“Kierson said he’d take care of it and deduct the money from your consulting fee.”
“I’m not sure how you’re keeping track of everything.” I yawned. “I can barely put one foot in front of another.”
Grady opened the back door of the SUV, and I crawled in, stretching out on the seat. I heard him chuckle before I fell back asleep.
~*~*~
“Give that back!” Sara screeched just before the sound of breaking glass.
I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall before I’d thought to see if I was wearing clothes. Glancing down, I wasn’t sure whether I was relieved or disgusted to find I was still wearing the same outfit I’d put on Monday morning.
In the dining room, I found Anne and Grady glaring at Nicholas and Sara who both stood pouting, looking at the floor.
“What’s up?” I asked, noticing the glass of orange juice shattered across the table.
Both kids opened their mouths to speak but Anne raised a hand into the air to silence them. They both looked back to the floor.
“Seems we had territorial issues over a glass of orange juice,” Grady said.
“I heard,” I said, taking a seat next to him. “And which one of them is in the most trouble?”
“Pretty even-steven right now,” Anne said. “They’ve been at each other’s throats for nearly twenty-four hours.”
I looked back at the kids who hadn’t moved. “If it weren’t for the broken glass, you’d be cleaning this mess up yourselves. Instead, though, both of you go shower, dress, and brush your teeth. Then meet back here for your punishments.”
“Ah, man,” Nicholas whined, moving toward the hallway.
“It’s all your fault,” Sara said, glaring at Nicholas as she walked toward the stairs.
“Enough!” was all I said to have them hurrying to their rooms in silence.
Grady turned to me and smiled. “I’m afraid you’ll have to handle this one without me. I need to go to work.”
I grinned back. “I’m sure you do.”
“Me too!” Anne said, laughing. “They haven’t eaten yet. We didn’t get that far.”
“It’s all good. I’m contemplating starving them to death, anyway.”
Anne snorted as she picked up chunks of glass. I retrieved the trashcan and a towel from the kitchen to finish cleaning up the mess.
“The applicants for the teaching position will start arriving in the next hour. Will you be able to watch the kids today, or should I make other arrangements?” Grady asked.
“They can help me do the interviews.”
“I’m heading into the office,” Grady said, kissing me on the forehead before moving toward the garage door with a to-go coffee cup. “I typed up our statements for Kierson this morning and signed my copy. They’re on the credenza. Sara said she’d scan them to Kierson after you sign.”
“Do I need to read it or can I just sign it?”
“Up to you,” he said as he walked out.
After cleaning up the mess on the table, I skimmed through the statement before signing. I looked longingly toward the coffee pot but I didn’t have much time before the kids would be back and I didn’t dare leave them unsupervised. I turned down the hall toward the shower while I still had time.
~*~*~
Three hours later, Nicholas elbowed me in the ribs when I started nodding off. The fifth applicant was reading her credentials from what looked like a novel-size stack of paper.
“Thank you,” I interrupted her. “I appreciate your time, but I don’t think you’re the candidate for the position.” I stood and motioned her through the side door of the atrium. “This isn’t going well,” I said when the door closed.
“I’ll go get the next one,” Sara said, walking toward the bedroom door.
Whiskey was manning the front door and having the applicants wait in the dining room for their turn. Nicholas and I leaned back on the couch and sighed.
“Well, this is downright depressing,” a female voice said from the atrium entrance. The woman standing next to Sara had bright red hair, rosy cheeks, and a big smile. “How many interviews have you dragged yourself through?”
“You’re the sixth,” Nicholas said.
“And you kids have been cooped up in here all day?”
“We’re used to it.” Sara shrugged. “We go to school online.”
“Sounds exciting. What grade are you in?” she asked as she joined Sara on the opposite couch.
“It depends on the class,” Sara answered. “I’m not so good with my English classes, but I’m taking college courses in mathematics and computer science.”
“I’m not as smart as Sara,” Nicholas said, pouting. “I’m only in fifth grade classes.”
“I’m not a computer and math whiz either, but there are lots of things I am good at,” the woman said.
“Like what?” Sara asked.
“Well, I was a cross-country runner in college. And I like to swim and ride my bike. And I like to go to museums and the zoo. I also paint, but I’m not very good at it. And I like to sing, but I’m horrible. And I love to read. All kinds of books. You can travel all over the world in a book.”
Nicholas was leaning forward now, grinning. Sara came over beside me and pulled the woman’s application from the pile and handed it to me.
“You’re Beth Michaelson?” I asked.
“Yes. If it's okay with you, since this is a home environment, I’d like to forgo the formality of the Ms. Michaelson and stick to Beth, if that’s all right. Your ad appealed to me because this gig lacks the institutional brick and mortar feel.”
I glanced through her resume. “Why did your employment end mid-term last year?”
“After six fulfilling years, I was fired,” she admitted, looking directly at me.
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for further details. She looked from me to the kids and then back to me again.
I looked at the kids, then back at Beth. “You can speak freely in front of the kids. They’ve had an odd upbringing.”
Sara giggled.
