Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites (Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom #12)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

DANIELLE

“ G od bless it,” I blurted. “We've spent hours combing through these files and haven’t found anything.”

The sun cast long shadows across Willowberry as we gathered around the large oak table in the space between the main house and the outside kitchen. Our research materials were spread out before us. The air buzzed with anticipation and determination as we pieced together the fragments of the victim's background.

Lia nodded, her fingers deftly flipping through the pages of her meticulously compiled timeline. “It seems the victim, err Melanie, was deeply involved in environmental activism,” she explained as she scanned her detailed notes. “She was fighting to protect the swamplands from industrial development.”

Phi held up her tablet, displaying a social media post. “Her position was understandable as a creature who lives in those waters. I’m shocked she didn’t bother hiding it. ”

Dre’s forehead furrowed as she leaned forward. “Do you think she could have been killed by one of the big companies she was trying to thwart? I’ve heard they do some underhanded shit, and killing one woman wouldn’t bother them.”

Phi shook her head. “That doesn’t fit for me. We found magical residue there. Not to mention the artifact and other ritual debris. There’s something else at play here.”

I leaned over the table and examined the highlighted sections of the victim's profile. “Hold on a second,” I interjected. “She mentioned attacks on her and her fellow protestors started to increase as they gained more traction in their advocacy efforts.”

Kota, ever the pragmatic one, crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. “So, you're saying these murders are a deliberate attempt to sabotage the environmental protection efforts?”

“Exactly,” Phi growled. “It’s a classic case of silencing the opposition. Whoever is behind this wants to clear the way for unchecked commercial exploitation of the swamps.”

Dea pursed her lips and pointed to the table top as she added, “And the spirits of the swamp are in turmoil because of this. The desecration of their sacred sites is causing an imbalance, which might explain some of the supernatural disturbances we've been sensing.”

Dre, always the strategist, leaned back in her chair and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “We need to find out who stands to benefit the most from these developments. Follow the money, and we might uncover the mastermind behind these attacks.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of our mission. “Agreed. We need to dig deeper into the financial and political connections of these developers. But first, let’s make sure we understand the full extent of the victim's activism and who her main adversaries were. ”

As we delved further into our research, the room grew silent, each of us absorbed in our respective tasks. The profiles, timelines, and maps started to form a coherent picture of the victim's life and her tireless efforts to save the swamps.

“Look at this,” Lia said, breaking the silence. “Melanie was about to present a comprehensive report on the environmental impact of the proposed developments. She had gathered substantial evidence that would have made it nearly impossible for the developers to proceed.”

Kota scanned another file and added, “And she was organizing a large protest that would have brought significant media attention to the cause. She was killed just days before the event.”

Phi shook her head and I noted her eyes were full of anger and sadness. “She was silenced just as she was about to make a real difference. This isn’t just about greed. It’s about ensuring that her voice was never heard.”

“We can't let her sacrifice be in vain,” I said in a firm voice. "We need to gather enough evidence to expose whoever is behind this and put a stop to their plans."

Dea placed a hand on my shoulder. Her usual joy was tempered by the situation. “And we need to do it soon. The spirits are growing more restless by the day. If we don’t act quickly, the imbalance could lead to even more chaos.”

Dre leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the files in front of her. “Look at this. The biggest company involved in these developments is Bayou Industries, and their CEO is Richard Bouvier. If anyone stands to gain the most from shutting down the environmental protests, it's him.”

Lia nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. If we can confront him directly, we might be able to get him to slip up and reveal something. ”

“Let's start with Bouvier,” I suggested as Phi pulled up a note and made a list of key players on her tablet. “We’ll need to prepare for both a diplomatic approach and a more... forceful one, depending on how he responds,” she said, surprising me. She was usually careful with mundies. Although, once I had a second to consider it, her reaction made sense. She was a microbiologist and an advocate of saving the environment.

Kota grinned, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get ready and head out. The sooner we confront him, the sooner we can put an end to this.”

Dea looked thoughtful for a moment. “If they're responsible for her death, what do we do? We're not the police. If this wasn't a case involving the supernatural, should we turn it over to the authorities?”

Dre shook her head. “We can't. Melanie was a selkie shifter. We can't let that come out. Not to mention we had her body moved by Noah and Lucas.”

Lia sighed. “You're right. This is on us. We have to see this through.”

With our decision made, we prepared to confront Richard Bouvier. We had to uncover the truth about Bayou Industries' involvement. The stakes were higher than we’d ever encountered merely because of the mundie business possibly involved.

