James and Grady barked out twin laughs as Mandy shot Emma an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
“I’m still not sure I understand all of this,” Ally admitted. “Sheila dated David Barber before she married Lance Pritchard but after his wife died, right?”
Peter nodded.
“Whoever killed Owen Parker took something from his pocket and his father figured it was probably a safety deposit key his mother left him, right?”
Peter nodded again.
“Why wouldn’t David Barber have opened this safety deposit box back when both keys existed to see what was inside of it?” Ally asked. “I mean, he had to wonder. He might be rich in his own right, but whatever is in that safety deposit box has to be big.”
“David is a … unique … individual,” Peter explained. “I think everyone who gets involved in this business is unique in their own way, don’t get me wrong, but David has always been different.
“He inherited the business from his father, who continued to run it until David was in his thirties,” he continued. “I built my business from the ground up, and it was a long process. David was handed a kingdom, but he didn’t seem to want to rule it.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Ally admitted. “By the way, James is trying to slip his oysters onto Jake’s plate when he thinks no one is looking.”
Jake made a disgusted face and slapped James’ hand when he realized what his friend was doing. “Really?”
“Hey, they’re supposed to be magical,” James said. “Don’t you want to give Ally a magical night?”
“Since when are you promoting things like that?” Jake asked.
“Since … I don’t want to eat them,” James admitted. “Mandy is right. They taste weird.”
“Oh, give them to me,” Peter snapped, sliding an empty plate in James’ direction. “I don’t want to hear one more thing about the oysters. Everyone who doesn’t want to eat them put them on that plate and shut up about them.”
“I’m a good boy,” Grady said, smiling. “I ate all of mine.”
“Son, you’ll eat the paper boat a hot dog comes in at a Detroit Tigers game if no one is watching you,” Peter said. “I wouldn’t brag about that. Now, where was I?”
“David didn’t want to rule his kingdom,” Ally prodded.
“Thank you, my dear,” Peter said, smiling. “Tonight you’re my favorite.”
“Hey!” Sophie was affronted.
“Behind you, of course,” Peter said, patting her hand. “Your place on top of the list is secured forever.”
“That’s more like it,” Sophie said, dumping her own oysters on the passing plate before it landed in front of Peter. “What? I don’t like them either. I just never had the heart to tell you.”
“Yes, and you hid it so well when you made Sven eat them when you thought I wasn’t looking,” Peter said.
“Oh. I didn’t realize you knew that.”
“I know and see all, Sophie,” Peter said, shaking his head. “I can never eat dinner with you people again, by the way. It makes me feel old. Back to David, though. He never really came out and said it, but he wasn’t interested in the family business. His big problem was that he never went to college so he had no other life options. It was always assumed he would take over the business, so that’s what he did.”
“It must’ve been tough on him,” James said. “It sounds as if he didn’t have the constitution to do what his father wanted him to do.”
“That’s pretty much true, and when I started in the business I took a few territories over that used to fall under the Barber purview,” Peter said. “I expected trouble – I was ready for trouble – but it never came. David didn’t even bring it up.
“He married Stella Parker when he was in his earlier twenties,” he continued. “It was a love match. His father was behind it simply because of her money. He balked at the prenuptial agreement, but David signed it without complaint. David loved Stella and she loved him.”
“How did that work, though?” Grady asked. “Stella wasn’t in the business, right?”
“Far from it,” Peter said. “She wanted nothing to do with the business. She was never at risk, though, because we managed to hammer out certain agreements with one another. Family was off limits. Sure, certain upstarts tried to move in on us, but when that happened we worked in tandem to snuff out the problem. We never tangled with one another, even though the occasional business deal did go wrong.”
“So Stella died and David was a wreck,” James said. “Owen ended up with a fortune, but he couldn’t touch it until he was twenty-five. That’s what David said, right?”
Peter nodded. “I think if David had his druthers he would’ve left the business before Stella died,” he said. “He couldn’t do that without risking his life, though, so he stayed. After Stella died he continued doing what he was supposed to do, but his heart was never in it. It seems young Owen’s heart was never in it either, and the fact that he took his mother’s name when he changed his identity is telling.”
“David did for Owen what his own father didn’t do for him,” Emma surmised. “He gave him a way out.”
“I think it probably hurt that Owen cut ties with him, but that’s exactly what David did,” Peter confirmed.
“He was a good father,” Emma said. “He did the right thing by his child even though it tore him apart.”
“Yes, I think that’s a good way to look at it,” Peter said. “After Stella died, David became something of a womanizer, as I told you. It seems Sheila Archibald was merely one notch on his bedpost. There’s a rumor that he even had a vasectomy to make sure none of the women flitting in and out of his life could trap him with an unwanted pregnancy.”
“Sheila said that Owen bragged about the treasure his mother left him,” James said. “I obviously only met him the one time, but that doesn’t sound like the man I met.”
“Keep in mind that Sheila is a user and manipulator and doesn’t see people as they really are,” Peter said. “Owen probably confided in Sheila that his mother left him a key. My guess is David always intended to find the other key for his son and somehow it fell through the cracks, which allowed the key to go missing. In Owen’s young mind the idea of treasure was probably just as exciting as whatever was really in that box.”
