Deadly Reunion (Hardy Brothers Security Book 20)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “She’s in a coma.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Peter said. “I’m also very sorry about Owen. I only met him once or twice when he was younger, but he seemed like a good man.”

  “He was the best man,” David said, sighing. “He was better than the likes of you and me.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” Peter said, taking a seat in one of the open chairs and gesturing for James to take the other. “This is James Hardy. Owen hired him yesterday to act as a chauffeur at the casino. Do you know why he would do that?”

  David shook his head. “If he needed security, he could’ve come to me. None of this makes any sense.”

  “I’m confused, too,” James admitted. “Owen told me he had a quarter of a million to gamble with and that’s why he wanted us. I thought it was a normal job and sent my brother. When Finn got to the casino with Owen, he said your son had a million dollars and he checked it all in at the front gate.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Owen,” David said, tugging his hand through his messy hair. He obviously hadn’t slept. “He liked to play cards here and there, but I never thought of him as a gambler.”

  “Where did he get the money?” James pressed. “I ran a brief background check on him – which wasn’t as thorough as it probably should’ve been – but his occupation was listed as stockbroker. Were you funding him?”

  “Owen never wanted money from me,” David said. “I tried giving it to him. I was desperate for us to come to some sort of understanding. He wasn’t thrilled with what I did for a living, though. He just didn’t seem to understand that leaving the business wasn’t an option for me. Once you’re in, you’re in. You got lucky with Sophie, Peter. She understands.”

  “Sophie has a very pragmatic nature,” Peter agreed. “That doesn’t mean she likes what I do for a living. Go back to Owen, though. If you weren’t funding his gambling, where did he get the money? I’ve looked at his financials and he didn’t make nearly that much in a year.”

  “His mother.” David was matter-of-fact and precise when he responded.

  James shifted, confused. The way David said the two words it was apparent he was explaining something to Peter. James didn’t want to step on the wrong toes because he didn’t understand the reference.

  “Ah.” Peter leaned forward. “I never thought of Stella. That makes sense.”

  “I don’t understand,” James admitted.

  “Stella Barber was Owen’s mother,” Peter explained. “She died when Owen was five. She was the daughter of a local businessman – Leonard Dombrowski, I’m sure you’ve heard of him – and she was very wealthy. She took her mother’s maiden name – Parker – to do business, though.”

  “Her father refused to put her in his will unless I signed off on the money,” David added. “I loved Stella and had plenty of money on my own. He didn’t want his business being run by me after his death, and I guess I can’t blame him. When Stella died, she left all of the money in a trust for Owen. It was not to comingle with my money in any way, shape or form.”

  “I forgot about the money,” Peter said. “When did Owen get it?”

  “When he turned twenty-five,” David answered. “I was worried he would do something stupid and blow through it, but Stella was always wise. She invested in such a way that Owen could never blow through all of that money. I loved the woman, and even though I raised Owen alone, he was more like her. I was thankful for that … until now.”

  “Owen’s death is a tragedy,” Peter said. “Someone was waiting for him, though. He came out of the casino without his briefcase. He was supposed to text Finn when he left, but he didn’t. Do you know why?”

  “I have no idea,” David said, shaking his head. “The boy never talked to me. I have no idea what his life was really like. He didn’t even wave when he saw me on the street.”

  James’ heart went out to the man. That must’ve been incredibly difficult.

  “Something else of note happened,” Peter said, choosing his words carefully. “The casino tried to hide the video, but I have a source who is emailing it to me. It seems whomever shot Owen got something out of his pocket before fleeing the scene. I’m not sure what, but … it looked shiny according to my source.”

  “I’m not sure what that would be,” David said. “The only thing is … and I’m honestly not sure … but Owen always carried a safety deposit box key around with him. It was for a box Stella left him. Her father locked up some family jewels and the other key was lost throughout the years. Owen never got the box drilled like I told him to do. He carried that key around because his mother carried the key around. It was always in his pocket. He never left the house without it.”