The late afternoon sun cast long, slanted rays through the grand windows of the Bouvier’s lavish estate. We opted to pay him a visit at home rather than risk involving a high rise full of mundie employees. We might own a large plantation now, but this kind of wealth was beyond us. If it hadn’t been for Lucas and Noah doing the repairs to the main house at cost, we would barely be surviving at the moment.

My tennis shoes squeaked on the marble floors as we waited in the entry for Bouvier. Opulence oozed from every corner of the mansion. Crystal chandeliers hung like glittering stalactites from the high ceilings and cast prisms of light across the room. Expensive art adorned the walls, and the air was filled with the faint scent of polished wood and fresh flowers. It was clear that Richard Bouvier spared no expense in showcasing his wealth and status.

Richard Bouvier came down the main staircase, exuding an air of smug confidence. His tailored suit fit him like a second skin, and his sharp eyes scanned our group with barely concealed disdain. It was clear he thought we were beneath him in every way.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Bouvier greeted us with a thin smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed our group. “What can I do for you ladies today?”

Lia stepped forward and kept her tone polite but firm. “Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Bouvier. We have a few questions about your development projects in the swamplands and the recent incidents involving local activists.”

Bouvier’s smile widened, but there was a glint of irritation in his eyes. “I assure you that my developments are perfectly legal.” He lifted a finger in the air. “And beneficial for the community. I have all the necessary permits and approvals.” He continued to the office on the left side of the entryway.

I exchanged a glance with Dre, who gave me a subtle nod. We were on the same page. This man was slimy and one of those CEOs who wouldn’t think twice about ordering an innocent woman’s death.

“Of course, Mr. Bouvier,” I said, stepping forward and allowing a hint of magical persuasion to lace my words. “We believe you have all the necessary permits. There has been a death in the bayou not far from the lands you’ve been trying to add to your plans. We’d like to talk to you about that woman. ”

Kota stopped in front of his massive desk and leaned one hand on it. “We’re particularly interested in any… unusual occurrences or resistance you might have encountered while scouting the area. Anything that could explain the recent tragedy.”

Bouvier’s expression flickered for a brief moment. It was almost imperceptible but enough for me to catch. “I don’t know what you mean,” he insisted. “I’ve heard of no death. As for my projects. They have faced the usual opposition from environmental groups, but nothing out of the ordinary.”

Kota tried to add a bit of levity as she spoke up with a grin. “You wouldn’t happen to have any gator shifters on your payroll, would you?” I gasped along with our other sisters. That was not part of the plan.

Bouvier’s eyes widened just a fraction before he quickly masked his reaction with a laugh. “Gator shifters? That’s a new one. No, I don’t employ mythical creatures. Just hardworking people trying to make a living.”

Phi took a step closer to cover her surprise at Kota’s question. “What my sister meant to say is that we’ve noticed some peculiar evidence near the sites of the attacks. We were hoping you might have some insight.”

Bouvier’s mask of confidence slipped further as a bead of sweat formed on his brow. “I’m afraid I can’t help you. Those tracks could be from any wild animal. The swamps are full of them.”

Dre must have sensed his unease because she increased the pressure. “Funny you should say that. Phi didn’t mention anything about tracks just now. How do you know about them if you weren’t involved?”

Bouvier’s face paled slightly, and he stammered, “I-I must have heard it somewhere. Rumors spread quickly you know. My company is not the only one building in the swamps.”

Dea tried a different approach. “Mr. Bouvier, we’re not here to accuse you. We’re here to protect the community and the environment. If you know something, anything, it could help prevent further harm.”

Bouvier’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape. Finally, he sighed and muttered, “Fine. I’ve heard whispers about the shifters, but I have no direct involvement. I was told they’re reclusive and territorial. And that they don’t take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs.”

Lia nodded sympathetically. “How did you learn about mythical creatures? Unless there’s something different about you.”

Bouvier hesitated before replying, “It’s not me. There’s a man. He goes by the name of Arlen Voss. He’s a recluse and lives deep in the swamps. I have an... arrangement with him. He helps me and his home is secure. If anyone has ties to the gator shifters, it’s him. But be careful—he’s dangerous.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bouvier,” I said, knowing we weren’t going to get more information from him. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

As we turned to leave, Bouvier called after us, “Just remember, I had nothing to do with those attacks and certainly nothing to do with anyone’s death.”

My mind churned through the information we got from Bouvier as we climbed into Lia’s car. The lead about Arlen Voss felt like a breakthrough, but it also meant we had been wrong about who killed Melanie. One step forward, three steps back. Not an ideal place to be when we’d been asked to plan a family reunion for our archnemesis.

