Deadly Memories (Hardy Brothers Security Book 18)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “I heard,” James said, scowling. “I spent hours perking Mandy up and swearing I didn’t think she was a bimbo. If I see that guy – I don’t care how upset he is – I’m going to pop him in the face.”

  “I’m right there with you,” Grady said. “I keep trying to wrap my head around this. Part of me thinks Foley would never risk doing something so stupid. It’s not like painting a word on the side of her car is going to get Sophie to back off.”

  “But?”

  “But it could also be kids,” Grady said. “Nate Foley is a senior at that high school out on Twenty-One Mile, you know the really rich one where all the students wear uniforms. Kids might’ve gotten it into their head to go after Sophie as a way of standing up for their buddy.”

  “That’s an interesting theory,” James said. “I would also think the kids would be upset that Foley killed their other classmates. I know teenagers can be impulsive, but I’m not sure how going after Sophie’s car benefit’s anyone.”

  “It’s a conundrum.”

  James smirked. “Nice word. Have you been looking at your Word-of-the-Day toilet paper again?”

  “Ha, ha,” Grady intoned. “Just to be on the safe side, I’m going to grab a couple of cameras and put them up at the house until this passes. I don’t want to risk anything.”

  “That’s probably a good idea,” James said, nodding. “Do you want any other help?”

  “Peter is going to put a man on the street – which Sophie was thrilled about, by the way – so I think we’ll be fine there.”

  “I don’t think most people would jump from vandalizing a car to threatening a person, but I’m glad you’ll have backup,” James said. “What else is wrong?”

  “What makes you think something else is wrong?”

  “You’ve got your serious face on,” James answered. “I can tell something is bothering you. Now, we could do what we usually do and I could watch you pout for two hours until you finally can’t take it and you tell me what’s going on, or you can just tell me now and save me the headache.”

  “Something weird happened with Peter this morning,” Grady said, taking James by surprise with his fortitude.

  “He didn’t threaten to make you disappear if you didn’t stop doing the nasty with his daughter, did he?”

  “This is serious,” Grady said, refusing to crack a smile. “I told him about the boxes of Sophie’s stuff. What I haven’t told you yet is that Sophie had a good reaction to the photo and then had a terrible reaction to the jewelry box.”

  “I’m going to need more details than that.”

  “She didn’t want to touch it,” Grady said. “She looked horrified by the prospect. It was like the box turned into a giant spider or something.”

  “That’s weird, I agree, but this is probably emotional for Sophie,” James said. “Maybe it just got to be too much for her and she needed a break.”

  “That’s what I thought at first, too,” Grady said. “Then I told Peter what happened and he couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. He told me I would regret digging into this and to leave it alone.”

  “Huh,” James muttered, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “What do you think that means?”

  “I have no idea,” Grady said. “I desperately want to look in that jewelry box, but I fought the urge. I can’t invade Sophie’s privacy twice in the same week. It’s killing me, though.”

  “Well, I’m proud of you for refraining from being a douche,” James said. “Give Sophie time. I’m willing to place a substantial wager that she’ll tell you what’s bothering her if you give her enough time to come to the decision on her own.”

  “Well … .”

  “Oh, man. What did you do?”

  “I wasn’t a douche about the jewelry box,” Grady said. “I needed something else to keep my mind busy while I was waiting for the car shop to pick up Sophie’s car, though, so I … um … did something worse.”

  “I can’t wait to hear this.”

  “I ran Sophie through our search software,” Grady admitted.

  “What? Why?”

  “Because it occurred to me that not everything in that storage locker was from Sophie’s parents,” Grady replied. “She had other foster homes before Peter, and while she’s never been overly chatty about them, I got the feeling they weren’t great places to live.

  “The thing is, Sophie has never spoken in anything other than glowing terms when it comes to her parents,” he continued. “She clams up when I ask about the other foster homes, though. I thought there was an off chance the jewelry box was from one of the foster homes.”

  “I’m not sure how you made that leap.”

  “That’s not a small child’s jewelry box,” Grady said. “It was velvet with little sequins on it. That was more of a teenager’s jewelry box … or even like a tween’s jewelry box.”

  “Okay, I can kind of see that,” James said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “You’re saying you think she’s hiding something horrible that happened to her at one of these foster homes. Do you really want to crack that door open in case it’s something … really bad?”

