The House in the Cerulean Sea(84)

“You’re, like…” J-Bone made an explosion noise, spreading his hands wide.

“Yes,” Lucy said. “That’s me. Boom.”

J-Bone—Linus distrusted him immediately for having such a name, honestly—looked down at Talia, who was sitting on the floor of the record store, humming as she inspected each of her new tools. “Little dude’s got a beard. And she’s a lady-dude.”

“It’s very soft,” Lucy said. “She has all these soaps for it. They smell like flowers and girly stuff.”

“Righteous,” J-Bone said. “Respect, lady-dude.”

“This is a trowel,” Talia said. “It’s mine.”

“Cool.” He turned back to Lucy, who was only inches from his face. “What can I get you, little dude?”

“I require records,” Lucy announced. “My others were broken after I had a bad dream about getting eaten by spiders, and I need to replace them. Mr. Baker is going to pay for it, so we can spare no expense.”

J-Bone nodded. “I don’t know what you just said, but I heard records, and records I can do.” He nodded toward the man standing in the back. “Me and Marty can hook you up.”

“You smell funny,” Lucy said, leaning forward and sniffing deeply. “Like … plants, but not like any that Talia has in her garden.”

“Oh, yeah,” J-Bone said. “I grow and smoke my own—”

“That’s quite enough of that,” Linus said. “We don’t need to know anything about your extracurricular activities.”

“Who’s the square?” J-Bone whispered.

“Mr. Baker,” Lucy whispered back. “He’s here to make sure I don’t burn anyone alive with the power of my mind and then consume their souls from their smoking carcass.”

“Rock on, little dude,” J-Bone said, offering a high five which Lucy gladly accepted. “I mean, I hope that doesn’t happen to me, but you do you.” He tossed his hair back over his shoulder. “What are you looking for?”

“The Big Bopper. Ritchie Valens. Buddy Holly.”

“Whoa. Old school.”

“It keeps the spiders in my head away.”

“I can dig it. You like the King?”

Lucy scoffed as he bounced on his knees. “Do I like the King? Of course I like the King. I think my real dad met him once.”

Linus chose not to ask a follow-up question to that one.

“Real dad, huh?” J-Bone asked, leaning forward on the counter.

“Yeah.” Lucy’s eyes shifted side to side. “He’s … not around.”

“Deadbeat?”

“You could say that. He’s got a lot going on.”

“Oh, man, I get that. My dad doesn’t think I’m doing anything with my life, you know? Thinks that I should be doing more than the record store.”

Lucy was scandalized. “But—but the record store is the best place ever!”

“Right? He wants me to be a personal injury attorney like him.”

Lucy pulled a face. “My real dad knows a lot of personal injury attorneys. Trust me when I say, you’ll be better off here.”

“That’s what I think. Ever heard of Santo and Johnny?”

“‘Sleep Walk’ is my jam, man!” Lucy exclaimed. “But I don’t have that record.”

“You’re in luck. Because I think I got one copy left in the back. Let’s see if we can find it.”

Lucy jumped off the counter as J-Bone came around. They began to walk toward the back of the store. “Yo, Marty!” J-Bone said. “Got a little dude looking for some golden oldies. Let’s see if we can help him out.”

“Righteous,” Lucy exclaimed, staring adoringly up at J-Bone. “Goldie oldies!”

Marty didn’t speak. He just nodded and turned to walk farther into the store.

Linus didn’t like how far away they were getting from him. He glanced down at Talia. “I’m going to make sure they’re okay. You all right staying here by yourself?”

She rolled her eyes. “I am two hundred and sixty-three years old. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t leave the store.”

She ignored him, going back to lovingly tracing her new tools with a finger.

Lucy, J-Bone, and Marty were out of sight. Linus followed where they’d gone. Around the corner near the back of the store was a door that had been shut. Linus tried to open it, but found it locked. He frowned and pressed against it again.

It didn’t budge.

From inside came a cry and a loud crash.

Linus didn’t hesitate. He threw his weight against the door. He heard it crack in its frame. He stepped back and rushed forward, crashing into it with his shoulder.

The door burst off its hinges, falling onto the ground.

Linus almost stumbled but managed to catch himself at the last minute.

Inside, he found Marty slumped against the far wall. J-Bone stood above him, a disgusted look on his face.

Lucy was flipping through records stacked in a crate.

“What happened?” Linus demanded.

Lucy looked up at him and shrugged. “Oh, he started talking about Jesus and God and that I was an abomination or something.” He nodded toward the unconscious Marty. Around his neck hanging on a chain was an ornate silver cross. “He tried to shove that in my face.” Lucy laughed as he shook his head. “What does he think I am, a vampire? That’s silly. I like crosses. They’re just two sticks put together, but they mean so much to so many. I tried making a symbol out of Popsicle sticks that I could sell and get rich, but Arthur said it wasn’t right. Look, Linus! Chuck Berry! Righteous!” He crowed in excitement as he pulled a record up from the crate.