30

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE’S ON LAND? STILL?” ROD SWAM

from one side of the High Councilman’s office to the other in what was sure to be record-breaking time, scat-tering the shoal of synchronized damselfish he’d hired for his wife’s surprise party who were rehearsing in the corner.

Mariana backed out of her brother’s way, bumping up against the sideboard that held busts of all the previ-ous High Councilmen and almost knocking the newest addition off. She hadn’t wanted to be the bearer of bad tidings for just this reason. She’d known Rod wouldn’t react well.

Angel was so going to pay for this.

Mariana righted their father’s likeness. “Yes, Rod. But she was in the water last night, so it’s no big deal. She’ll be back in before her time runs out.”

Rod turned around, creating a strong enough whirl-pool that the blennies snoozing in an alcove were sent twirling onto the coral beds on the ledge below. That had to hurt. “How do you know this, Mariana, when none of my informants knew where s