Read Online Biting Nixie by Mary Hughes - Free Book Online Page B

blender.
    â€œExcuse me,” Julian said in Grant’s ear.
    â€œShit!” Grant squealed. Half-blended frozen daiquiri shot up onto the ceiling. Little snottules dripped onto my cheek from above. I wiped them off, absently licked. Hmm. Needed more lime.
    â€œWho’s there, and why are you trying to scare me to death?”
    Grant wouldn’t know Julian, so I spoke up. “It’s Nixie, Cary. What’s wrong?”
    Deprived of the blender, Grant started on the dishwasher, poking and prying. “No phones, no lights, no motor cars. What do you think is wrong?”
    I thought we were under attack. But I said, “Electricity out?”
    â€œWell duh, Sherlock.”
    â€œHave you checked the circuit breakers?” Julian asked.
    â€œUm…no.” Grant stopped his frantic poking. “I, um, don’t know where they are.”
    â€œCould they be behind this plate on the wall?” Julian indicated a hinged metal door.
    â€œNo, no. That’s just the…safe. The safe where I keep receipts…and bills…”
    But Julian had already opened the metal door. “You keep your receipts in the circuit breaker box?” Sure enough, rows of black switches were revealed, along with a pile of paper and envelopes. Julian removed the stack and started sifting through it.
    â€œHey! Those are private!” Cary Grant snatched at the papers but Julian was too quick for him, pulling away at the last instant.
    â€œThis could be part of the problem.” Julian held up one of the envelopes. I could just make out the Meiers Corners Electric Company logo. He extracted two sheets of paper.
    Grant snatched at them. Julian simply raised them higher until Grant couldn’t reach. Julian tsked. “How long has it been since you paid bills?”
    â€œNone of your business!” Grant jumped. When he realized Julian’s height made even pole-vaulting for the papers impossible, he added petulantly, “Besides, it’s winter. They’re not supposed to cut off your electricity even if you don’t pay.”
    â€œI believe that’s heat.” Julian handed Grant his stack of unpaid bills.
    â€œOh. Yeah.”
    I put fists on hips, disgusted. “No electricity, Now how will the bands play?” Even if they had their stuff memorized, they’d need power for their amps and keyboards. And, looking over at the Death Turkeys, their drum machines.
    â€œYou could pay the bill, Nixie. Since you’re the one who needs the lights.” Grant pushed the electric bill under my nose. That close, all I saw was OWE in big red letters.
    â€œ Pay ? Me?” My wild take number thirty-two was lost on him in the sketchy moonlight. “I barely have enough money for my chewing gum habit. Why don’t you ask the golden idol Godskrilla here?”
    â€œCan’t.” Julian gave a curt shake of his head. “My cash is tied up. Long term investments.”
    I blinked. “You understood that?”
    â€œâ€˜Golden idol’ is universal. We might as well go, Nixie. Since the bands can’t audition tonight.”
    I meant Godskrilla, but let it ride. “Yeah, but when? I need to audition the bands like yesterday . The festival’s less than two weeks away!”
    â€œYou’ll find a time, I’m sure.” Julian dragged me out the door of the Kosmopolitisch . The moonlight etched his flared nostrils and sharp eyes.
    â€œWhat,” I said as he dragged me down the street.
    His eyes were so intense they must have pierced every shadow. When he answered, he sounded distracted. “What, what?”
    â€œYou’re doing your Elmer Fudd imitation. Do you think the lights-out wasn’t because Cary didn’t pay his electric bills?”
    His eyes closed briefly, as if in pain. “Do you ever speak a known language? Sanskrit, perhaps?”
    â€œLook, it’s a simple enough question—”
    I was interrupted