“He’s dealt with Sophie a couple times,” Grady said. “She says he’s polite, and he hasn’t gone out of his way to try and shut her out of things. Maybe the whole Madison thing gave him room to grow.”
“Let’s hope so,” James said. “I’ve never had any respect for this department under his tenure, but maybe he can change things.”
“You’ve never gotten over the department insinuating that Mandy was lying when Troy tried to run her down in the parking lot outside of the courthouse,” Finn said. “They thought she was just looking for attention.”
“And she could’ve died because of their negligence,” James growled.
“She didn’t,” Finn pointed out. “She’s home right now. I bet they’re putting bows in Jake’s hair even as we speak.”
The visual caused James to smile. “I hope they’re pink – and that someone takes pictures.”
“Let’s do this,” Grady said. “I’d like to be able to surprise Sophie with the new hot tub I bought – and I’d like to be able to do it tomorrow before we have to return to work on Monday.”
“You bought her a hot tub?” Finn asked, holding the door open so his brothers could enter the building.
“You have no idea how much she loves a hot tub,” Grady replied. “It’s like magic.”
“I can vouch for that,” James said. “Mandy swims in ours naked. It’s like the best aphrodisiac ever.”
“I need to get Emma out of that apartment,” Finn said. “I want a hot tub.”
JAKE scanned the security monitors in James’ office, his eyes dancing from one to another as he studied the yard. He could see the familiar black car parked on the street, and he knew two of Peter Marconi’s men were sitting inside watching. Despite who the men were, and what they did for a living, the knowledge of their presence made Jake feel safer. If things got bloody, those were the kind of men you wanted on your team.
The monitor that looked over the patio area and pool was dead, as it should be, and the three cameras on each side of the fence were blank. Everything was calm and quiet.
Jake moved to turn away from the monitors, a hint of movement on the one scanning the far wall of the fence catching his attention before he could completely turn away. The property on the back side of Mandy and James’ lot was littered with a dusting of trees. They weren’t thick enough to be mistaken as woods, but there were enough of them to fool people into believing they offered seclusion.
Jake leaned down, narrowing his eyes as he studied the tree line. It was probably just a squirrel, he told himself. Nothing on the screen moved again, but Jake couldn’t push the niggling worry out of his mind. He punched in the code to unlock the small gun safe underneath James’ desk and pulled out a handgun, releasing the clip so he could make sure it was armed and then slapping it back into place.
He tucked the gun into the waistband of his pants and pulled his shirt lower. He didn’t want to alarm the women – especially when he may very well be overreacting – but he had to make sure. He’d promised James that he would keep everyone safe, and he’d promised himself that he would never again allow danger to touch Ally. He intended on keeping both promises.
Jake let himself out of the house through the side door. He knew that if Ally caught sight of him she would know something was wrong. Scaring her was the last thing he wanted to do. He was just going to walk the fence to make sure. Everything was going to be fine. It was just a squirrel playing on the trees by the fence.
He was almost sure of it.
“I’M glad you could come in,” Sheriff Morgan said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk and settling in the one behind it as he regarded the three Hardy brothers with a serious expression.
“We thought it was prudent,” James said.
“It is,” Morgan agreed. “The situation in this county is out of control.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Unfortunately, I have come to believe that you might be part of the reason it’s out of control, Mr. Hardy,” Morgan said.
James pursed his lips. “If you’ve called us here to blame us for this situation, I think we should just save time and leave now.”
“I’m not doing that,” Morgan said, holding his hand up to still James. “What has happened here cannot be laid on your shoulders. Things are snowballing on their own. The instigating matter that brought strangers into my county is another matter, though.
“I’ve had a very serious conversation with a Detective St. James in Bermuda,” Morgan continued. “We contacted them after taking two men with travel documents from Bermuda into custody after the first shooting in Mount Clemens.”
“Did they say anything?” James asked, not wanting to tip his hand that Peter had already relayed most of this information.
“They haven’t said a word,” Morgan said. “A lawyer showed up several days after the incident, even though these men never placed a call. He’s been trying to get them extradited.”
James waited.
“We’re fighting it obviously,” Morgan said. “We feel they’re the key to whatever is going on here. I’ve been in contact with several law enforcement officials in Bermuda. It was only this morning that I was directed to Detective St. James. When I told him where I was from, he asked if I happened to know you.”
“I see,” James said, leaning back in his chair and forcing his body to appear relaxed. “He seems like a good detective.”
“I’d love to keep playing this game with you,” Morgan said. “In the interests of saving time, though, and more lives, I’m going to call for a cessation of game playing.”
“Fine,” James said.
“I know about the flash drive,” Morgan said. “I know what’s on it.”
“Then you also know how it came into our possession,” James said. “We did not knowingly take possession of it. We don’t want it.”
“I’m not blaming you, Mr. Hardy,” Morgan said. “It seems, from your perspective at least, that things were quite accidental. I’m not blaming your wife either, so don’t even bother going there. I don’t know much about your wife, but I do know that Judge MacIntosh holds her in the highest regards, and that means something to me.
