Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “But you have heard something, haven’t you?” Grady pressed.

  “There are always rumors down here,” Violet said, her interest in the conversation waning. “You get used to it. Most of them aren’t true.”

  “I understand that,” Grady said. “I’m just trying to find anyone who might have some information.”

  “How would we know?” Pansy asked. “We obviously haven’t been taken.”

  Grady decided to take a different tactic. “Is there anyone down here, someone you know was … working the streets … who has gone missing?”

  “That happens all the time,” Pansy replied. “That doesn’t mean they were taken.”

  “Yeah, some people just can’t handle the life,” Violet said. “They leave. They think they’re going to make better lives for themselves. It never happens. Most of them show back up here sooner or later.”

  “Some people have to get out, though,” Grady said.

  “I’m sure they do,” Violet replied. “I’ve just never met one of them.”

  “We’re all like kids on Christmas,” Pansy said. “We have big dreams. As you get older, as each Christmas comes and goes, you realize that your dreams just aren’t going to be a reality.”

  The admission made Grady inexplicably sad. “And what dreams have you given up on?”

  “I’ve lost count,” Pansy said.

  “Me, too,” Violet said. “It just is what it is.”

  Grady wanted to argue. He wanted to offer them hope. Since he had no means of backing up any promise he made, he let it go. “What about the disappearing women? Tell me what you’ve heard.”

  “Honey, we’re working here,” Violet said. “If we don’t bring money back this afternoon, we’re going to be missing a lot more than dreams. We’re going to be missing teeth. You have no idea how much that cuts back on business.”

  Grady frowned, reaching into his back pocket and drawing out his wallet. He handed each woman a hundred-dollar bill. “Can’t this be your work for the day?”

  The women took the money, shoving it into their exposed cleavage wordlessly.

  “There have been a few stories,” Pansy said after a moment. “You always hear stories, so I disregarded them at first. They’ve been increasing in … frequency.”

  “Just tell me what you’ve heard,” Grady prodded.

  “There was a little girl out here, her name was Virginia,” Violet said. “We told her she should never use her real name because it would just lead to problems.”

  “She couldn’t have been more than sixteen,” Pansy said. “And, if I had to guess, I would say she was even younger.”

  Grady’s heart clenched.

  “She was out here for two weeks,” Violet said. “We kind of took her under our wing. We were going to take her back to … our business partner … to give her a level of protection. We were just waiting to make sure she wanted to make the choice to stay. Once you sign up with someone, there’s no turning back.”

  “She was staying in some hole down by Joe Louis Arena,” Pansy said. “There were like eight other women staying there. It wasn’t safe. Anyway, the day she was supposed to meet our friend, she just didn’t show back up.”

  “At first we thought she just went back home,” Violet said. “You could tell she came from somewhere. She was too new – too protected – to have known this life. Then we heard that someone transported her across the bridge.”

  “How was she transported?” Grady asked.

  “In the trunk of a blue sedan,” Pansy said. “Someone saw her being wrestled in there. She was screaming.”

  “How long ago was this?”

  “Six weeks or so,” Pansy replied.

  “And you haven’t seen her since?”

  “She’s gone,” Violet said.

  “What about the man who took her?” Grady asked. “What did he look like?”

  “Oh, honey, when you see as many faces as we do, everyone melds together,” Violet said.

  Grady rubbed his forehead, considering. “I guess. Anyone else?”

  “I heard a rumor about a stitch being taken over by one of the casinos,” Pansy offered. “That was about two months ago.”

  “What’s a stitch?”

  “It means she has a big scar on her face,” Violet explained. “It never healed properly, and whoever stitched it up left her looking like a monster. Those women only get work with the meth heads.”

  “That’s horrible,” Grady said.

  Violet shrugged. “The streets are full or horrible, honey.”

  Grady handed each woman a business card. “If you remember anything else please give me a call.”

  He started to move away, stilling when he heard a loud voice berating the two women he’d just interviewed.

  “What are you lazy bitches doing? How do you expect to make your quota if you’re just standing here like the fat cows that you are?”

  Grady swiveled, fixing the man with a hard look. “Do you need to speak to them like that?”

  “Get out of her, Mr. Fancypants,” the man sneered. “You’re clearly not shopping, which means you don’t belong here. Move along.”

  Grady took in the man’s filthy blue jeans and black suit coat – which was at least two sizes too big – and fought the urge to smack him in the face. There were two large goons standing about five feet away, and Grady had a feeling they were hired muscle. Getting in a fight – especially in this neighborhood – was a bad idea.

  “There’s no need to talk to them like that,” Grady pressed. “They’re people, not possessions.”

  “And you’re out of your league, jackass.”

  “Frankie, he was just looking for information,” Pansy said. “We told him we didn’t have any and sent him away. There’s no need to fight. We’ll get to work.”

  Frankie yanked Pansy’s hair viciously. “Don’t ever speak back to me, you ungrateful slut!”

  Grady was moving before he had a chance to think better of it. He grabbed Frankie’s arm, tugging him away from Pansy so he could have a clear field when he hit him. His fist smashed into the man’s face, causing Frankie to grab his nose as the audible crack filled the street.

