Page 26 of Cursed By Fate

“I’ll make a note of it.” She scribbled something on one of the ten thousand sticky notes she kept on her desk.

“We should also offer free hugs to Neighbors in need.”

Justine burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Hugs. Nothing sexual or they get banned for life.”

“This Neighborhood is awash in STIs. I think some of them are getting more hugs than they should.”

“Okay, but there are other Neighbors who miss their families and aren’t engaging in any naked extracurricular activities. Some of them have gone years without physical contact.”

Justine scrunched her face. “Since when do you care about their emotional and physical needs?”

“If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be able to do my job.”

She continued to observe me. “Huh.”

“One more thought. I’d like to procure a spa membership for Glenn Musgrove.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because I owe him a favor and the guy needs connection, even if it’s an occasional massage and a steam room. Trust me, it’s in our best interest not to isolate the residents any more than we already have.”

“They’re not in prison, Maya. They chose this life.”

“They chose to live. There’s a difference.”

I left her office before I said something I’d regret. I understood the need for Evermore and the other islands, and personally, I was grateful for a place to hide, but I also sympathized with residents like Glenn who’d enjoyed a fulfilling life on the mainland and had been reluctant to give it up. If I could do anything to ease the pain of that separation, I would.

Now that Justine was aware of the weapons issue, I couldn’t let it simmer. After a quick search through his file, I drove to Clement LaRue’s condo.

He wasn’t home, but his roommate had no problem admitting me for a routine check. It didn’t take me long to find Clement’s cache and customer list. They weren’t particularly well hidden—he was either very careless or very arrogant. My money was on the latter.

I blamed myself. Everybody knew Judd had been the stricter of the two of us. With me in charge, some of the Neighbors saw an opportunity.

Vikram, his roommate, looked shocked when he saw me carting a box of weapons out of Clement’s bedroom.

I stopped at the door. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you had no idea you were living with an arms dealer.”

He gaped at the box. “All that belongs to Clem?”

“Not for long. He would’ve traded them or sold them.” I inclined my head. “Would you mind getting the door?”

He darted forward to open it for me.

“I’ll be back in a minute for the rest. Do you know where I can find him?”

“The golf course. He had a game scheduled.”

“Do yourself a favor and don’t alert him to my visit or I’ll have to consider you an accomplice.”

His dark brown eyes rounded. “I won’t breathe a word.”

I returned for the remainder of the weapons. “How long have you lived with Clement?”

“Two years,” Vikram said.

“And you haven’t noticed him handling a weapon during that time?”