Kota broke the silence when she said, “Well, it looks like we have a new player in this game. I can’t see how Arlen would have told that guy anything about shifters. If he lives in the bayou then he would know that would be dangerous.”

Lia took a deep breath and looked over at Kota briefly. “I’d say you’re right. I didn’t sense anything other about Bouvier, though. I think we need to pay Mr. Voss a visit because this just got a whole lot more complicated.”

I nodded in agreement. “It's a good thing we didn’t tell the police since it seems the culprit could be supernatural after all. While I don’t think he was behind this, we should still keep a close eye on Bouvier. He’s hiding something.” The others agreed and the car fell silent as we each worked through our thoughts.

The cool early evening air settled over Willowberry as we pulled into the parking lot. Cami and the guys were sitting around the outside tables, which were still covered in our spread of documents. “Did you learn anything?” Cami asked as we joined them.

Lucas grabbed Lia’s hand and pulled her into a chair as she started to update them on what we discovered. We each filled in some of the details while grabbing drinks from the outside fridge. Leaning into Noah, I asked, “Do either of you know Arlen Voss?”

Noah looked to his alpha and best friend, Lucas. Both men shook their heads. “Never heard of him,” Noah replied. “Have you looked into Bouvier more? You said you don’t trust him. You might find something if you do a deeper dig on him.”

“I was thinking the same thing on the way back. I have a few places I want to check,” Phi said as she took the lead. Her fingers flew over the keyboard.

“Can you cross-reference Bouvier's financial records with his communications, and known associates?” Lucas asked. “That might give us leads before you go back out to the bayou.”

Phi shook her head. “No without using magic. I’m not a hacker.”

I smiled at her. “No, but my son can get past firewalls and whatever else might keep the information hidden. I’ll ask him to come over.” I sent Ashton a message asking him to stop by the plantation. His response was quick. He and his new wife were already on their way and bringing my grandson. He was born a week ago and finally out of the hospital after a harrowing brain bleed. “Ash and Gabi are bringing Russel with them.”

Noah’s eyes went wide and he held me away from them. “When did Russel get out of the hospital? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I frowned at my mate. “Because I just discovered he was released. It seems as if the nurses there have finally forgotten about me. Ash wanted to surprise us and is almost here.”

Everyone added their opinion while Cami and Kota went inside and heated up leftovers for dinner. By the time they returned, Ashton and Gabi were there. After cooing over the baby and giving him love, I took my grandson and sat next to Noah again. Phi explained what we needed to discover about Bouvier.

Ashton cracked his knuckles and began typing on Phi’s computer. “Alright, let’s see what I can uncover.”

Running a hand over the swelling on Russel’s soft head, I inhaled his sweet scent. There was nothing like a newborn baby’s smell. Noah fed me bites of chicken while we waited for Ashton to find something. Phi leaned over and looked at the screen. “Did you find anything?” she asked.

"Plenty," Ash replied as he turned the screen. I got up along with everyone else and went over to see what he’d discovered. If I wasn’t mistaken, we were looking at a series of financial transactions.

Ashton pointed to the screen. “These transactions were all encrypted. As you can see, I've managed to decrypt a few. They point to substantial sums of money being transferred to an outside account. It could be your guy in the bayou. The timing of these transfers aligns suspiciously well with the recent attacks in Phi’s spreadsheet.”

Dre crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “I bet he's giving Voss money. The question is why? Did he pay the guy to attack? Is Voss part of getting the shifters out of the bayou for Bouvier?”

“He could be paying him for protection,” Dea suggested. “His workers would need it to do much in the swamps without being ambushed by gator shifters. Of course, there could be some other reason. Our focus should be on what he's getting in return. That will tell us if Voss was involved in Melanie’s death.”

Kota, ever the practical one, asked, "Can we trace these transactions on the other end so we can be sure it’s going to Voss?”

Ashton nodded. “That's what I'm working on now, but it's going to take a bit of time. Whoever the recipient is, they're good at covering their tracks.”

“ Use your magic to move the computer program in the right direction ,” Adèle, our familiar, advised as she joined us outside. It was still odd for me to hear her feline voice in my head. Apparently, it took me longer to adjust.

“This is a good time to practice,” Dre agreed. Lia joined her, and the pair cast a spell. It took me a second to realize they were trying to add tracking magic to Ashton’s efforts. Adèle had been encouraging us to play around with pushing our magic into technology to help things along.

“ These spells should help accelerate the process ,” Adèle explained while Lia and Dre worked their magic.

“How does that work again?” I asked.

