"No!"

"Hmmm..." He gazed down the length of this nose. "What about Rolly Ringrose?"

"Do I look like a cold-blooded killer?"

"Most psychopaths appear completely normal. Only their actions set them apart." His mouth turned down in a look of distaste. "The truth always comes out in the end."

Evelina groaned. She might as well come clean. "Okay. I ate Henrietta Ledbetter's candy bar, but only because she raided Lily's stash and Lily had a belly ache. It felt like justice at the time, but I can see now it was wrong."

"Hmm... Can be coerced by a friend, if angry." He continued to write. "But," he glanced up from his notepad, "you did not murder her?"

"Of course not!"

"Noted." He glanced up again, cracking a pleasant smile. "Have you ever contemplated or engaged in a violent act?"

Evelina shrugged. Who hadn't to some degree or another? "I stomped down an ant hill once, but they attacked me first. They were all over me, running up my legs-even into my shorts."

"Hmm... Can become violent if provoked."

"It was an ant hill!"

"Especially with ants in her pants."

"No!" She sucked in a deep calming breath. "Look. You've got this all wrong."

He lifted one dark brow.

"I'm not a violent person. It was in self-defense."

"Noted."

"If you're a Soul Sifter and you can read my mind, you must know I haven't killed anyone."

"I can only read your mind if you request it."

"Oh." Relief washed over her. "Then, why did they send you to question me?"

"I'm impartial." He shrugged. "And I work for peanuts. How are you on nuts?"

"What?"

"Do you like them?"

"Why?"

"Just wondering."

"I guess." And they thought she was crazy.

"You seem a little unfocused."

"Really?" He was calling her unfocused! "Maybe that's because I'm sitting in a giant birdcage in the sky, getting the third degree."

He raised one chestnut brow. "Do you feel threatened?"

"Of course!"

"Hmmm...good." He made a few more checks down the length of his notepad. "Thank you for your co-operation. You're free to go."

He made a flourish with one hand.

And.

Poof!

The bottom of the cage disappeared.

She plummeted through the air.

Before she could think of a spell, let alone conjure one, the ocean appeared.

She landed in the water with a loud splash, sinking, like an olive in c.o.c.ktail, bubbles fizzing all around her.

It took a moment for the shock to wear off.

When it did, her air had run out.

Panic licked over her.

She kicked as fast as she could, rising up and up. Her lungs burned and her head grew light, but she kept on kicking. She bobbed to the surface with a whoosh and a strangled gasp.

When her pulse slowed, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Sh.o.r.e loomed insight-in fact, the very beach where she'd been s.n.a.t.c.hed.

She'd a.s.sumed her incarceration to be a million light-years away. But, all this time she'd been right here-above the beach. How weird was that?

She took a deep breath then swam for sh.o.r.e.

Splashing out of the surf, she suddenly remembered the Coconut Shack. She had to work at noon. She glanced up at the sun. It soared high in the sky.

Not good.

She raced for her towel and beach bag, then tore down the beach.

"Holy c.r.a.p!" Abby exclaimed when Evelina finally stumbled into the shack. "Where have you been?"

"In jail." She couldn't help but smile, as she tied on her pink ap.r.o.n. It was so good to be on dry land again, she felt giddy-she felt like dancing. "Being questioned by the Witches' Council."

"What?" Tally appeared amazed.

"Holy s.h.i.t!" Abby lifted both dark brows. "Really? What happened?"

"What did you say?" Tally cut in.

"I just told the truth."

A group of bikini clad girls rushed the shack, laughing and chatting.

"It's a long story." Not to mention a ridiculous one. It might take some explaining. She needed to get her head around it first. "I'll tell you later." She stepped forward to take the orders.

Abby made the cones.

Tally manned the cash.

It was a slick system. They were all about efficiency-an excellent team. They had to be, with the Swamp Hags ten feet away in the h.e.l.l Hut, waving their wieners in everybody's face.

Today, Judy Cheetum had dressed up in a hotdog costume again, parading up and down the beach in front of the hut to lure more victims. Meanwhile, Suzie Cheetum raced around the hut cooking wienies until her freckles conjoined, turning her face fire red. During lulls Judy marched over to change their seasonal tally. Right now the chalkboard read Five hundred and sixty-eight customers served.

It was a freak show.

"Watch this," Abby said with suppressed glee. She strode out of the Coconut Shack, came round the corner and nailed up a chalkboard of her own. It read Five hundred and sixty-nine served.

"That's certainly inaccurate." Tally spread both hands wide. "We have no count. There's no way of knowing how many we've sold."

"Exactly!" Abby declared. "If we're going to do this thing it's only fair we start on an even keel."

Judy Cheetum stalked over dragging her inflatable bun in the sand. "Yeah right!" She sneered. "Where do you get that from?"

Abby grinned. "The same place you get yours."

Judy's green eyes narrowed. "You're tellin' me you've got the sales tapes to back that up?"

"Of course." Abby set her hands on her hips. "Do you?"

"Of course!" Judy snapped.

"Perfect," Abby said. "Maybe we should have a little wager."

"Like what?"

"Best sales team wins some advertising. If you win we'll wear your wiener suit. If we win, you can wear our suit."

"For a whole day."

"Sure."

"Each of you."

"Okay." Abby folded her arms across her chest. "At the end of the holiday we'll both produce our sales tapes." She held out her hand. "Deal?"

A smirk cracked Judy's face. "Deal." She spun on her heel, ignoring Abby's hand. "Suckers!"

"Maybe she forgot?" Evelina said. "There's three of us and only two of them."

"Exactly." Abby flashed a wide smile. "They'll never win."

As if to prove her wrong, Cliff sauntered over from the direction of the h.e.l.l Hut.

"Hey!" Abby pointed at the hotdog in his hand. "What do you think you're doing, Robinson?"

"I'm hungry." He sounded unconcerned. "When I'm thirsty I'll come here."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Thanks. You're a peach."

Evelina smiled. At least he was honest. Which is what she'd been with the Council. Maybe that Soul Sifter did have some powers after all.

She'd told them everything she knew.

Hopefully, that was the end of it.

"Oh yeah, Frankie got held up." Cliff leaned over the counter toward Evelina. "He said he'd meet you at the Six Doubloons."

Evelina blinked in shock.

Wow.

He hadn't forgotten.

"Looks like a party." Frankie's husky voice gave Evelina a start.

His eyes glowed gold in the lamplight, a shade darker than his skin. The sight of him sucked the air straight from her lungs.

But she wasn't about to let him know that.

He grinned.

Blood rushed in her ears. She willed her voice to calm past her dry throat. "Looks like it."

A laughing couple stumbled out the door, flinging a burst of music behind them out onto the street.

"Okay." She took a deep breath. "Let's check it out."

Hopefully they could get upstairs to do some snooping around.

Music and laughter hit her like a wall the moment they stepped inside. It wove up and around her like a living thing. The place was packed.