“Owen carried around the key and never had the box drilled,” James said. “I wonder why. He had to be curious.”
“Peter just answered that question,” Mandy said. “Owen didn’t open it because his mother left him treasure. The knowledge of her final gift was probably enough to sustain him for a long while. He probably meant to get to the box eventually but ran out of time. I know if I had a final gift from my father, I would be terrified to open it but love it all the same.”
“Well, your dad made sure I got the final gift of his life when I got you,” James said, rubbing Mandy’s neck. He understood she missed her father terribly and never knew how to comfort her when the topic came up because his parents were both still alive and thriving. “Whoever went after Owen knew about the key. Sheila knew about it. I’m betting Owen wasn’t shy about mentioning it as a kid. That being said, we’re talking … what … at least twenty-six years here. Who waits that long to do a job?”
“Someone who thinks they’ve found the other key,” Peter replied. “I’ve placed men outside the bank where the safety deposit box is located and bribed a manager to tell me if someone tries to open the box. We can’t do anything on that front. Our one lead is the driver.”
Avery picked that moment to start crying in the other room. Emma made a move to get up, but Jeff stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“I’ll get him,” Jeff said. “I barely got to see him today. I missed the little guy.”
“Thank you,” Emma said, flashing him a heartfelt smile. “You can bring him in here after you change him.”
Jeff frowned. “How do you know he needs changing?”
Emma shrugged. “Mother’s intuition?”
“And you’re stuck now,” James added. “Whoever touches him last changes him, and that’s you now, my friend. You already volunteered.”
“Oddly it’s still better than prison,” Jeff quipped, disappearing from the room.
“Speaking of the driver, Sven has emailed me a file,” Peter said, glancing at his phone screen as it chimed. “Do you have a laptop down here where I can access it?”
“Yup.” James hopped up and retrieved his laptop from the counter, booting it up and handing it to Peter so he could work his magic. Everyone continued eating as Peter tapped away on the computer, and after a few minutes Peter lifted his head.
“Here it is,” Peter said. “There are twenty photos here. I thought we would let Finn look first and see if he recognizes anyone. If he doesn’t we’ll start running names after dinner.”
“Sure,” Finn said, wiping his hands on a napkin as he got to his feet. He grimaced as he stood, his back still sore, and Emma tentatively reached out to help him, but Finn stayed her with a pointed look. “I’m fine, sweetie.”
“I’m sorry,” Peter said, shaking his head. “I forgot you were injured. I should’ve brought the computer to you.”
“I’m still capable of walking,” Finn said, holding his back as he leaned over to study the computer screen. His eyes danced from one line to the next, finally stopping when they hit the bottom right-hand corner. “There. That’s him.”
“Ray Sexton,” Peter said, turning the computer so he could go to work again as Finn returned to his chair. No one missed the grunt Finn made as he sat, but everyone had the grace to ignore it. “The timeline fits for when Sheila would’ve been dating David. Sexton quit not long after she disappeared from the scene.”
Grady, still happily eating his dinner, leaned over to study the screen. He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer when he realized who Peter was talking about. “This guy?”
Peter nodded. “Why? Do you recognize him?”
Grady nodded and lifted his head so he was focused on the door Jeff disappeared through moments before. “He was at the security office yesterday.”
“Doing what?” James asked, surprised.
“Talking to Jeff.”
“Oh, well, that’s not good,” Peter said. “That’s not good at all.”
18
Eighteen
“Wait … .”
Emma’s face was drawn and grim when James made a move to get up from the table.
“Emma, we have to question him,” James said, keeping his voice low and even. “You know that. We’re not going to hurt him or anything unless … .”
“I don’t want you going after him as if he’s a … a … criminal,” Emma said, her eyes glassy as she furiously blinked to stave off tears. “That’s not fair. It’s not right.”
James licked his lips as he glanced at Mandy, silently pleading for guidance on how to handle the situation.
“Let Emma talk to him first,” Mandy suggested. “He’s her brother.”
“He’s also potentially a runner if confronted and he’s in there with the baby,” James pointed out.
“James, that’s Emma’s baby and brother,” Mandy said, her voice firm. “It’s her decision.”
James blew out a sigh as he glanced at Finn. “What do you think?”
“I think Emma has a right to question her own brother,” Finn said, gripping Emma’s hand. “She’s not doing it alone, though. We’re a family, so I’ll go with her. She can do the talking, though.”
The grateful look Emma shot Finn was enough to twist his heart. He had no idea how she was supposed to absorb this. She’d already lost her mother, father, and childhood. Losing Jeff could devastate her.
“Let’s go, sweetie,” Finn said, struggling to his feet. “The rest of you need to stay here. Do you understand?”
“If you need us, don’t hesitate to call,” James instructed. “I’ll be right there.”
“You always are,” Finn said, linking his fingers with Emma’s as they left the room.
Emma’s body was ramrod straight as they walked into the den, her shoulders squared. Finn thought he detected a slight tremor in her hand, but he wasn’t certain if he was projecting or if he really felt it.
