Shifter Variance by Tina Gower

Author:Tina Gower [Gower, Tina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smashed Picket Press
Published: 2016-12-13T16:00:00+00:00

I huddle into a corner of Becker’s room with my phone tucked into my shoulder. And a quiche between my legs. I shove a forkful in, realizing I didn’t eat much today except Becker’s sibling cake and shortbread.

Olivia, my mother’s Aswang friend, lists off the families she’s talked to since we last spoke. “…And the Torres, you should meet them, dear. One of their older boys is—how do you kids say it—a chicken nugget? No, a beefcake. Ha! Chicken nugget.” She laughs at her mistake.

“That’s pretty funny, Mrs. Ramarez.” I crack a smile. “But I wasn’t expecting a phone call from you so soon. You don’t have to be too aggressive with asking your friends and clients. I need to keep it on the down low, so it stays a surprise.”

“Of course. Of course. But you know how it is when you tell one person and they tell someone else.”

Yes. I knew. My mother had always said although the people in her old neighborhood in the Philippines appeared to be private, those who were good friends tended to be very tight and the gossip train worked quickly.

“So you have some names for me?”

“Yes. I have three names. One is Juilo Ocampo. He worked as a janitor in the Predictions building where Michelle worked around that time. Although he did retire close to thirty years ago. He’s ninety, so he won’t much want to fuss with a big party. Another Aswang would be Ruby Wong. She didn’t much care for Michelle mostly because of the third name I’ll give you. Dayton Cruz. He would have been Michelle’s age, but he died in a plane crash. You know that really horrible one about thirty years back. They couldn’t get the landing gear down and it skidded on the tarmac and burned everyone inside. Tragic. Tragic.”

“This is a great start, Mrs.—”

“Oh, call me Olivia. I think your brother once peed all over my lap while I was babysitting you all. I think that should put us at least on a first name basis.”

“Which one?”

“Luke.”

I make a note to razz my brother Luke in my next email. “Good work on the project. Let me know if you find out any other names.”

We get off the phone and I quietly contemplate my next move over each bite of spinach quiche—Ali got the crust perfect. She’d complained it should have been a smidgen butterier, but heck if I could tell that minor flaw.

Becker enters the room and closes the door. “My dads are on their way out. I thought we should”—he makes a motion with his hands, sweeping them toward the door—“see them out.”

Ah, the parent thing. I had to play a good little girlfriend. I’m rusty, but not dumb. I scoop up my empty plate. Becker holds the door open for me as I casually glide through and paste on my best smile. After all, their sacrifice means I don’t have to cuddle with Dalia all night.

I set my plate in the sink and make a note to hint at Abbot and Dalia to do the dishes.

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