Adèle jumped up and rubbed her body against my arm. “ You begin with your intent. You want your magic to fuse with the computer program Ashton is using. Send that desire to the machine and programs. You should feel a click when you have the magic and technology fused. Imagine it like peeling an onion and doing it layer by layer until you get to the core. That’s might be an easier way to get the magic to meld .”

We fell into a focused silence while Ashton worked, and Russel drank the bottle his mother handed me. The only sounds were the soft clicking of keys, the baby’s suckling noises, and the occasional hum of cicadas. Adèle was fascinated by the baby and stayed close, sniffing his head several times.

After what felt like hours, Ashton had a breakthrough. “Got it,” he crowed triumphantly. “It seems as if the owner of the account lives deep in the bayou. However, there were several layers.” He paused and cocked his head to the side, and looked at Phi. “I think there's a hidden network of individuals out there. There were several people layered on the payee's side which didn’t make sense unless he is trying to avoid being taxed on the money. He wasn’t using an off-shore account so he would be subject to taxation.”

Dre narrowed her eyes. “I wonder if they’re working with the gator shifters. Maybe they're trying to buy the land.”

Lia tilted her head from shoulder to shoulder. “I hope for their sake you’re right. We might be able to determine that if we knew what kind of network he was talking about.”

Phi pulled up a map on her tablet and highlighted the points of interest. “It looks like the payments came right before the attacks. You can see the dates and locations. Is there a payment over the last few days?”

Ashton looked over the transactions and shook his head. “There are none over the last ten days.”

Noah made a noise behind me and said, “Dammit. I was hoping we could point the finger at Bouvier for sure.”

“You should know better than that,” Kota chided him. “This network is well-hidden, but we've got a lead. We should be able to go out and question them. ”

Dre tapped the map thoughtfully. “We will follow this lead, but we have to be cautious. If this is the gator shifters, they might not be very friendly.”

Dea nodded in agreement. “This is more complicated than we thought.”

Kota snorted and patted Dea’s shoulder. “Good thing we’re professionals. Honestly, dealing with a murder feels better than cursed wells and magical hurricanes. The answers should be easier to find.”

“Now you’ve really cursed us,” Phi teased. “We will go in the morning.”

Lucas shook his head. “I’d suggest going tonight. Gator shifters are nocturnal creatures. You’re more likely to come across them tonight. Eat some dinner, and then we can go out so you six can do your thing,” he advised.

There was a round of agreement as we dug into the leftovers from the weekend. My son and his family went upstairs to one of the bedrooms so they could be near in case they needed help with Russel. Ashton was worried Russel’s brain wasn’t better and he wanted three nurses around just in case.

I pulled Cami aside as we were leaving. “If Ashton comes down about the baby call nine-one-one before you call us. There’s no time to waste with babies. It won’t hurt to get help from them first.”

Cami chewed on her lower lip as her gaze went to the second floor of the plantation. “I’ll do a stasis spell as well if it seems dire. You won’t be long, right?”

A groan slipped out of me as my head dropped back. “I hadn’t planned on it. Let’s hope the fates agree. Thanks for looking after them. I know it’s scary, but you’re more than capable.” With that, I joined the others at Lia’s car. Being last to the vehicle, I had to climb in the third-row seat with Dea.

Lucas pulled out, and I scowled at my mate who was in the front passenger seat. “You couldn’t sit back here with me?”

“I need to be out first in case we run into problems when we arrive,” Noah chuckled and then winked at me.

I grumbled under my breath and made plans with my sisters during the drive. The murky waters of the swamp were terrifying at night. The air was thick with humidity and every breath was a reminder of the oppressive heat surrounding us. The buzzing of insects and the occasional croak of a bullfrog punctuated the night. We wove through the dense foliage, our boots squelching in the mud.

“Are we even close to anything?” I asked and swatted away a mosquito. Those little buggers loved my blood. I couldn’t get lucky like Dea and Lia and not attract them.

“Patience, Dani,” Phi replied as she scanned the ground. “These places are hidden out here.”

“I'm sure we will come across something soon,” Noah assured me.

A few seconds later, we found ourselves in a small clearing. The trees formed a natural canopy overhead, filtering the moonlight into a dappled pattern on the ground. In the center of the clearing, half-submerged in the mud, was an old stone altar. It was covered in moss and adorned with symbols I couldn't quite make out.

Phi knelt beside the altar, brushing away the grime with a careful hand. “Look at this,” she said, her voice tinged with excitement. “It’s hard to see these symbols clearly but they have to mean something.”

Kota joined us, her eyes widening at the sight. "What is it?"

Lucas sniffed the air and his claws came out. “There’s ancient magic here. It’s as old as the swamp.”

