My head was spinning. Yes, I had screwed up with Pierce again, but that was just one of many problems.
I hopped out of bed and paced the few steps available to me in my room.
Ryder was acting strangely. And it wasn’t just me thinking it anymore.
Now, what was I supposed to do with this information?
First, it was important to note that I had been right along. Oh yeah, everybody had shot my Ryder theories down. But I was right. Something was up with her. And as her sidekick, I needed to find out what that something was. Mental illness was a possibility, but there were others … and my father was behind most of them.
Second, I wasn’t going to change my date with true love and hide under my bed just because my father had left a horse’s head on my pillow in the form of a really great coat. No, I was going to that museum event. Aside from making things right with Pierce. I needed to make sure my father didn’t hurt him … or anyone else for that matter. Besides, I needed a word with my father about Ryder. Two birds. One dress.
Third … dammit! Why did I always get stuck on the third. Oh, right! There would be no going to Nepal. I was way too busy now.
I turned the faucet of my little sink, and splashed some cold water onto my face to clear my thoughts. I needed to prioritise. Okay, the dress. I needed the moment Pierce would see me to be beautiful, epic. Queenie could work magic, but not if she didn’t have something to work with, and to get her something to work with, I would need money.
Gah. Money. I tapped my chin a few times to aid my thinking.
Things always seemed to come down to money. A montage of shopping trips past flew through my mind’s eyes. Life had been so easy back in day. I had taken so many things for granted. I gave my head a shake. I needed to focus on the here and now. Where could I get my hands on some money?
Work, I thought, snapping my fingers. That’s where people got money. Sure, Mr Raj wasn’t thrilled with me at the moment, but he was a firm believer in indentured servitude, and I was desperate. He did say he wanted to see me, after all.
I threw on some clothes, gave my teeth a quick water brush—I needed to save my last squeeze of toothpaste for the museum—flung the door open, and rocketed into the hallway—right into a Grim Reaper.
My eyes travelled up, up, up the tall man standing in front of me. When I reached his face, I had to stop them from plummeting right back down. He was young, but had a slicked back patch of white hair, shaved at the sides, the palest blue eyes I had ever seen, and white, nay, almost bluish skin. He was dressed in a plain black suit.
‘Hello,’ I said carefully. ‘Are you … you’re not here for me, are you?
‘No.’ His voice carried the warmth of an arctic night.
‘Oh thank God,’ I said, clutching my chest and laughing. ‘I mean, really, I can’t take much more.’
I moved past him down the hall, but I looked back over my shoulder just before I walked down the stairs.
Uh-oh. Was he knocking on Queenie’s door? Bart wouldn’t like that.
I turned my head back around. Nope. My To Do List only had so much room. There was no way I was going to be able to take this on too.
I hustled down the stairs and out into the day.
***
Twenty minutes later, I swung open the outer door to The Pink Beaver. I stepped inside, gave myself a shake, and took a deep breath. Act confident, I thought as I straightened my shoulders. I needed to look like a grown-up, responsible woman, someone who a person would be comfortable loaning money to.
Suddenly the door snapped shut behind me, whacking me on the butt. I stumbled forward, but quickly shot back up, straightening and smoothing my hair from my face. Well, it was a good thing I had gotten that little bit of embarrassment out of the way. Wouldn’t want to do that in front of Mr Raj.
I strode down the darkened hallway and paused again at the end with my hand on the door handle that led inside.
I again inhaled deeply. Time for a few self-fulfilling prophecy-type affirmations. I would get the money I needed from Mr Raj. I would prove that I wasn’t judgey. I would be cool and confident. I would be the personification of dignity.
I opened my eyes and swung open the door.
SPLASH.