  “What’s in the safety deposit box?” James asked.

  “I never saw inside,” David replied. “My understanding is that it was expensive jewelry and maybe a few land deeds. I honestly don’t know.”

  “And you didn’t want to look after your wife died?” James pressed. “Why?”

  “Because it didn’t seem right,” David said. “I loved my wife, but that was her stuff. She didn’t want my business to taint it. She left it to Owen. He was my son and I had no interest stealing from him. I just … let it go.”

  “You said the other key was lost,” Peter said. “You don’t have any idea what happened to it?”

  “No,” David said. “If you find out who did this, though, I expect a call. I don’t want Owen’s belongings. Those go to his wife … or whomever he assigned ownership to in his will. I do want revenge for my son’s death, though, so if someone killed him for money … I will make sure it’s the last thing they ever do.”

  “We’ll keep in touch,” Peter said. “I understand exactly what you mean. If someone touched my Sophie … .”

  “Then we’d all be working together to avenge her,” James finished. “Don’t worry, Mr. Barber, I want to know who did this, too. They shot my brother and killed your son. I won’t let them get away with it. You have my word.”

  12

  Twelve

  “Hey, light of my life.”

  Mandy greeted James with a smacking kiss on the cheek and then took the huge box of food from his arms and almost giddily skipped toward the counter.

  “Wow, that was a fun greeting,” James said, shaking his head as he dropped his keys on the counter and studied his blonde. She was dressed in simple cutoffs and a loose-fitting Jaws T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She didn’t have any makeup on and yet she somehow glowed from inside. “Come here a second.”

  Mandy didn’t question the request, instead moving back in front of James with a quizzical look on her face. “What?”

  “I love you.” James pulled Mandy in for a hug, holding her close for a moment. “I’m sorry I was such a pain last night.”

  “You weren’t a pain,” Mandy corrected. “You were in pain. There’s a difference.”

  “I still love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Mandy said, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I especially like that you brought me Red Lobster. I think you might be the best husband in the world.”

  “I know I am,” James said, playfully swatting Mandy’s rear end as she moved back to the box. “Peter will be back after he eats dinner. I invited him to eat with us, but he said Red Lobster isn’t really seafood. I told him that was crazy, but he couldn’t be swayed.”

  “Did you find out anything helpful?”

  “A few things,” James answered. “I’ll fill everyone in over dinner. I don’t want to leave Finn out. He deserves to be a part of this, even if he is hurt.”

  “Wow, I take it Peter had a long talk with you about how to treat Finn, huh?” Mandy’s eyes twinkled. “I love it when you take his advice. Your man crush on him is kind of cute.”

  “You’re the only one who I have a crush on, baby,” James said. “Although, he did mention that I spoil you rotten. I gave it some thought and realize he’s right. So, after this dinner, I’m going t
o cut down on spoiling you.”

  Mandy’s smile tipped down. “What?”

  “Oh, yes, you heard me right,” James said, fighting the urge to laugh at her downtrodden expression. “From now on you won’t be getting spoiled. That’s the new rule of the house.”

  Mandy licked her lips as she debated how to answer. When she finally did, the simple words were enough to suck James’ glee right out of his smile. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, baby,” James said hurriedly, pulling her back to him. “Why would you think that? I was just joking. I’m sorry.”

  “No spoiling, huh?” Mandy’s smile was impish as it zipped across her face. “Peter may know how to read people, but I know how to handle my husband.”

  “That was mean,” James said, extending a finger. “You’re spoiled and mean.”

  “And that’s the way I like it,” Mandy said, wrapping her arms around James’ waist. “Now you have to sit there for twenty seconds and let me do this.” She pressed her ear to the spot above James’ heart and listened to the reassuring beat.

  “Why twenty seconds?” James asked, petting the back of her head. “You can do this forever.”