“This is definitely an ancient relic,” Phi agreed. “It might have been an altar used in long-forgotten rituals. There’s magic radiating from it.”

Curiosity piqued, I leaned in closer. “What kind of rituals, do you think?”

Phi lifted a shoulder. “We could do a reveal spell.”

Dre nodded and extended her hand. I placed mine on hers and Lia’s landed on both of ours. Kota, Dea, and Phi followed suit. We closed our eyes with our hands hovering over the altar and began to chant softly. My eyes flew open when it felt like I was being stung.

A faint glow emanated from the stone and the air around us hummed with energy. “It's connected to the local shifter tribes,” Lucas murmured. “I think they used this site to hold ceremonies to honor and communicate with the swamp gods.”

That didn’t sound like it would help us. “Okay. This isn't just some random relic. It's part of their history and culture. It doesn’t look like they’ve used it in over a century, though.”

“That’s the problem,” Phi confirmed. “The shifters were more than just creatures of the swamp. They revered the land and integrated it into their lives. Why stop using a focal point for their community?”

Kota knelt beside the altar, examining the symbols closely. “What if they stopped using it more recently? You know how the swamps take over. It happens in mere hours. What if someone exploited this bond for their gain?”

“ Don’t assume one way or another ," Adèle said into our heads. “ It’s something to consider. Bouvier and his actions could have made them withdraw deeper into their territory. Or it could have made them lash out. Not being there in person, it’s hard to say. But I think there’s more to it than you are seeing. ”

I nodded as my gut twisted into a knot. “We have to protect this place and its history. If the shifters are being manipulated, we can’t allow it to continue. ”

Phi began to photograph and document the symbols and our surroundings. “I'll need some time to fully decipher these. You can help with that Adèle. But this could provide use crucial information.”

“I can try asking the spirits why this was abandoned,” Dea offered.

We were all nodding the second the offer was out of her mouth. She laughed and shook her head at us before focusing on her powers. Whenever she tapped into her ability to talk to ghosts, it made the hair on my arms stand on end. She took a deep breath and her hands began moving gracefully as she muttered under her breath.

The air around her shimmered with ethereal energy. It was different from what usually happened. Something was off. The usual ease with which she summoned the spirits was absent. Instead, there seemed to be an oppressive force that pushed back against her efforts.

“Come on, Dea,” I whispered under my breath, willing her to get through to the spirits.

Minutes passed, and Dea's struggle intensified. A few seconds later, dark energy swirled around her. Lucas and Noah positioned themselves between us and the altar. Dea waved them off and stepped around them.

“ She’s connected with a spirit of the swamp ,” Adèle informed us. “ It feels protective to me. Although it’s flickering like a candle in the wind. ”

"Darkness... betrayal... desecration..." the spirit intoned, its words fragmented and disjointed. "The relic... the balance... disrupted..." The spirit's voice was a mere whisper that was barely audible over the cacophony of the swamp.

Dea's brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to piece together the spirit's message. “What do you mean? What has caused this disturbance?” she asked, her voice filled with urgency .

The spirit's form wavered, its energy fluctuating as it struggled to convey its message. “The relic... corrupted... by those who seek power... They have defiled the sacred sites... twisted the energies of the swamp...”

If I understood correctly, Lucas was right about the magic of the relic being ancient. It was a focal point for the swamp's spiritual energies. And its desecration had thrown the entire area into turmoil, affecting both the natural and supernatural realms.

Dea's connection to the spirit began to falter, the dark energy threatening to sever their link. “We want to find out who killed one of the swamp’s inhabitants and restore the balance. Can you help us?” she implored.

The spirit's final words were barely a whisper. “Seek the wisdom... of the elements... Forge new alliances... Restore the sacred sites... Only then... balance... restored...”

With that, the spirit faded into the ether, leaving us with more questions than answers. Dea collapsed to her knees. She was exhausted and shaken by the encounter. I rushed to her side, offering support as she regained her composure.

"Dea, are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

She nodded weakly, her eyes filled with determination. “I'm okay. But we have a lot of work to do. Some serious shit went down here and it's up to us to set things right.”

“I don’t think we should continue here tonight. I’ve got a bad feeling. We need to get some rest and come back tomorrow,” Lia interjected as she rubbed her arms. “We can wake the gators tomorrow if we need to.”

“I agree. That took a lot out of Dea and we need her at her best to deal with the spirits. They might be the only way we find the shifters in question,” Kota added.

Phi smiled and wrapped an arm around Dea’s shoulders. “We can map out the desecrated sites, figure out how to cleanse them, and identify each spot we want to check when we get home. That way we will have a plan for tomorrow.”