“You added a system in the guesthouse?” Mandy knew she shouldn’t be surprised, but the information was mildly disappointing.
“I know that’s your safe haven where you like to paint,” James said. “You don’t want to think of being unsafe out there, but two crazy people have gotten into that guesthouse now. The first was a woman you managed to take out with a pool ball, but Pritchard was another story.
“I don’t want to make another mistake,” he continued. “Keeping you safe is the most important thing in the world to me. Keeping you happy is second. I’m doing the best I can, but I want that system to stay in the guesthouse.”
“I’m okay with that,” Mandy said. “Do we always have to turn it on, though?”
“No,” James conceded. “On the rare three days a month you’re not being stalked or threatened we can leave it off.”
“You’re a funny guy,” Mandy said, leaning over to kiss her husband. “Now, come on. You’ve stuffed me full of crab legs and bought me a new pair of shoes. I want to see the sharks. I need it.”
James laughed, his shoulders shaking. “You’re an addict, wife.”
“I’m addicted to you first and foremost,” Mandy said. “The sharks are like the whipped cream topping on the strawberry shortcake of our life, though. I need them.”
“Your wish is my command,” James said, pushing open his door. “Let’s leave the stuff in the Explorer until tomorrow. Nothing is going to spoil. I want to get you to those sharks before you turn into a pumpkin.”
“Yay!” Mandy clapped excitedly as she skipped toward the front door of the house. James hadn’t seen her giddy in so long he realized he was worried he would never see it again. She seemed lighter, and he couldn’t be happier. He would give her a week straight of sharks if she remained this excited.
Mandy was almost to the door, her fingers outstretched to grab the handle, when three scratches near the lock mechanism caught James’ attention. He grabbed Mandy’s hand and cocked his head to the side as he regarded the door.
“What?” Mandy asked, confused. “Is something wrong?”
“Someone’s in the house, baby,” James said, keeping his voice low as he pulled Mandy to his side. He moved them away from the door and pressed Mandy’s body against the outside of the house and leaned back so he could look up at the upstairs windows. Everything was dark. There was no way he could see someone if they watched the couple’s approach from the second floor, which would be the smart thing to do.
James dug into his pocket and retrieved his cell phone. He handed it to Mandy while keeping his eyes alert. “Call Grady and tell him we need help. Keep your voice low and don’t move. I need to listen, so I’m going to move away, but only a few feet. I will not let anyone touch you.”
Mandy nodded. “I’m okay.”
“You’re going to stay okay,” James said, pressing a solid kiss to her forehead. “Make the call.”
“OH, this can’t be good,” Grady said, setting his glass of wine on Peter’s coffee table as he checked his cell phone screen. “If James has taken to calling me while he’s having sex, we’re going to have a serious talk tomorrow.”
Peter grinned as he exchanged an amused look with Sophie.
“Hello,” Grady said. “If you’re calling to brag, just remember that real men don’t have to brag.”
Grady’s smile was wide as he listened, and then it began to slip. Peter realized something was wrong before Sophie registered the change in Grady’s demeanor.
“Have you seen anyone, Mandy?” Grady asked, his tone serious.
“What’s happening?” Peter asked. “Should I send people to the house?”
Grady nodded.
Peter hopped to his feet and moved to the hallway. “Rodrigo! Get a team together and get to the Hardy home right now. Be careful. James and Mandy are there and I have no idea what’s going on. It sounds like they’re in trouble, though.”
Rodrigo was usually all swagger, but his face flushed with concern when he hit the bottom of the stairs. “That blonde always finds trouble.”
“Well, it found her tonight,” Peter said. “Save her.”
“Consider it done,” Rodrigo said, striding toward the door.
Grady was still talking to Mandy when Peter returned.
“Mandy, help is on the way,” Grady said. “Tell James to get in the Explorer and leave. I don’t understand why he’s got you hiding under the eave unless … .” Grady broke off, realization dawning. “He thinks someone is watching the two of you from upstairs with a rifle. If you go back toward the Explorer you’ll be sitting ducks.”
“I’ll relay that information to Rodrigo on his phone,” Peter said. “I’ll tell him to go in through the back.”
“Mandy, Peter is sending Rodrigo,” Grady said. “He’s going in through the back. Make sure James knows that so he doesn’t inadvertently shoot him. Wait, he doesn’t have a gun, does he? Crap. We’re on our way.”
“PETER sent Rodrigo and Grady is on his way,” Mandy said quietly as she slipped James’ phone back into his pocket. “Have you seen anyone?”
“No.”
“How do you know someone is watching us?” Mandy asked. “Can’t we risk a run to the Explorer and drive away?”
“The driveway is too long, baby,” James explained. “That’s too much open space. If someone has a gun up there, they’ll be able to hit us without much trouble. Especially if they have training.”
“You think it’s Mason, don’t you?”
“I think he’s the best suspect,” James confirmed.
“What are we going to do?” Mandy asked. “I’m not sure we’re much safer here. We’re out in the open if he decides to go out the back door and arc wide to hit the front.”
“Your mind is a wonder sometimes,” James said. “You figure things out even when you have no business understanding how they’re supposed to work. What you’re saying is true. That means we have to find cover, and we have to do it in a way that doesn’t expose us.”