  “Yes, but I want my dinner to be good so we have to put it in the oven to keep it warm,” Mandy said. “I am spoiled, after all. It’s not every day that you bring home lobster tails, though.”

  “Twenty seconds it is,” James said, kissing her forehead. “How are things here, by the way? I didn’t mean to leave you with all of the work, but I’m not sorry I went. We got some interesting information.”

  “Things here are … tense.”

  James tilted Mandy’s head up so he could study her somber blue eyes. “What’s going on?”

  “Finn, much like you, is a rotten patient,” Mandy replied. “Emma, much like me in similar circumstances, is a bundle of nerves. Things are going to come to a head before it’s all said and done.”

  “Well, as long as you get your seafood and they fight after we’re in bed, I’m perfectly fine with that,” James said. “Let’s just hope they don’t get Avery riled up. I’ve heard that kid scream and we’ll be able to hear him even if we’re a whole house away.”

  “Well, there’s always the guesthouse,” Mandy said, resting her face against James’ chest again. “We can lie and say we have work to do out there.”

  “And that’s why I spoil you,” James said. “You’re always thinking. It’s more like a reward than anything else.”

  “HOW IS that?” Emma fluffed the pillow behind Finn’s shoulders and lifted a plastic cup with a straw to his mouth. “The doctor says you need to keep hydrated. This is orange juice and it’s organic. I checked because Mandy and James pay zero attention to that stuff. They have actual Kool-Aid in the cupboard, if you can believe that. This should be good for your immune system.”

  Finn pressed his tongue to the back of his teeth as he studied his future wife. He loved her, but she was going to drive him crazy if she didn’t layoff the caretaker routine … and soon. “I’m fine, Emma.”

  “Open up.” Emma prodded his lips with the straw. “You need to build up your strength.”

  “Emma, I’m not thirsty,” Finn said, jerking his head away from the straw. “I’m fine. I can lift my own juice cup to my lips if I’m thirsty. You don’t need to … do what you’re doing.”

  Emma huffed out an exaggerated sigh and planted her hands on her hips. “And what am I doing?”

  “You’re hovering.”

  “I’m not hovering,” Emma shot back. “I’m taking care of you. That’s what a woman does for her fiancé … her future husband, I mean … when he’s been shot. You were shot!”

  “Okay,” Finn said, gesturing with his hand for Emma to lower her volume. “I get that you’re worked up, but you can’t yell like that. Avery is sleeping and Mandy and James are in the other room.”

  “They don’t care,” Emma said. “They fight all of the time. They’ve fought about this exact situation, in fact. I will not keep my voice down. You’ve been shot and it’s my job to take care of you.”

  “Oh, well, great,” Finn muttered, frowning when Emma shoved the juice in his face again. “I’m going to drink this, but it’s under duress. I’m only doing it so you’ll stop yelling.”

  “I don’t care what you tell yourself,” Emma said. “Just drink it.”

  “Oh, how cute,” James said, holding Mandy’s hand against his chest as he led her into the den and fixed Finn with a mischievous smile. “She’s feeding you.”

  “Don’t add to this insanity,” Finn snapped. “I am perfectly capable of drinking my own juice, but Emma doesn’t appear to believe it.”

  “He’s being a really bad patient,” Emma said, smoothing her ankle-length skirt as she settled on the mattress next to Finn. “Was he this bad when he was a kid?”

  “I don’t remember,” James replied, furrowing his brow. “I remember Ally being a total baby. Grady was, too.”

  “And I’m sure you were heroic in the face of the flu,” Mandy interjected. “Oh, wait … wasn’t it you who declared you were dying when you got a cold this past winter?”

  “I still maintain that was a super cold or something,” James argued. “I had a fever.”

  “It was like one degree.”

  “You shouldn’t talk,” James warned. “When you’re sick I have to sleep on the bathroom floor with you.”

  “No, when I’m sick you insist on sleeping on the bathroom floor with me,” Mandy corrected. “I love you more than life itself, but I hate it when you watch me puke. It gives me a complex.”

