritation and probably a rush of hormones. "He was hot. You need to stop being so overprotective. I'm an adult now, you know."

"Barely." I sighed.

"And why do you think he's slick anyway?" She scowled at me as she said the word 'slick'. “We've only known him for like five seconds. You're such a hypocrite, Darwin." She crossed her arms and stared out at the cars going by. "You don't want people judging you but you judge someone after five seconds."

Wow. This guy really got to her. I knew Mallory well enough to know I had to back off. The more I protested the more determined she was going to be. "All right." I took a deep breath and let the negative energy go with a long exhale. "You're right. I shouldn't be so judgmental. But you know I just don't want you getting hurt."

She made a little half laugh sound, which was her white flag. "You don't want me to have any fun." She turned and grinned at me. Her green eyes practically glowed in the sunlight.

"Yep, that's it. I'm the fun police."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Wednesday afternoon I sat at a small table beneath Cassis's olive colored umbrellas, waiting for Will. With his work schedule, we had to sneak in time together whenever we could and Mallory had enough of a handle on the boutique now that I didn't feel guilty about taking a lunch.

A cold front had brought in cooler weather so I sipped a hot tea while I waited. A shadow soon stood over me and, smiling, I turned to greet Will. Only it wasn't Will.

"Dining alone?" Zach Faraday asked. His eyes were masked by dark sunglasses.

I turned away from him, ignoring my traitorous heartbeat. "Waiting for a friend."
Please go away. Pretty please with sugar on top.

No such luck. He came around and took the seat across the table from me.  

He slid his glasses off, and we stared at each other for longer than I was comfortable with. I folded my arms finally. "Is there somethin' I can help you with, Mr. Faraday?"

His eyes darkened and I felt a rush of scalding air blow through me. "Yes. Actually there is." He leaned back in the chair and folded his hands. "You were the reason the police came to discover my mother's body."

I blinked. This didn't sound like a question. More like an accusation.