Misfits, Inc. Read Free

pleasure, Miss Aramis.”
    “Treat her well,” Lucinda announced firmly.  “I simply
can’t live without her.”
    He again eyed Hailey and grinned with an attempt at
charm that came off instead as moderately creepy.  “I can see why.”  His
attention immediately returned to Lucinda and the insincerities continued. 
“I’ll escort you lovely ladies to your rooms.”
    Talbert extended his arm to Lucinda, who
immediately linked onto him like an old flame.  Hailey found the exchange
entertaining; especially considering Mel’s gossiping indicated Lucinda couldn’t
stand Talbert.  Hailey got the distinct impression the feeling was mutual.  He
guided her toward the elevator with Mel obediently following behind them. 
Hailey was about to follow then remembered her earlier assignment and turned to
Cass behind the desk.  She caught the perky desk clerk gazing after Lucinda
with a hard to read expression on her face.  It would seem Lucinda wasn’t
popular in any circle, something that was becoming apparent to Hailey the
longer she worked for the barracuda.  Cass focused her attention back on Hailey
and her pleasant smile appeared on command.
    “I’m expecting an important document,” Hailey said
politely to the desk clerk not much older than herself.  “Could you notify me
when it arrives?”
    “My shift is nearly over, but Skyler will be at the
desk all evening,” Cass announced cheerfully in response and casually indicated
Skyler, who busily worked.
    Skyler didn’t even seem to realize his name had
been mentioned.  Cass waited a second then cleared her throat.  Skyler still
didn’t react.
    “Skyler--”
    Skyler snapped out of his trance and looked at Cass
dumbfounded.  She indicated Hailey across the desk from him.  Skyler turned and
met Hailey’s gaze.  His expression suddenly dropped as his lips parted, unable
to speak.  His look was baffling and almost distant as he stared at her.
    “Miss Aramis would like to be notified when her
documents arrive,” Cass recapped the conversation.
    Skyler continued to stare at Hailey, frozen in the
same position.  The fact that he hadn’t even blinked was almost disturbing. 
Cass saw his look and appeared embarrassed.
    “Skyler?”
    Skyler still didn’t react or take his eyes off
Hailey.  Hailey was feeling uncomfortable by his strange, distant stare
obviously directed at her, but it was almost as if he was staring through her.
    “Skyler!”
    Skyler snapped out of his trance, twitched with
surprise, and knocked a pile of blank keycards from the counter.  The pile
scattered onto the floor by his feet.  Both women watched as he fumbled in high
speed to pick them up.  He straightened with a handful of keycards and hit his
head on the marble counter.  He clutched his head and dropped the keycards. 
While attempting to catch the falling plastic cards, he knocked over a
container of pens.  The pens flew across the desk.
    Cass’s expression never changed.  She casually looked
at Hailey and offered a reassuring smile.  “Clumsiness is a side effect of the
gifted--or so he says.  I assure you, he’s on top of it.”
    Hailey offered a tiny smile, although she wasn’t
convinced, and headed for the elevator.  Skyler straightened with a fistful of
pens and stared after Hailey, his mouth hanging open and the same fixated look
on his face.  Cass turned to face him and smacked his arm, startling him.
    “What’s wrong with you?” she demanded.
    Skyler replaced the pens with trembling hands.  None
wanted to go back into the holder.  “Nothing,” he chirped in a pitch higher
than normal while avoiding looking at her.  “It was nothing .”
    Her eyes suddenly turned demanding.  “Don’t start
with that psychic crap again,” Cass threatened.  “It freaks out the guests and
gives me the creeps.”

Chapter
Three
     
    T he beautiful, tropical beach was alive with hotel guests
tanning and relaxing in the sun under large umbrellas.  Other, more