Page 27 of Cursed By Fate

“Only a steak knife.”

“Do you two get along?”

“Mostly. I’m an introvert, though. I tend to stick to the condo. Clement is more social.”

Was he socializing or conducting business?

“Am I getting a new roommate?” Vikram asked. He didn’t sound happy about the prospect.

“That depends on how cooperative Mr. LaRue is. Have a good rest of your day.”

I drove my weapons-laden golf cart to the cottage and unpacked the contraband. Nothing too fancy. Throwing knives. A pistol. A spear. A bayonet. A rifle. A bevy of daggers.

Naughty Clement.

Jinx sniffed the empty boxes and meowed.

“That’s the smell of contraband, Jinx. Breathe it in.” I locked and warded the cache. Again. If this kept up, I would run out of space soon. “Now I have to find the enterprising Neighbor. Be back soon.”

Jinx followed me to the porch and rubbed against my leg. “You need attention, I know.”

I bent down to give her head one last pet before I left. I wondered whether Glenn liked cats. Maybe I could bring Jinx by for a visit one day. She didn’t like everybody—she was a cat, after all—but maybe she’d take a shine to Glenn.

I hopped back in my golf cart and drove to the golf course, hopeful I hadn’t missed my chance to rendezvous with Clement. Thanks to the photo included in his file, I was able to identify him on the golf course. Bald. Glasses. Polo shirt. Khaki pants. His shoes stuck out on the green. Instead of the usual black or white pair the golfers favored, they were bright pink. Even from this distance, I’d wager they were expensive.

I didn’t want our conversation to be overheard, so I lingered by the clubhouse until his game finished. I spotted Zachariah Johnson among the players.

“Here comes trouble,” the necromancer said as he ambled toward me.

“Not for you.”

He bowed in gratitude. “Glad to hear it.”

“How was the game?”

“Decent.”

“Was Mister Pink Shoes in your group?”

“Clement? He was. Why?”

“What can you tell me about him?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Not much. He’s relatively new to the club. Doesn’t say a lot, which I appreciate.”

“Does he cheat?”

Zach laughed. “He wouldn’t dare, not against me, anyway. I can’t speak for anyone else.”

“Why would you be immune?”

“Think about it, Maya. Who’s the last person to see you on Evermore? The one who presents you to your family? Who has the opportunity to listen to any last-minute secrets you wish to spill and decide what to do with that information?”

“Point taken.” I tracked Clement’s movements to the clubhouse. “I need to grab him before he leaves.”

He stepped aside. “Far be it for me to stand in the way of Neighborhood security.”

I hurried after Clement and caught up with him before he rounded the corner of the building that led to the parking lot.