“This is not about blame,” Morgan continued. “This is about a solution.”
“And what’s your solution?” Grady asked.
“I think you should hand the flash drive over to us,” Morgan said. “We’ll hold a press conference and say that we have ownership of it. We’re hoping that will be enough to send whoever these men are out of this county and back to where they belong. They’re not going to want to take us on.”
“Well, they’re not going to want to take us on either,” Grady grumbled.
“I know we’ve had our differences,” Morgan said. “I know you think I blame you for what happened with John Madison. I don’t. In fact, I’m thankful for what you discovered. By uncovering his actions, you cleared me. Am I happy with the fallout? No. That’s on me, though. It’s not on you. I don’t blame you, and I harbor no ill will where you or Sophie Lane are concerned.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
Morgan steepled his fingers in front of him, resting his elbows on the desk as he leaned forward. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
“I don’t know you,” Grady countered.
“I don’t blame you for not trusting me,” Morgan said. “I’m the one who put all of my faith in a horrible man. I never saw what he was. It never even … it never crossed my mind. I was naïve, and I was weak. I won’t make that mistake again.
“The simple fact of the matter is, we both have problems right now,” Morgan continued. “Our problems happen to overlap. We have to work together to solve our mutual problems. That’s the only way this is going to work out for everyone.”
Grady opened his mouth to argue, but James cut him off. “He’s right.”
“But … .”
“No,” James said, shaking his head. “My wife is in danger. Our sister is in da
nger. Sophie and Emma are in danger because of their association with us. We all have to join forces. We don’t have any options.”
“I’m glad you agree,” Morgan said. “I want to put an end to the bloodshed. This is my county, and it’s my job to keep it safe. I see only one way of moving forward right now, and I need you to cooperate.”
James dug into his pocket and retrieved the flash drive. He tossed it on Morgan’s desk.
“Thank you,” Morgan said.
“I just want my family safe,” James said. “That’s all I care about.”
“Hopefully, this will do just that.”
JAKE cleared the first fence without incident. The expanse to the right of the house was an open field, and there was nowhere for anyone to hide. He wasn’t particularly worried about the left side of the house since it abutted another fenced-in yard belonging to the neighbors. His only cause of concern now was the back wall.
Jake’s hand was on the gun as he rounded the corner, but the space between the fence and the trees was empty. Jake stepped into the narrow tree line, glancing from trunk to trunk to make sure no one was hiding in the shadows. A flash of light shifted his attention to the road behind the trees, and his heart clenched until he remembered that Peter had said he was positioning an additional car out here.
Jake moved through the trees, making eye contact with the man in the passenger seat of the car. The man rolled the window down, fixing Jake with an unreadable look.
“Is something wrong?”
“Do you know who I am?” Jake asked.
“Mr. Marconi supplied us with pictures of all of you,” the man said. “He wanted to make sure there weren’t any accidents.”
“Of course he did,” Jake said, moving closer to the car. “Have you guys been walking the property line?”
The man shook his head. “No. We were instructed not to approach the house unless it looked like someone was trying to breach security. Was that wrong?”
“No,” Jake said. “I just thought I saw something on one of the monitors, and I decided to check it out.”
“Was it a person?” The man was moving to climb out of the car.
“It was just movement,” Jake cautioned. “That’s why I came out. I figured it was just a squirrel, but I’m the only one in there right now with the women. I’d rather look like the idiot hunting a squirrel than the lazy idiot who let someone get beyond that fence.”
The man relaxed. “I understand. No one has been through here that we’ve seen. We’re in constant contact with the front of the house. No one is getting inside.”
“No, they’re not,” Jake agreed. “Okay, well, I’m going back in. There are four women threatening to put bows in my hair they’re so bored – but I guess I can put up with it as long as they’re safe.”
The man snickered. “You’re a braver man than I.”
“Well, they’re worth it,” Jake said. He was about to turn and walk away when the man’s demeanor shifted. “What … ?”
“Behind you!”
Twenty-Five
“Jake has been gone a long time,” Ally said, glancing up from the magazine she was flipping through. “I thought he was going to come back so I could put a bow in his hair.”
“You just want to torture him,” Mandy said.
“Torture is a harsh word,” Ally said.
“Is it the right word?” Sophie asked.
“I just want a picture so I can use it as my screensaver at work,” Ally replied, causing everyone to giggle.
“I’m sure he’ll love that,” Mandy said.
“He’s cute, don’t you think?”
“He’s very cute,” Mandy agreed. “He’s also protective, and he adores you. There’s nothing about him I don’t like.”
“You were always on his side,” Ally said. “Even when my brothers were fighting it, you were pushing for it.”
“I knew he would be good for you,” Mandy said.
“He is.”
“I also knew you would be good for him,” Mandy added.
“You think I’m good for him?”
