TWENTY-NINE
DARKNESS WAS ALREADY CLOSING IN. Artificial fairy lights flashed up and down the length of the busy street. Everyone was dashing around, desperate to get their last-minute shopping done. She hadn’t bought presents, hadn’t even thought to. On the island, there wasn’t much of a selection. If she’d been thinking, maybe she’d have considered online shopping. Her mom didn’t allow that. They bought their presents early and in person. Never knowing when they might have to move fast meant preparing as far in advance as possible. For everything.
Russell Figgs, PI. She tried the door before even coming to a complete stop. It didn’t budge.
“Damnit,” she said under her breath.
“Don’t be so easily defeated,” Styx said. “Is it the guy you need or something in there?”
“I hope something i
