Page 2 of Only for the Season

He waves and continues on his way.

“Hey!” I shout again. “Can you help me?”

He switches direction and makes his way toward me. “Your fancy car break down?” He lifts his ball cap to scratch his forehead. “I’m not any good with cars but my brother is. Do you want me to call him?”

“The car is fine, but I’m lost.”

He smirks. “I kind of figured as much when I saw you driving down the animal trail.”

“Animal trail?”

His nose wrinkles as he stares down at me. “A trail for animals.”

I growl. “I know what an animal trail is.”

“You seemed confused.”

“Because my GPS sent me down this road.”

“GPS doesn’t work on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

I frown. “GPS works everywhere unless the signal is obstructed or weakened. This includes indoors due to thick walls or metal roofs, underwater, underground, or in areas with dense tree coverage.”

He lifts his hands in the air. “Okay, Mr. GPS Expert. You believe what you want to, but I’m telling you, GPS doesn’t work on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

This is ridiculous. There aren’t GPS black holes. It’s a—

What am I doing? Arguing with a sheep herder about how GPS works is not going to help me find Eli’s house.

“Do you know Eli Raider?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m trying to find his house.”

His eyes narrow. “You’re not a reporter, are you?”

“I am not a reporter.”

He studies me for a moment before nodding. “Okay. You take a left here. Drive about half a mile. Turn right at the mermaid monument. His house is at the end of the street. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.”

“Welcome to Smuggler’s Hideaway,” he replies before ambling away.

I finish reversing down the animal trail – I should have known something was up when the GPS called the road the Treasure Trap Trail – and take a left. I drive half a mile, and sure enough, there’s a mermaid monument.

I turn right. I frown when I notice the sign forMermaid Mystical Gardens.I don’t know what mystical gardens are, but it appears I’m going to find out anyway. Less than a minute later, the road opens onto a parking lot. Not a small parking lot for Eli’s house. A huge parking lot filled to the brim.

I pull to the side. Crowds are making their way to the entrance of what appears to be an amusement park.

What the hell? Did the sheep herder send me on a wild goose chase?

Enough of this. I was trying to surprise Eli with my visit. He invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. I initially told him no, but then I got stuck on the coding of the new app and needed a break.

I thought a trip to Smuggler’s Hideaway would get the creative juices flowing again. Not thus far.

I dial Eli’s number and listen to the phone ring over the speakers. And ring. And ring.