Red

Chapter Five: The Little Mermaid

I met Gran at Poseidon Pier. It was easily one of my favourite places just outside of Greater Grimmsville, by the ocean. Far in the distance, porpoises danced with mermaids in what I assumed was Aquaria, the largest underwater metropolis. Birds circled the craggy cliffs nearby and skimmed the water below.

I could see even from a distance that Gran's face was grim. "Where were you?" 

"On a case with Alice," I explained. The wind blew through my hair and made it fly into my mouth. Curly hair and blowdrying hardly ever went well, and this was no exception. 

"Out where, the woods? It took you ages to get here." 

"Actually, yes. And, I'll spare you the details, but it ended with me having custody of two children. Witch-killers at that." 

Gran burst out laughing but tried to calm himself as it was a crime scene. "Someone trusts you to take care of two children. Two magical children." 

"It's only for a week," I added, "and I don't think the parents knew they had magic. You know it's hard to see in regular situations." 

"Wow, jeez." Gran sobered up. "Well, if you need me to babysit any time..." 

"The oldest is twelve. He can probably watch himself, right?" 

"Under ordinary circumstances, yes, but you know the law. They must be in the presence of an adult for a week after displaying signs of magic." 

"Laws. I hate them. Anyway, why are we here?"

Gran straightened up, and residual humour sliding off his face quickly. "Another princess is dead," he stated matter-of-factly, contrasting the sadness in his blue eyes. 

"Really?" I leaned forward. "Who? Where? How? Why?" 

"Merra D'Ocean was found in the Melani Ocean about half an hour ago. We don't know how or why." He gestured to the water. "They're pulling her out now. They estimate she might have jumped off the cliff there but... it's unlikely she drowned because she can breathe underwater." 

"Right," I recalled, "she's part mermaid." 

"Whole mermaid, actually. Transfigured." 

"Why the cliff?" 

"Her beach house is just up there. They think she was coming home from the party, but she was so inebriated that she just slipped off." 

"But you don't think that." 

Gran shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't worked a real case in so long... but my instincts say something else. I guess we'll have to wait and see until Unsam gets here." 

I nodded and walked with Gran to the edge of the pier. Three divers pulled a net behind them towards the beach. 

One glance told me I wouldn't be able to stomach it. The smell was already in my nose, making my eyes smart. I turned away from the water and buried my face in Gran's chest. 

Gran hesitated, confused, and awkwardly wrapped one arm around me. "Um. You okay?" 

"That's just gross. You know I hate-" 

"Dead people, yeah, I know." He pulled me closer. "I still don't get why you want to be a detective if-" 

"Shut up." I poked his chest. "Where's Unsam?" 

"Right here, Ms Benedict," came a voice from below me. "Are you all right?" 

"I'm fine." I promised. "She just looks a little gross." 

"Have a little respect for the dead, Ms. Benedict," Unsam chided. "I'm going to go do my preliminary examination." 

Gran convinced me to move closer to Merra's body, and we stood at the end of the beach, the cool water lapping my ankles. 

Unsam returned shortly, his bulbous nose flushed red from the cold. He tugged his white whiskers and handed Gran a Ziplock bag. "I found this in her pocket. It's unopened," Unsam noted. 

Gran opened it and out fell another envelope with another blood red seal and Merra's name written elegantly on the front. 

"It's just like the one we found with Rosie," I noted. 

Gran nodded seriously and opened it. 

From my angle, I could see exactly what it said: Sink or swim, Little Mermaid. Signed with blood red lipstick.

"I'll bet she died of cyanide poisoning," I thought aloud. 

"That she did," Unsam agreed. "I also believe her time of death was before Ms Briar's." 

"Two princesses murdered in one day," Gran mused. "We really need to talk to whoever was at that party." 

"We acquired a list from Charming," Ginger said, jerkily walking up to us. He noticed me staring. "Saltwater's bad for the fake legs," he added. "But anyways, Charming only said one person was acting odd at the party: Jack Sommers. Apparently, he had nothing to drink except for some soda and he left early." 

"Jack's the kid that became rich overnight? Randomly found some gold in his barn or up a beanstalk or something?" I asked. 

Ginger nodded. "That's the one. J.D. and I were thinking of visiting him, but we figured he'd be more receptive to you two. You know, age and all. Captain Boots wants you over there now." 

Gran and I both nodded. He turned to me. "Your bike can fit in my trunk," he suggested. 

"Or you could leave your hunk of junk here and we can take my bike." 

"I hate the bike," he argued. 

"It's faster! And your car could literally die at any moment!" I snapped. 

"I'm not going on the bike." 

"I'm not going in your car." 

Ginger rolled his eyes. "Take my car, lovebirds." 

I blushed fiercely, hoping my darker skin would conceal it, and stomped off in the direction of Ginger's car.