  “You asshole!”

  The two goons were on him, their meaty hands digging into Grady’s arms. “Let me go!”

  “Let him go!” James joined the fray, grabbing one of the thugs by the back of his coat and dragging him away from his brother. “Don’t touch him!”

  “Oh, good, there are two of them,” Frankie said, touching his nose gingerly. “Kill them.”

  “Run! He’ll kill you. He means business,” Pansy said, crying out as Frankie backhanded her.

  That was all Grady could take. He lifted his leg, kneeing the man he was tussling with in the groin and reaching out so he could get his hands on Frankie again.

  “What the hell?” Finn asked, appearing on the curb next to his brothers. “Why are we fighting?”

  “Kill him, too,” Frankie ordered.

  Finn staggered as one of Frankie’s men punched him in the face, fighting to keep his footing and not leave his brothers vulnerable. “Okay, now I’m pissed.”

  Eight

  “What a great way to spend an afternoon,” Mandy said, holding the door of the police station open and ushering the three Hardy brothers out in front of her.

  “I’m sorry,” James said, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared down at his wife’s unreadable face. “Things just got out of hand.”

  “We weren’t charged with anything,” Grady said. “We were just issued tickets for disturbing the peace. They should have just let us go. I have no idea why they called you.”

  “The only reason you weren’t charged is because of Judge MacIntosh,” Mandy replied. “He called in a favor.”

  “What?” James’ eyes widened. “You told him?”

  “He was in my office when I got the call,” Mandy said. “He called down here and talked them out of pressing misdemeanor charges. That’s
why you only got civil infractions.”

  “I … shit, baby,” James said. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Get in the car.”

  “We have to go and pick up my Explorer,” James said, his expression worried as he studied Mandy’s clenched jaw.

  “Why don’t we do that,” Grady offered. “We’ll drop it off at your house.”

  James shot him a look. “I can drive my own truck.”

  “I think you’re scared of being alone in the car with your wife,” Finn teased.

  “I wouldn’t be so full of yourself,” Mandy said. “Emma and Sophie know you two were arrested, too. I called them before I came down here.”

  “You tattled on us?” Finn was incensed.

  “I had no idea how long I would be down here, and I didn’t want them to worry,” Mandy replied, nonplussed. “I don’t tattle.”

  “Does Ally know?” James asked.

  “I told Jake.”

  “And I suppose that wasn’t tattling either?” Grady asked, scowling.

  “I’m not apologizing,” Mandy said, placing her hands on her hips. “Now get in the car. I’ll drive you to the Explorer.”

  “Why don’t you let me drive?” James asked, holding his hands out for the keys. He had no idea why Mandy insisted on driving a Focus. When her first car exploded, she’d bought the exact same model several weeks later. He hated the car. He still didn’t want her to drive.

  “I can drive my own car,” Mandy shot back.

  “I didn’t say you couldn’t,” James replied carefully. “Are you mad?”

  “Why would I possibly be mad?”

  “I don’t know, because you had to bail us out of jail?” Finn supplied.

  “Thanks for helping,” James growled.

  “No problem.”

  “Get in the car,” Mandy repeated.

  “I know where the Explorer is,” James said. “I can get us there faster.”

  “No, you just don’t trust me to drive,” Mandy argued. “You never let me drive.”

  “I let you drive,” James protested.

  “When?”

  “I … .”

  “When have you ever let me drive?”

  The stiff set of Mandy’s shoulders was enough to make James uncomfortable. He didn’t like the stern expression on her face – although, for some reason, he found it adorable.

  “Fine. Drive.”

  “Great,” Mandy said, pointing to the car. “Get in.”

  When they got to James’ Explorer, all three men piled out of the car.

  “I’ll see you at home, baby.” James blew her a kiss and started to shut the door.

  Mandy ignored him, her frame unnaturally rigid as she stared out the front window of the car.

  James straightened, fixing his brothers with a worried expression. “Maybe you guys should take the Explorer back. I’ll ride with her.”

  “She’s pissed,” Finn said. “Maybe you should give her some time to calm down.”

  “I think she’s more pissed about the driving than she is the arrest,” Grady said. “How come you never let her drive?”

  “I don’t know,” James said, keeping his voice low. “I just like to drive.”

  “Yeah? Well, she’s going to be driving you around the bend tonight,” Grady replied. “We’ll park the Explorer in the driveway and leave the keys in the mailbox.”

  “What? Are you scared to come in the house?”

  Grady inclined his head in Mandy’s direction. “I’ve seen that look before. You two are about to go ten rounds and then make up. I don’t want to be there for either of those things.”

  James ran his hand through his hair, glancing back down at his pouting wife. “Well, at least I have the making up to look forward to.” He slid back in the passenger seat. “I’m going to ride with you, baby.”

  “Should I thank you now or later?” Mandy’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, causing James to grimace.

  Mandy followed Grady and Finn as they pulled onto the expressway, setting the cruise control once the traffic lessened.

  “So, baby, how was your day?”

  “Great.”

