Page 46 of Cursed By Fate

“Herself. She’s trying to beat her personal best.” She looked at me. “What happened to you yesterday?”

I cracked a smile. “A giant monster slowed me down.”

“Did you catch it?”

I shook my head. “Close, but no banana.”

“Sorry to hear that. Will you have to go back?”

“Not today.” I had a feeling the monster would stay hidden Loch Ness-style now that it knew we were on the hunt.

“Would you mind if we go through a couple pages of my training manual?” Penny asked, tapping the spiral-bound book on her desk. “I feel like I’m behind.”

I nearly laughed out loud. Spoken like a true overachiever.

“The manual can wait. We have more pressing matters.” I updated her on the weapons situation, including the list of Clement LaRue’s Neighborhood clients.

Penny’s stare rivaled Bambi’s. A doe-eyed fury. I wouldn’t have believed it possible if she weren’t seated across from me. And here I thought I was the only anomaly.

“Clement doesn’t sound like a nice man.”

“He’s definitely not someone I’d invite over for dinner.”

Penny laugh-snorted. “That doesn’t narrow anything down.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Have you ever invited anyone to your house for dinner?”

“Point taken. Allow me to clarify: Clement LaRue is best avoided. He’s holding a grudge against me now, and probably against you by extension.”

“If you think he’s dangerous, shouldn’t we report him to the HOA?”

“I’ve already submitted a report to Justine. The rest is up to her.”

“One weapon in the wrong hands on an island of supernaturals…” She trailed off. “It has danger written all over it.”

I motioned to the list. “Which is why we’re leaving no name unchecked. We’ll need to go through the list and collect their weapons.”

“What if someone tries to use theirs to keep me from taking it?”

“You’re a fury. I’m sure you can handle it.”

Her brow creased. “I wouldn’t want to hurt anybody.”

“They’re old, but they’re not fragile. Don’t let somebody shoot you just to avoid feeling guilty.” I doubted any of the Neighbors intended to harm anyone with their weapons. Most of the items were likely acquired in response to an imagined threat.

Penny studied the list. “Should we divide them in half?”

“That was my thinking. We’ll finish faster that way. We don’t want to give people time to hide them.”

“Word spreads fast around here, I guess.”

“You have no idea. If the internet didn’t already exist, they’d invent it, just to spread gossip faster.”

Penny laughed. “I’ll take the first half of the alphabet.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, Harry Gildenstern.”

“Do you know him?”