A slight smirk overtook the corner of Beth’s mouth. “One of the parents, a father of one of my students, decided to get handsy with me. We were in my classroom, alone, and the situation escalated. The school decided that I’d acted too aggressively when I sprained his wrist and broke his nose.”
Both kids giggled.
I cleared my throat to get them to settle down. “Was there an investigation for assault?”
“There was. No charges were brought against me. The police told the DA it was self-defense.”
I picked up my phone and called Dave, friend and local cop.
He answered on the first ring. “You in town?”
“At the moment. I’m sitting with a Beth Michaelson, a former teacher over at the academy school. She was involved in an assault case last year. I was hoping you could get a confirmation for me on the details.”
“I remember that case. I wasn’t assigned to it, but Nate Coulder was the detective. He said it was bullshit she was fired. He deserved his injuries and more. We’ve had a couple complaints about him. He’s also on our domestic abuse watch list.”
“Anything I can do to help with that?”
“Not at the moment. One of the female officers has been trying to encourage the wife to leave, but until she wants out, everyone’s hands are tied.”
“Got it. How’s Tammy?”
“A mess. But don’t tell her I said that.” Dave said, laughing. “She’s fretting over Juliette morning and night. But the doctor said she and the baby are healthy and that Tammy will stop being so anxious as the newness wears off.”
I snorted. “Good luck. Lisa’s getting worse.”
“I can’t even imagine. I gotta run, though. We just got a call for a disturbance at The Changing Room.” Dave was laughing as he hung up. I was tempted to call the store, but figured I’d hear about it at dinner tonight.
“Your story checks out,” I said to Beth. “What do y
ou envision your daily agenda to be if I were to hire you?”
She hesitated, contemplating her words.
“Aunt Kelsey’s a straight shooter,” Sara said. “Whatever you’re thinking, just spit it out.”
Beth grinned over at Sara before answering. “The kids are smart, obviously, and it would make sense to continue the online classes since their education levels are so varied. But I wonder how much time they spend outdoors, playing in team sports, or going on field trips? I’d like to make sure that half of their schedule is outside of their core classes so they can explore other things.”
“That could be arranged, but with some limitations. We are preparing a school room across the highway for the kids at Silver Aces Security. I work as an investigator and travel a lot. Sara’s mother works at the store, The Changing Room. When she’s working, it’s busy, and she doesn’t have the time to keep a close eye on the kids. We all felt Silver Aces was a safer environment for the kids to spend their days. When activities are scheduled off site, I’d require one of the security guards to accompany them.”
“Are the kids in danger?”
“Not normally.”
“Aunt Kelsey has a tendency to piss people off.” Sara giggled.
“Language,” Nicholas and I both scolded Sara.
“Sara, what are the consequences when you swear?” Beth asked her.
I sighed, leaning back into the couch. “I’m afraid we’re pretty lax about punishing her.”
Beth nodded her understanding. “Maybe we need a swear jar?”
“Sara’s rich,” Nicholas said, shaking his head. “She’s got three piggy banks full of money.”
“He’s right. Both the kids work the adults over for money all the time. I’d hate to think how much money they have squirreled away. But a punishment is needed.” I raised an eyebrow at Sara. “Ten pushups, young lady.”
“Ten?” Sara whined.
“Get to it, or I’ll make it twenty.”
Sara got down on the floor and struggled to push herself up.
Beth laughed, watching Sara as Nicholas counted out the push-ups. “Maybe we need to focus on physical education right away.”
“Mom hasn’t offered you the job yet,” Nicholas said.
“No, she hasn’t. You’re right. I’m getting ahead of myself.”
Whiskey stepped into the room. “We have two more applicants waiting.” Whiskey grinned down at Sara as she pushed up for number seven.
“Send them away,” I said. “We’ve found our teacher. Meet Beth Michaelson.”
“Ma’am,” Whiskey said, nodding to Beth but he was still watching Sara. “What’s this all about?”
“Get ready. We’re installing a rule of ten pushups for every swear word.”
Whiskey’s face fell. “For just the kids, right?”
“The adults don’t have to participate,” Beth said, seeming nervous that she had instigated drama.
“Yes, they do,” Sara insisted.
“She’s right. We need to break the habit, at least while we’re around the kids. And Sara has picked up quite the potty mouth.”
Whiskey sighed. “I’ll call and cancel the other appointments,” he said before turning out of the room.
Nicholas laughed. “Sara and Whiskey are going to be sore tomorrow.”
“I was thinking Aunt Katie,” I said, laughing.
“Well, it’s certainly different.” Beth smirked as Sara dragged herself up from the floor.
“Kids, go play. We have adult stuff to talk about.” I grabbed a folder off my desk as the kids raced out of the room. “I have the specifics of salary, time off, and benefits ready for you, and the employment forms that will need to be filled out. Let me know if you feel there are any issues.”
“Oh,” Beth said, when she looked in the folder. “This is very generous.”
“You’ll earn it. Those kids will challenge you.”
Beth winked, filling out the forms. “I’m sure I can keep up.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Kelsey! Kelsey! Kelsey!” Carl yelled, running into my bedroom and then into the atrium.
“Hey, Carl,” I said, stepping around the coffee table to greet him.
Carl plowed into me.