  James rolled his neck, cracking it as he tried to relax. Watching his wife zip in and out of traffic was driving him crazy, and he found his hands constantly resting against the console as his body braced for an impact he was sure was about to come.

  “Stop doing that,” Mandy ordered.

  “I’m not doing anything.”

  “I’ve been driving for ten years,” she said. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “I didn’t say you didn’t.”

  “Oh, good grief,” Mandy said. “Do you want me to pull over so you can drive?”

  That was exactly what James wanted, but he didn’t think admitting it would get him very far. “I’m fine.”

  Mandy shook her head, her lips moving but no sound coming out.

  James pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew he should be cowering – or at least begging – in the face of her anger. She was just so cute. “You know, we only got involved because the women were being mistreated.”

  “I know.”

  “It just got out of hand,” James said. “That Frankie guy was yanking the one woman’s hair, and Grady just reacted. When they jumped him, I couldn’t ignore it. He’s my brother.”

  Mandy scowled. “Is that why you think I’m angry?”

  “Well, you were happy with me in bed this morning,” James said. “Something had to happen between now and then, and getting arrested is pretty high on my list of possibilities.”

  “I’m not angry that you got arrested,” Mandy said. “I’m not angry that you stood up for your brother, or tried to help two women who obviously needed it.”

  “So, you’re just angry about the driving thing?”

  Mandy rolled her eyes. “I don’t care about the driving thing,” she said. “Well, I do, but that’s a mild irritation. Most of the time I find it funny.”

  “Then why are you angry?”

  “Because you could have been hurt,” Mandy said. “Those men are animals. They treat women as property. They treat them worse than … dirt. You could have been killed.”

  “That’s why you’re angry?” James relaxed. “You know, we’ve been trained to fight. We were never in any real danger.”

  “Then why fight?”

  “I … .”

  “You like to fight,” Mandy finished for him. “Admit it.”

  “I don’t like to fight,” James said. “When it’s necessary, though, I’m not going to run from it. Those guys deserved what they got.”

  Mandy made a sound in the back of her throat. If James didn’t know better, he would have thought it was a growl. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”

  “Oh, whatever.”

  James reached over, rubbing his hand over his wife’s shapely thigh. “You’re right,” he said. “I do like fighting.”

  Mandy shifted her gaze to him.

  “Watch the road, baby,” James said. “I only meant I like fighting with you. I like to make up, too.”

  Mandy fought the urge to smile.

  “So, if I buy you dinner, can we make up when we get home?”

  “You are incorrigible,” Mandy muttered.

  “I love you, wife,” James said. “And I would never put myself in a position where I could be taken away from you. I was never in any real danger today.”

  Mandy sighed. “I love you, too.”

  “Good,” James said. “Now keep your eyes on the road. You’re making me nervous. If I knew you drove like this, I would have bought you a tank.”

  “HEY, sweetie,” Finn said, letting himself into Emma’s apartment. “Sorry I’m late. I picked up dinner.”

  When Finn turned, the woman he saw sitting on the couch was not the one he was expecting.

  “Who are you?”

  Emma appeared in the living room, her hands clasped tightly at her waist as she met Finn’s worried gaze. “Thank God
you’re home,” she said. “I was about to freak out.”

  Finn gave Emma a quick kiss. “What’s going on?”

  “This is Lily,” Emma said. “She’s … she’s in trouble.”

  Finn looked the blonde woman over. Her hair was tousled, her face flushed. And, even though the light in the apartment wasn’t great, Finn was almost positive he saw the hints of a bruise forming on her high cheekbone. “What happened?”

  “She was attacked,” Emma said. “A man came to her apartment and attacked her because she was talking to us.”

  Finn furrowed his brow. “How did he know?”

  “That’s what I came here to ask you,” Lily said, her voice tinny. “I told Emma my story because I trusted her. Obviously you’ve been asking questions of the wrong people.”

  “We’ve been down in Detroit,” Finn said. “We’ve been asking questions, not spreading information. We didn’t tell anyone about you.”

  “You must have told someone,” Lily challenged. “How else would they know where to find me?”

  “I don’t know,” Finn said. “Have you told anyone else?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?” Finn pressed. “You told Emma.”

  Lily narrowed her green eyes dangerously. “Are you calling me a liar?”

  “No,” Finn said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “I’m just saying that it’s a hard story, and it’s your story. People want to tell others when something bad happens. It’s just human nature.”

  “I didn’t tell anyone,” Lily said. “I’ve managed to stay off their radar since I ran, and now they’re back.”

  Finn exhaled heavily, shuffling over to the chair next to the couch. He kept his movements small as he sat in it, not wanting to inadvertently scare the woman on the couch. “Okay, let’s take this from the beginning,” he said. “Did you recognize the man at your door?”

  “No,” Lily said. “He said he worked for Christian.”

  “And Christian was your … .”

  “The man who took me in,” Lily finished.

  “Right,” Finn said. “When was the last time you saw Christian?”

  “The afternoon I was taken,” Lily said. “I never went back after that. I left all my things, and I just … ran.”

  “When was that?”

  Lily searched her memory. “Almost two years ago.”