  “Well, I married you in sickness and in health and you’re going to have to suck it up,” James said. “It would bother me to be away from you when you’re sick.”

  “You guys are so co-dependent,” Finn said, shaking his head. “You go to the bathroom in front of each other, don’t you? That’s gross, by the way.”

  “Actually we do not,” James said. “It wouldn’t really bother me – at least quick trips, if you know what I mean – but Mandy has a ‘no guests allowed’ policy in the bathroom for all of that stuff. She won’t even shave her legs in front of me.”

  “It’s a private thing,” Mandy said. “I don’t want us getting so complacent with each other all of the mystery evaporates.”

  “Yes. It’s totally mysterious what you’re doing when you go into the bathroom and shut the door,” James deadpanned. “I’m confused and dumbfounded each and every time.”

  “You’re ticking me off,” Mandy said, extending a finger, which James proceeded to capture and kiss.

  “That’s what happens when you’re spoiled,” James shot back, grinning.

  “As fun as it is watching you two live out your family drama in the form of verbal foreplay, I would still like to be able to drink my own juice when the mood strikes and not have it forced on me,” Finn said. “I’m weird like that.”

  “The doctor says he has to take it easy,” Emma argued. “He’s not supposed to strain himself.”

  “Holding a cup isn’t straining myself.”

  “It is to me,” Emma said, her tone no-nonsense.

  “You know, you might want to embrace this Florence Nightingale routine while you can,” James suggested. “After I was shot, Mandy waited on me hand and foot. I didn’t like that she was afraid and crying, but there’s something nice about knowing someone else loves you enough to put everything on hold to make sure you’re happy.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet,” Mandy said. “I like it when you wait on me when I’m sick, too.”

  “I know,” James said. “That’s why we’re such a good match.”

  “Well, good news, Emma,” Finn intoned. “You can watch me get sick if these two keep it up much longer.”

  Emma giggled, the sound taking everyone by surprise. She’d been nothing short of manic since Finn’s arrival at the house.

  “Thank you, sweetie,” Finn said, grabbing her hand. “It’s okay to laugh. I’m fine.
You see me in front of you, right? It’s okay.”

  “I’m not going to stop hovering,” Emma said. “Not today, at least. You need to get used to it. This is what happens when you get shot. If you don’t like it … well … don’t get shot again. It’s pretty simple.”

  “Fine.” Finn rolled his eyes until they landed on James. “Women, man. They’re a lot of work.”

  “They’re worth it, though,” James said, sitting in the chair at the edge of the room and making room so Mandy could perch on the edge. “So, Peter and I met with David Barber.”

  “And he’s Owen Parker’s father, right?” Finn asked, his face all business. “I heard some of what was going on but not all of it.”

  “I’m sorry about that,” James said. “I should’ve included you, but between the timetable we were on, my lack of sleep, and Emma’s determination to make sure you were comfortable I let it slide. It won’t happen again.”

  Mandy pursed her lips to keep from laughing as James rubbed a lazy pattern onto her back with his fingertips.

  “It’s okay,” Finn said. “This whole situation has everyone up in arms. What did you find out?”

  James relayed his conversation with David Barber, making sure to leave nothing out. Finn was conflicted when he finished.

  “I don’t know what to think,” Finn admitted. “He seemed like a nice guy, but I still can’t wrap my head around why he came out of the casino without his briefcase and without telling me. If he was worried enough to think he needed security, why would he risk it?”

  “We might never know unless the wife wakes up,” James said. “For all we know it could be something simple … like he forgot his glasses in the car or something. The wife is in a coma so we’re going to have to move forward blind.”

  “And Peter is bringing the video over when he comes for dinner?”

  “He’s not eating dinner with us,” James replied. “He’ll be here shortly after we’re done eating. I have a ton of Red Lobster being kept warm in the oven until everyone else gets here, by the way. I hope you like seafood, Emma.”