“You’re a poop machine, little guy,” Jeff said, his back to the couple as he snapped Avery’s onesie in place. “I don’t know how something so small can crap so much.” Jeff had the baby pressed firmly against his chest when he turned and was taken aback when he saw Finn and Emma watching him. “What’s going on?”
“We need to talk,” Emma said, licking her lips. “We have something to ask you.”
“Okay,” Jeff said, confused. “Ask away.”
Finn carefully sat in the armchair at the edge of the room, briefly pressing his eyes shut as a jolt of pain coursed through him, but remained quiet as Emma gripped her hands together and faced off with her brother.
“You’re starting to scare me, Emma,” Jeff said. “Whatever it is … .”
“Who is the man you met with at the security office yesterday?” Emma asked, opting to get right to the heart of the matter.
“Met with?” Jeff knit his eyebrows together. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Now would not be a good time to lie to me, Jeff,” Emma warned. “In fact … give me Avery.” Emma reached out, holding her breath to see if Jeff would acquiesce or hold her son ransom in some bizarre standoff.
Jeff wordlessly handed the infant over, his face impassive as Emma forced a bright smile for the confused little one before planting him on Finn’s lap. Finn cuddled the baby, rubbing soothing circles on his neck as he watched Emma take on a battle he never expected her to have to fight.
“I need you not to lie to me, Jeff,” Emma said, choosing her words carefully as she gripped her hands together. “You’re my brother and I love you no matter what, but we have a situation and if you lie to me I can’t help you.”
“Help me what, Emma?” Jeff asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Who did you meet with at the security office yesterday?” Emma repeated. “Don’t deny meeting with someone. We know you did. Grady saw you talking to him outside the storage room.”
“That guy? He was just looking for directions.”
The lie caused Emma’s heart to constrict. “We know that’s not true, Jeff,” Emma said, her voice wavering. “We know you met with Ray Sexton and we want to know why.”
Jeff had a choice: He could keep playing the part of confused brother or acknowledge the name meant something to him. Emma’s steely reserve told him that lying to her wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interests.
“How did you find out?”
“Peter pulled photos of all the drivers who used to work for David Barber,” Emma replied. “Finn identified Ray Sexton as the man who was in the garage. When Grady saw the photograph he recognized him as the same man you were talking to yesterday.”
“It’s not what you think, Emma,” Jeff said hurriedly. “I would never betray you.”
“You already have!” Emma exploded, her hands shaking as she wiped them on the front of her skirt. Her voice was so shrill it caused Avery to burst into tears.
“Crap,” Finn muttered, patting the baby’s back. “It’s okay, buddy. Mommy is okay.”
“Um, I don’t want to interrupt, but maybe I should take Avery?” Ally suggested, peering through the doorway. “I promise I wasn’t listing. I just heard the baby cry and my ovaries hurt so I came to get him.”
Finn rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he gladly handed Avery off to his doting aunt. “Your ovaries hurt?”
“They hurt every time I see him.”
“If I were Jake I’d be checking to make sure there are no holes in his condoms,” Finn muttered. “Take him. There are bottles in the refrigerator.”
Ally obediently nodded, pausing by the door for a moment. “If you need me, Finn … .” They were close. They always had been. Ally loved all of her brothers
, but her relationship with Finn was something special.
“I will always need you, Ally, but right now you can help me the most by taking Avery out of here,” Finn said. “He doesn’t like seeing Emma upset.”
Ally didn’t say another word as she walked out of the room, although Finn could hear her humming lightly as she tried to calm Avery. He waited until he was sure they were gone to speak again.
“Jeff, we’re trying really hard to help you here,” Finn said. “You’re Emma’s brother and she loves you beyond reason. You have got to tell us what’s going on, though. I was shot and a man is dead. If you know something … .”
“I didn’t realize I knew anything,” Jeff admitted, running a hand through his hair as he sat on the couch with a forlorn expression on his face. “I had no idea when it happened.”
“Okay,” Finn said, resting his hand on Emma’s hip as she glared at her brother. “Tell us what happened.”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“Well, we have all night,” Finn prodded.
“The night you were shot I went back to the security building with Ally and Jake,” Jeff explained. “They were upset and I went up with them long enough to say goodnight to Avery and then went back downstairs.
“I was kind of … confused,” he continued. “I was still getting used to things and I thought it was such terrible timing. I was worried about you, Emma, and … I went outside for a walk.
“I wasn’t paying a lot of attention and I didn’t go far,” he said. “Just being able to breathe outside is a gift after spending so many years behind bars. When I got back to the building there was a man standing in the parking lot. It was as if he was waiting for me.”
“Sexton?”
Jeff nodded. “He introduced himself and asked if we could talk,” he said. “I had no idea who he was or what he wanted, but I got a bad vibe off of him. I told him I wasn’t in the mood to talk, but he said if I didn’t want to put my sister and nephew at risk I would do it. So I went to the bar down the street with him.”
Deadly Reunion (Hardy Brothers Security Book 20) Page 15