“And how do we do that?”
“You’re going to run for the woods in that direction while I draw whoever this is out toward the end of the driveway,” James replied matter-of-factly, bracing himself for Mandy to screech or stomp her foot.
“That’s not going to happen,” Mandy replied, her tone blasé.
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it’s not,” Mandy said. “We’re not splitting up.”
“We have to,” James said. “I need you to get to safety. I won’t risk you again. I won’t let you down this time.”
Mandy frowned. “You didn’t let me down last time,” she said. “No one let me down. No one could’ve expected Pritchard to make the move that he did. You’re desperate for me to let his death go. Well, you need to look in the mirror and let the guilt you feel go, too. You didn’t let me down. You save me every day we share together.”
James shook his head. “I promised I wouldn’t let him get near you and he almost killed you,” he said. “That’s on me, baby. That’s not going to happen this time.”
“We don’t know what’s going to happen this time,” Mandy said. “I’m not leaving your side, though. Think about it, James. Given my track record, I’m going to take off alone and run into whoever Mason is working with in the woods over there. It’s probably Russ Thorpe because he’s nasty and slimy and I don’t like him. That would pretty much be my luck right now. Do you want me to deal with whoever it is alone?”
James was frustrated. “We don’t know anyone is over there.”
“We don’t,” Mandy agreed. “I’m playing the odds. You’re going to go out there with every intention of acting as bait and it’s going to backfire because somehow I’m going to end up in trouble. It always happens. Why should this time be any different?”
James silently worked his mouth. He couldn’t argue with her logic, and that was a sad thing. “Fine,” he said finally. “We’re going to head for those trees and move in the direction of
the back of the lot. Do you understand what I’m saying, because I need you to be clear once we hit those woods? We can’t talk.”
“I understand,” Mandy said. “You want to circle the property and meet up with Rodrigo. With backup you plan on foisting me off on one of Peter’s men so you and Rodrigo can thump your chests and take down the bad guy.
“Then you want to turn him over to the police and romance me with sharks, massages, and candy all night,” she continued. “I’ve got it.”
“How can you possibly know that?”
“I’m a genius,” Mandy answered. “You said it yourself.”
“You’re so stinking cute,” James muttered, pressing a soft kiss to her mouth. “You stick close to me. If I tell you to do something, you can’t question me. You do it. Do you understand?”
“You’re the boss this round,” Mandy confirmed. “I’m the boss later.”
“Right,” James said, the corners of his mouth tipping up despite the surreal situation. “We’re going to move as fast as possible while remaining quiet. It’s going to be okay.”
“I know,” Mandy said. “I have you. Everything is okay when I have you.”
“God, I love you.”
“WE’RE almost there,” Grady said, signaling so he could pull into the right lane of the freeway. “Where is Rodrigo?”
“They’re parking now,” Peter said, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “They passed the front of the house and James’ Explorer is parked, but there’s no sign of him or Mandy.”
“What would James do in this situation?” Sophie asked.
Grady tilted his head to the side, racking his brain. “He’d make her run into the woods and draw fire by heading out toward the road.”
“Rodrigo didn’t see him,” Sophie pointed out.
“That’s because he told his plan to Mandy and she overruled him,” Grady said. “She refused to leave his side so James is going into the woods and working his way around to the back of the house.”
“Very good,” Peter said. “We’re parking in front of the house.”
“Why?” Sophie asked.
“To make sure that whoever is in that house has split attention,” Grady answered for Peter. “If he sees he’s outnumbered, he might run.”
“Sophie, you need to call the sheriff’s department,” Peter instructed. “I can’t do it by virtue of … well, just about everything. Tell them to get to the house because you suspect Detective Mason is about to murder the Hardys.”
“Should I really be that dramatic?” Sophie asked, pulling her phone from her purse.
“Yes,” Peter replied. “Morgan has to understand how serious this is and how badly it will look for him if one of his detectives – whether he was fired this afternoon or not – is after the citizens of Macomb County.”
“I’m on it,” Sophie said. “What are we going to do when we get to the house?”
“Help James the best way we can,” Grady answered. “We’re going to be extremely loud and draw as much attention to us – and away from James and Mandy – as humanly possible.”
JAMES clasped Mandy’s hand in his and led her through the trees, picking a clear path that allowed as much foliage cover as possible while also limiting the amount of ground they would have to traverse.
He didn’t expect her to wilt and cry, but the stoic way she walked beside him took his breath away. Her eyes were active as they scanned the yard and her hand didn’t shake in his. He realized that despite her emotions running roughshod since Pritchard’s death, she was still the strongest person he’d ever met.
Once they hit the area parallel to the deep end of the pool, James slowed their pace and listened. He peered around Mandy’s shoulder and focused on the sliding glass door at the back of the house. It would be the main exit should someone try to move between the buildings. The door at the back of the garage, though, was hidden by the arboretum construction. The building materials and frame were covered with clear tarps that waved in the slight breeze as the night continued to darken. The garage door offered cover the sliding glass door didn’t. That meant whoever was in the house would opt to use that one instead of the more convenient choice.
