“What?” Halcyon asked. “Does he send you to Hades?”

“Yes, actually.” Alexios glanced up, clearly uncomfortable.

“Jeez,” Halcyon said. “I was joking.”

“Yeah, well, Zeus isn’t big on jokes,” he said. “Not unless he’s the one making them.”

“Typical,” Halcyon said.

“No one is getting killed,” Marina said. “Not by us, at least. I’ll figure something out.”

“Find the ring,” Alexios said. “With a million dollars, you can buy Avery’s way into any university she wants to attend.”

Halcyon raised an eyebrow. “You don’t watch the news in our world, do you? Buying your kid’s way into a university isn’t a good look for parents right now.”

“It wouldn’t matter,” Marina said. “If this gets to a conviction, no medical school will accept her anyway. A doctor is all she’s ever wanted to be.”

Alexios nodded, looking sad. “I understand. And I’m so sorry I can’t help. Despite your questionable wardrobe choices, I really like you, Marina. And these LeDoux sound like they could use a karmic adjustment. If anything changes on my end, I’ll let you know.”

He shuffled out and Halcyon checked the porch before turning back to Marina.

“That still freaks me out a little,” she said.

Marina nodded but her thoughts weren’t on Alexios and his invisible condo.

“What if Luke won’t help us?” Marina asked. “There’s no way we can find an attorney who will come here today. And you and I don’t know enough to keep Avery from being railroaded.”

“You mean our last name isn’t LeDoux.”

Marina’s cell phone rang. Adelaide.

“I talked to Luke,” Adelaide said as soon as she answered. “I told him it was an emergency and to get to Halcyon’s house now. He should be there in a couple of minutes. I still have that sharpened shovel.”

Adelaide hung up before Marina could even reply.

“Well?” Halcyon asked.

“Luke will be here in a few minutes and Adelaide’s shovel is still sharpened.”

“Good God, I’m going to have to start liking that old broad.” Halcyon looked over at her and narrowed her eyes. “What’s that constipated expression for? I haven’t seen it since high school, when you had a crush on Mark Walker and had to partner with him on a science project.”

Damn Halcyon and her mind reading. Or face reading.

Marina sighed. “When Luke thought I was a poacher, I might have been wearing my pajamas when I ran out of the cabin after Snooze.”

Halcyon stared. “Post-hot-flash pajamas or pre?”

“Pre, but I’d just gotten out of the shower. A very hot shower.”

Halcyon put her hand over her mouth but she couldn’t stop the laughter that was intent on coming. It started with a giggle, then went on to full-out chortling.

“Oh my God,” she said when she finally caught her breath. “You were totally rocking a tank and undies. Were they sexy undies at least?”

“Does it matter?”

“It does if this Luke is good-looking.”

Marina sighed. “Bright pink boy shorts.”

“Nice. This is going to be interesting.”