Disclaimer: I don't own the Charlie Bone series, Jenny Nimmo does

Disclaimer: I don't own the Charlie Bone series, Jenny Nimmo does!

Plot: Olivia's thirteenth birthday, in Florida! At first it seems to be going perfectly to plan, but then somebody goes missing and everything goes haywire……

Pairings: Kinda TancxEm

Chapter One

The sleek bodies of the dancers gleamed in the torchlight as they twirled their way across the white sand under the swaying beach palms. The onlookers clapped and laughed as they partook of the elegant fare laid out on a long table covered with a spotless white cloth, chatting amiably amongst themselves.

Centre of attention was a huge boar, sizzling away on a spit over an open fire, and the delicious aroma stole over the party, overlaying the sweet scents of exotic flowers. Large birds swooped and dived in the purple sky overhead, keeping their beady eyes on the food table, waiting for an opportune moment to jump in and steal morsels. A tall boy with spiky blond hair looked up and asked of a slight girl with long white-blonde hair flying around her shoulders, "What birds are they, Em?"

Emma Tolly directed her blue gaze heavenward, and smiled. "They're only sea-gulls, Tanc. What did you expect – an albatross?"

Tancred Torsson shrugged, an easy grin making its way onto his face. "Dunno. You know me and birds – hopeless!"

Emma laughed and left to join a group of their friends by the water-edge, splashing in the waves.

Tancred watched her go with a smile. It was easy to understand why everybody seemed to like her, he reflected, and was about to wander off in another direction when he was distracted by the arrival of Lysander Sage, his best mate.

"What's up, Tanc?" The tall African asked casually, examining a sausage roll with interest. "Y'know, these sausage rolls are really good. You ought to try some."

When Tancred didn't reply, aware that Lysander was only trying to get him to cheer up, Lysander frowned and peered at him.

"Still mooning over the bird-girl?"

"No." Tancred lied.

"Well, if you're not, that means that you can come and have something to eat, than. All the best stuff will be gone soon." Offered Lysander, and nodded towards the food table with a grin.

As they filled their plates (or rather, Lysander chucked loads of random stuff on his friend's plate for him), Lysander commented, "You don't know how strange it is to have to encourage you to eat."

"Ha ha." Already Tancred was feeling better, just the sight of food making his stomach grumble, and he started wolfing down as much food as he could. Lysander watched with an amused grin.

"So much for not being hungry, famine-face!" he teased, leaning back against a tree-trunk.

"You're right about the sausage rolls," Tancred mumbled through a mouthful, "they're really good!"

"Sampling the culinary delights of Florida?" A girl with lime-green hair bounced up in pink pumps.

"Uh-huh." Tancred agreed, grabbing another handful.

"It was a really good idea to have your birthday over here, Liv." Lysander said.

(For Olivia Vertigo's thirteenth birthday, she had got her parents to organize a trip to Florida for a week, and had invited all of her friends. No, really. All seven of them: Tancred, Lysander, Emma, Charlie Bone, Fidelio Gunn, Billy Raven, and Gabriel Silk. Charlie had wheedled until Olivia agreed that Naren Bloor could come too, which made eight.)

"Yeah," Olivia grinned, performing a little pirouette in the sand and nearly losing her balance. "It was ideal, seeing as Dad's busy directing a film here anyway."

"Hey, guys!" Gabriel panted, loping up to them with a gerbil clinging to his hair (yes, he had even brought his gerbils – well, not all sixty or whatever of them, only five.). "There's DOLPHINS in the water, and Billy says they'll let us swim with them!"

Tancred blanched. "Uh – no thanks!"

"Aw, come on, Tanc! It'll be fun!" Olivia pleaded. "Think of it as a birthday present for me."

"But I've already got you a present!" Tancred objected.

"There's always room for another!" Olivia declared, dragging him, still protesting, down to the water.

Digging his heels into the sand just before he got wet, Tancred's hair started to crackle alarmingly.

"I'm not sure I should go near the water…" he said uncomfortably. Already a light wind was teasing the sea into choppy little waves. (For those of you that can't remember, Tanc's a storm-bringer.)

"Don't be such a spoil-sport, Tanc!" Fidelio called from where he was already swimming, his chestnut hair plastered to his head. "It's great fun!"

Without Tancred noticing, Olivia and Lysander had crept up on him, and with an surprised yell, he was shoved unceremoniously into the water.

Storm clouds started to cover the rising moon as the dripping Tancred hauled himself out of the sea and stormed off down the beach.

A sharp wind whipped the water into a frenzy, biting at the cheeks of the children and sending the dolphins, with clicks of fright, sliding away. Ten year old Billy Raven started to shiver violently in his wet clothes, and all the other previously swimming children ran for their towels.

Thunder boomed overhead, and Emma jumped. "I think you overdid it, guys." she said nervously.

"I'll say!" Charlie agreed through chattering teeth.

"Don't worry, Tanc'll calm down." Olivia said confidently. The other children exchanged awkward glances. "Let's go back to the party!"

Emma still looked unconvinced, and cast an anxious look down the steadily darkening shoreline.

OK! That started to get a bit long! So, will Tancred calm down? Will….erm…oh, scratch that, it will get more interesting, promise! Just setting the scene!

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