Mandy didn’t ask any questions or make a move to open her mouth. Instead she watched James gauge the situation. She had complete faith in his abilities. When James turned back to her, he offered a wan smile and small kiss before returning to their trek.
The woods behind the Hardy home could hardly be considered thick. Mandy and James fell in love with the Harrison Township location because the trees gave the house an air of isolation despite being close to neighbors. In most areas the trees were only ten deep, but the area behind the house was much larger. If James could get Mandy through those trees there was a busy road on the other side. They could hike to it and flag down a car, or better yet, meet Rodrigo as he made his move to help.
James squeezed Mandy’s hand as he tugged her toward the thickest part of the trees. He could almost taste safety when his inner danger alert pinged. He pulled up short, jerking Mandy behind him as a dark figure detached from a tree about ten paces in front of them.
“That’s was pretty good,” Mason said, his tone grim. “I would’ve had her if you hadn’t figured it out.”
“You’re not going to touch her,” James said, using his body to shield Mandy. “I’ll kill you if you try.”
“That’s hilarious given the fact that your wife is the murderer,” Mason said, laughing hollowly. “I might be worried about that threat if I was alone, though. You have a sterling reputation. We both know I’m not dumb enough to come after you alone, though.”
“You look pretty dumb to me,” Mandy grumbled.
“I’ve got them,” Mason yelled. “You can come out now.”
“It’s about time.”
Mandy tilted her head as a second figure moved away from a tree closer to the guesthouse. His approach was slower because he was thinner and less muscular than Mason. The lighting behind the house was dim, but the halogen lamp in the pool area offered enough illumination for Mandy to make out Russ Thorpe’s features when he was almost upon them.
“I told you!”
23
Twenty-Three
“What did she tell you?” Thorpe asked, genuinely curious.
“She told me that you were Mason’s partner and you were going to be here, too,” James answered, not missing a beat. “She’s smarter than all of us combined. That goes double for you, Thorpe.”
“I would watch what you say to me,” Thorpe cautioned, taking another step closer as James fought to keep Mandy behind him. “I’m the one in control this evening.”
“How do you figure that?” James asked, his outward appearance strong and calm as his heart hammered.
“I’m the one with a gun,” Thorpe said, gesturing toward Mason. “He’s armed and he’s angry. It seems you ruined the good thing he had going at the sheriff’s department. That wasn’t a great move on your part.”
“From where I’m standing, it wasn’t a great move to frame my wife for a murder she didn’t commit,” James countered. “I’m not sure what you expected me to do given the circumstances.”
“I have to give you credit,” Thorpe said. “You turned out to be a better opponent than I initially envisioned. The day I met you in the courtroom I thought you were all testosterone and impulse control problems. You’ve proven to be something else.”
“Is that when you decided to frame me?” Mandy asked.
“Not exactly,” Thorpe replied. “I knew I wanted someone on my side in that courtroom. Keats is not known for being a good sport when things go wrong for him. Judge MacIntosh is known for being a stickler and I was sure Keats would be convicted.
“That meant I needed another way to get Keats off,” Thorpe continued. “I needed someone I could control in that clerk’s seat. I was hopeful that would be you, Mrs. Hardy. Five minutes of conversation told me that wasn’t going to be the case. I had to maneuver someone
more … malleable … into the spot, even if only temporarily.”
“Do you spend a lot of time getting Keats off?” Mandy asked, causing James to widen his eyes and Thorpe to growl.
“You’ve got a mouth on you, young lady,” he said. “I’m looking forward to shutting it … permanently.”
“How did you know you could control which temporary clerk took Mandy’s position?” James asked. He was bargaining for time, but he was also interested in Thorpe’s answer. He would need all the information when it came time to clear his wife’s name.
“I bought a copy of the rotation list years ago,” Thorpe answered. “Gina Kincaid was next up, and she has a mortgage that’s about to go under. It wasn’t as hard as you might imagine. Not everyone wants to follow the letter of the law like your wife.”
“That’s because my wife is the best person in the world,” James said. “How did you get involved with Madeline?”
“I knew Madeline from years ago,” Thorpe explained. “My ex-partner and I split ways about ten years ago. It was an amicable move. He wanted to focus on tax law and I found criminal law much more exciting.
“He started up his own office in Warren and I had mine in Sterling Heights,” he continued. “Madeline was his secretary not long after he opened the office.”
“He slept with Madeline and she stalked him,” James surmised. “She had a habit of doing that.”
“I know,” Thorpe said. “She was a troubled creature. Anyway, I helped him out of his predicament by threatening Madeline and making sure she wouldn’t tell my friend’s wife about the dalliance. She was … hard to wrangle, but ultimately gave in when I paid her off.
“I’d been watching the courthouse for some time,” he continued. “I was trying to get a handle on MacIntosh’s staff. Initially I was going to go after the fat stenographer, but she didn’t seem bright enough to keep her mouth shut should things get hairy.”
“Heidi is not fat,” Mandy spat. “You’re obviously a dick, though.”
“Calm down, baby,” James chided. “He’s just trying to get under your skin.”
Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) Page 18