“I think you’re great for him,” Mandy said. “He’s always so shy and quiet. You bring him out of his shell. You should see the way he looks at you when he thinks you’re not looking. He loves the way you walk, and talk. He loves the way you twirl your hair. He even loves the way you torture your brothers. You make him smile. He’s happy with you, Ally.”
Ally grinned. “Of course he is. I’m happiness and light.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “No one could ever accuse you of having poor self-esteem.”
“Oh, please,” Ally scoffed. “Grady is so besotted with you he gets little hearts in his eyes when you’re in the room.”
“He has good taste.”
“He does indeed,” Mandy said. “He is so … .”
A loud blaring noise cut off the rest of what she was going to say, causing Mandy to jolt into a sitting position on the couch.
Emma held her hands up to her ears. “What is that?”
“It’s the security alarm,” Mandy said, exchanging a worried look with Ally.
“Maybe it’s Jake,” Sophie suggested. “Maybe he accidentally tripped it when he was walking the fence.”
“Jake doesn’t accidentally trip anything,” Ally said, jumping to her feet. “Someone is here.”
“Someone is in the house,” Mandy said, glancing around.
Emma’s face was clouded with fear. “What should we do?”
“We’re too exposed here,” Mandy said. “We have to go upstairs.”
“We’re penned in there, though,” Ally said.
“Yeah, but there are guns in James’ office.”
Ally pressed her lips together, her expression grim. “Let’s go. I don’t think we have a lot of time.”
“MOVE!”
Jake instinctively dropped to his knees, grabbing the gun from his waist and turning as he leaned to the side and tumbled to the ground. It only took an instant for him to realize what was happening. There were five figures – all of them large and menacing – and they were heading in his direction.
Jake squeezed the trigger of the gun, taking the first two men down in rapid succession.
Peter’s men were out of the car now, weapons drawn. The three remaining assailants returned fire, but Marconi’s men cut them down in seconds.
Once the gunfire ceased, Jake rolled to his knees and fixed his attention on the nearest man. “Where did they come from?”
The man was clutching his side, and Jake realized he’d been hit. “Shit. How bad is it?”
“I’ll live,” he said. “Marcel, call to the front car. Tell them what has happened. Make sure they’re prepared.”
The blond man on the other side of the car nodded and grabbed the walkie-talkie from the front seat. “This is Marcel. There’s been a breach.”
“I’ll call for an ambulance,” Jake said, jumping when the sound of an alarm assailed his ears.
“What’s that?” The wounded man was leaning against the car, blood dripping from the hand that covered his side.
“It’s the house alarm,” Jake said. “It means someone has breached security. Shit!”
“Go,” the wounded man said. “Marcel, go with him. I’ll call for backup from here. I’ll only slow you down.”
Marcel was already around the car, his gun clutched in his hand. “Who goes after women?”
“Ally,” Jake said, exhaling heavily. “I have to get to Ally.”
“OH MY God,” Ally said, her eyes widening as she took in the scene on the monitors.
The four women had barricaded themselves inside of James’ office, and Mandy was pulling weapons out of the gun safe.
“How many of them are there?” Mandy asked.
“Like ten,” Ally said.
“Call Finn,” Mandy ordered Emma. “Call him now!”
Emma pulled her phone out her pocket, her fingers shaking. “What do I tell him?”
“Take a wild guess,” Ally shot back.
Mandy handed a gun to Ally and then glanced at Sophie. “Do you know how to use one of these?”
“I’m Peter Marconi’s foster daughter,” Sophie said. “What do you think?”
Mandy handed her a gun before grabbing one for herself. She closed the gun safe, and then turned to the locked office door. “Do you think we should just shoot if we hear noise on the other side?”
“I say we ask them to identify themselves, and if it’s not a voice we recognize, we shoot,” Sophie said.
“Peter would be proud.”
“Peter is going to be pissed,” Sophie said. “No one was supposed to be able to get into this house.”
“Do you think that means his men are dead?” Mandy’s face was grim.
“Either dead or incapacitated,” Sophie said. “Peter only hires the best.”
“What about Jake?” Ally asked, fear gripping her. “Do you think he’s dead?”
“Maybe they just took him,” Mandy said. “I’m sure he’s okay.”
“What if he’s not? Jake wouldn’t just let them get in here. He’d die trying to stop them. You heard the gunshots.”
“I heard the gunshots out back,” Mandy said. “Maybe Jake is out there. Maybe he’s on his way back here right now. You don’t know that anything has happened, Ally.”
“I can’t lose him,” Ally said, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I can’t … I just can’t.”
“Hold it together,” Sophie snapped. “Jake is fine. Have faith. He’s probably out there terrified that something has happened to you right now. We have to focus on the task in front of us. Nothing bad has happened until we know that it has happened.”
“Wow,” Mandy said. “Peter taught you well.”
“He did,” Sophie agreed. “He taught me well, and we are going to survive this. Everyone just needs to hold it together.” She shifted her attention to Emma, her demeanor unnaturally calm. “Call Finn.”
Deadly Honeymoon (Hardy Brothers Security Book 7) Page 19
