Free Coffin Fit (The Grateful Undead series Book 4) by Susan Stec

fingernails almost feminine in their rounded shape and length.
    "I'm up with that," Gibbie squawked. His voice sounded like he'd taken a draft from a helium balloon.
    Christopher's eyes didn't move from the laptop screen. "We thought it would be better to send Sonny out on his own, this time. The infected animals might not follow him if we tagged along. But he's wired up and we're monitoring him."
    " We're monitoring him?" Dorius arched an eyebrow. "Where are Jeni and JoAnn?"
    Gibbie's wings buzzed yellow sparkles all over us, the laptop, and the picnic table.
    I could feel tension in the air. No one spoke so I jumped in. "You should have seen the herd of them around the burb when Sonny arrived earlier. I got some footage. I'll text you a copy."
    Dorius ignored me. "Where are Jeni and JoAnn?"
    Mom took over. "Jeni was out with Paul. JoAnn has been, um, trying to get hold of Raphael so we can get a handle on the aging thing. The incident that led to the capture of the infected animals was not planned, but those of us that were here handled it well."
    Dorius tightened his lips and his jaw hardened. Clearly, he knew we were protecting the team and dishing out some underlying meaning in regards to his earlier treatment of Christopher.
    It was a few seconds before he said, "It will be several hours before we regain contact once aboard the boat. I expect everyone to be at that table an hour before sunup, and ready to man their posts. We'll discuss your future plans," his eyes jutted to Betty, "and my reason for traveling to Corsica, at that time."
    "Hold on—" Christopher said. It was too late; the screen went blue, and a logo for Facebook Messenger popped up. "Damn it! I wanted to ask about the island." He pulled a cell phone out of the side pocket of his jams.
    "I don't think you should have mentioned Jeni and Paul, Nanna," Resi said as Zaire entered the kitchen smelling like sandalwood shower soap.
    I was happy Mom mentioned it, and felt a bit of a guilty afterglow. "He shouldn't be aggressively pursuing my daughter without council approval, and he knows it."
    "You mean your approval." Mom slammed the lid down on the laptop. "Damn it! I didn't think about that, Resi."
    "Geppetto's woody! It doesn't matter who said it," Gibbie shrieked. He was hanging from the fan-blade by one hand, legs peddling, and hair blowing in a breeze the fan-circulated. "I know Paul; he'll do this right. The relationship has been inevitable since day one."
    Although Gibbie was right—Paul and Jeni did hit it off the second they met—it was still an unacceptable union with grave consequences without the council's approval.
    Christopher was all fingers and thumbs on his tablet. "Look at this island! It's got everything—boating, beaches, big expensive condominiums, and miles of the mountain range and woods. I bet the wolves booked it. Bet they're waiting in the mountain range, probably somewhere familiar. I hope Dorius knows what he's doing. This wreaks 'set up'.
    "You see any sexy topless sunbathers?" Betty asked.
    "Dorius isn't a sun worshiper," Mom told Betty. "He has fangs. Or were you too preoccupied with his Johnson to notice?"
    "Oh, I noticed, all right," Betty answered. "I also noticed he doesn't go up in a puff of smoke when he steps into the sun like you probably did, given them pink circles you got around them eyes of yours."
    "I need to eat," Mom blurted. "Damn it! I'm gonna have to hit Bingo for a couple of hours tonight."
    "I'm in!" Resi sang.
    "Oh, this is going to be good!" Betty said. "I used to like me a good game of Bingo."
    "I'll stay here with Christopher in case Sonny calls," I told them.
    "Yeah," Mom said. "Call us if he contacts you." She eyed Betty. "This is just going to be a hit and run tonight. Just checking out the action. Betty can stay here to help. I don't want to desert Suzabella if Christopher happens to talk up Lily all night."
    "Oh, man," Resi said. "I wanted to play Bingo!"
    "Don't worry, girl; it still might happen.