“Are you home for good now?” Carl asked.
“I’ll be home for a few days,” I said as I pulled him along with me to sit on the couch. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk with you earlier this week. But I did hear about you blowing up Hattie’s oven.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Carl pouted. “Everyone but Alex and Grady yelled at me.”
“What did Grady say?”
“That the kids could’ve been hurt.”
“And what did Alex say?”
“He said I was grounded. And I had to move in with him and go to work with him for a while.”
I grinned at Carl who was trying to look sad, but I could see the mischief in his eyes. “And does Alex know where you are right now?”
“Yes, luv,” Alex said, entering the room wearing a white silk blouse, black dress pants, and black heeled boots. “I decided to turn him over to you for a couple hours. He keeps running around yelling at the customers to hurry up and leave so he can visit you.”
Carl raised a hand to cover his grin.
I shoulder nudged him before looking back at Alex. “It’s fine. I have to work for a couple hours, but Tech and I can keep him busy.”
Alex blew air kisses at me before turning on a heel and leaving again.
“Why don’t you check on the kids for me, Carl. And if you catch the kids swearing, they have to do ten pushups.”
“Sara’s going to look like Popeye,” Carl said before running out of the room.
“How did he blow up an oven?” Beth asked as she stacked the completed forms and passed them back to me.
“He invents things. He was working on some type of traceable chemical, and when he tested it for heat tolerance—kaboom. Test failed.”
“He should’ve used a smaller sample in a controlled environment. I don’t mind working with him when the kids are doing their online classes.”
“I was hoping he could go on some field trips too. I can send two guys on days that he goes, to help keep track of him.”
“Won’t be a problem. He seems to have a busy mind, but he has good listening skills. I worked with a woman who had a head injury and had similar behaviors. As long as I kept her busy, she stayed out of trouble.”
“He won’t always be around. Tech, our computer investigator, takes him for a couple of shifts a week, and when I’m home, I pick up a few shifts too.”
“Offer stands. I’m used to juggling thirty or more kids, so it won’t be a problem.” She shrugged. “Now I better check on them. Wouldn’t want anything to explode on my first day.”
I laughed. “I didn’t even ask, when can you start?”
“I’m already here. I’ll stick around for a couple hours and work out a lesson plan with Carl and the kids before I leave. I’ll need to know what my budget will be for our field trips, though.”
“No worries over a budget. Kelsey’s loaded,” Katie said, standing at the entrance of the atrium.
“Nice, Katie,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Very professional.”
“You know you love me,” she said, turning back to Beth. “I’ll arrange a charge card and a petty cash box. Hi, I’m Katie.”
“Beth,” she said, shaking Katie’s hand.
I handed Katie the stack of forms, and she turned to leave. “The kids are playing on the back deck, if you want to follow me.”
Katie led Beth out of the room as my phone rang.
“Kelsey.”
“It’s Maggie. You got a minute?”
“Actually, I do. I just hired a teacher for the kids, and she’s offered to keep Carl busy too.”
“That’s good, because we have a problem. Get the kids and yourself over to Silver Aces, and go on red alert. Call me back when you’re in your war room.
”
“Give me five minutes,” I said as I hung up and ran down the hall.
Once in the dining room, I hit the alarm on the wall. Sara dragged Carl by the hand into the living room followed by Nicholas pulling Beth into the house. Whiskey ran over and locked the sliding door.
“What’s wrong?” Katie asked.
“I don’t know yet. Maggie called and said for me to move the kids to Headquarters and go on lockdown.”
“I’ll get the backpacks,” Sara said, running over to the dining room table and loading up their laptops and school work.
“I’ll get the go bags,” Nicholas said, pulling duffle bags out of the coat closet.
“I’ll man the front door,” Whiskey said. “We’ll leave when the SUV pulls up.”
I turned to Beth.
“Umm,” she said, grinning nervously at me.
Katie laughed. “I’ll make sure the house is locked down after everyone’s been moved.”
“Just watch your back until we know what’s going on,” I said to Katie. “And then get to the store and keep an eye on everyone.”
“I know the drill,” she said. “We’ll be fine. Maggie said for you and the kids to go on lockdown. If it was a bigger threat, she would’ve told you to put everyone on lockdown.”
“Aunt Kelsey pissed off another bad guy,” Sara said.
“Pushups!” Nicholas and I told Sara.
She sighed, dropping to the floor. “This is going to get old real fast.”
I did a full three-second eye roll before turning back to Beth. “You might as well learn as we go. When I was made aware of a threat, I activated the alarm. There’s a panel in the upstairs hall, Sara’s room, Nicholas’ room, the basement gym, and here in the dining room. The alarm sends text messages to the family and to the war room, where Tech and I work. If Tech doesn’t respond to the alarm within thirty seconds, the building alarm at Silver Aces goes off. As long as it’s safe to do so, you wait wherever you’re at for backup.”
The doorbell rang, and Grady entered.
I turned to Beth to explain. “The guys will ring the doorbell before they enter, so you’ll know it’s them. Bad guys don’t ring doorbells. Everyone who’s allowed inside the house during a red alert, has a key.”
Day and Night Page 13
