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Sometimes I hated to be right. “I feel like he’s using this game to practice his capabilities.” Just like he did at the pool.

“What do we do?” Chaz asked.

Knox punched his fist into the palm of his hand. “Figure out what kind of spell he’s using and break the sonuvabitch. Has to be magic, right?”

“Seems the most likely reason,” I said. “It’s like vampire compulsion, but across a group rather than an individual.”

“The gods know we’ve got plenty of vampires on the island. Talk to one. See if they’ve got any ideas. I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

I had, but I didn’t want to contemplate that right now.

“Invite Keith to have a drink with you after the game,” I told Knox.

“Do I strike you as the kind of guy who does that?”

“Fake it ’til you make it.”

“Why can’t Chaz here do it? He’s a social butterfly.”

“Because Chaz is partially under his influence.”

Chaz hung his head in shame. “She’s right. I wouldn’t trust myself not to screw up and blab that I spoke to Maya.”

A deep sigh followed. “Don’t have to invite him to my place, do I?”

“No, but I’d prefer a location at the other end of the island.”

“Do I wanna know what you’ve got planned?”

“Better if you have plausible deniability.”

Knox stroked his beard. “One drink?”

“One and then you’re free to leave.”

“What if it’s a shot of whiskey?”

“Sip and savor it.”

His head bobbed. “I can do that.”

“What if he uses his mojo on Knox?” Chaz asked.

“I’d sooner die than let that weasel influence me.” He scanned the crowd. “Now let me find that sonuvabitch before he gets away.”

It seemed my work here was done.

CHAPTER NINE

I had at least thirty minutes, but I had no intention of staying a second longer than necessary. I knocked on the door as a precaution.

“Routine security check,” I said in a loud voice.

No response.

I tugged the Neighborhood skeleton key from my pocket and unlocked the door. The condo was still sparse. Boxes lined the living room wall.

I crossed the room for a closer look. Still sealed too. Strange. Why hadn’t he bothered to unpack? He hadn’t been assigned a roommate yet. You would think he would’ve seized the opportunity to claim his territory.