  Grady knew exactly what his brother was getting at. “I don’t know,” he said. “I shouldn’t have run the search, and yet I did.”

  “Well, it’s done,” James said. “You never have to tell her. We can put it behind us.”

  “Yeah, that’s easier said than done,” Grady said. “I found something.”

  James’ eyebrows flew up his forehead. “What?”

  “I found a sealed file from when she was ten,” Grady said. “It was sealed by the family court system and I don’t have the authorization to open it.”

  “Oh, Grady,” James muttered, shaking his head. “You’ve really fouled this one up.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  10

  Ten

  “Hey, baby. How is the most beautiful and kind woman in the world?”

  Mandy glanced up from her desk, surprised by the sound of James’ voice, and looked around as if she was searching for hidden cameras. “What did you do?”

  James and Grady exchanged a rueful smile.

  “I told you,” James said.

  “Well, maybe if you didn’t lay it on so thick,” Grady said “You probably would’ve been fine with the first part. Adding the second part made her suspicious. She knows you too well to believe you would spout that nonsense without a reason.”

  Mandy furrowed her brow. “I’m pretty sure I should be insulted.”

  “Don’t listen to him, baby,” James said, moving around Mandy’s tall desk so he could join her on the other side. His eyes briefly drifted to the hem of her skirt and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was wearing underwear. He had a thing for her garter belts and pencil skirts, and he’d managed to bring a few fantasies to fruition in his wife’s tiny office over the course of their marriage. “What was I saying?”

  “I have no idea what you were saying, but I know exactly what you were thinking,” Mandy said, tugging her skirt lower to make sure her thighs were completely covered. “I told you last time that it was the last time. I will not be caught having sex in this office again.”

  Grady rolled his eyes. “You are such a pig, man.”

  “Oh, please,” James scoffed. “If Sophie had an office you’d be all over it. Don’t hate on me because you’re jealous.”

  Mandy dropped the ink pen she’d been using on top of the final file she needed to close for the day and crossed her arms over her chest as she regarded her husband and brother-in-law. She’d known both of them for the better part of her life since she was best friends with their younger sister, Ally. Even if she wasn’t married to James, she would know he was up to something.

  “Why are you here?” Mandy asked. “I’m not in danger, so there’s no reason to show up and taxi me home.”

  “Yes, it’s been a glorious three weeks, hasn’t it?” James said. “I haven’t had one near heart a
ttack regarding your safety. I think we should celebrate. Grady, get out.”

  Grady cuffed the back of James’ head as Mandy snickered. “I don’t care how much you beg and plead, I’m not doing anything filthy with you,” Mandy said. “Now, I have a hard time believing you brought your brother as a witness, if that’s really what you have on your mind. Are you a deviant?”

  James was properly chagrined. “No.”

  “Do you want your brother to see me naked while we have sex?”

  “No.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time,” Grady interjected, earning a stern look from both of them. “What? I saw you going at it on the pool table that one day and I saw you going at it in the hot tub. Oh, and I saw you between rounds of going at it just a few weeks ago when Mandy got all horny because of that shark projector you got her.”

  Grady’s voice was loud enough to carry into the hallway, and when a passing lawyer glanced into the office – his eyes wide and interested – Mandy slapped her hand over her eyes and James pointed at the door to prod Grady to shut it.

  “I’m sorry, baby,” James said, resting his hand on her shoulder. “I probably should’ve warned Grady about inappropriate things he shouldn’t say in the workplace. Our workplace doesn’t have stringent rules like this one.”

  “I know you’re playing a game because you think it’s cute, but I actually like having a decent reputation,” Mandy snapped, taking James by surprise. “I don’t like being known as the courthouse slut.”

  James’ expression softened. “Baby, no one thinks that.”

  “They all think it, James,” Mandy argued. “A few of them have even said it. They think that’s how I nabbed you. Apparently my new reputation has me being very kinky in bed.”

  Even if James had been mildly flirting with the idea of remaining behind to seduce Mandy once he finished his mission with Grady, he immediately pushed those thoughts out of his mind. “I’m sorry. I … didn’t think … how this would reflect on you.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Mandy said, averting her eyes as she lowered her head. “I only have a few months left, right? I used to be respected here, but I’ve lost it now. I won’t be here for the long haul so it doesn’t matter.”

  James’ heart rolled. He hated it when his wife was unhappy. “Baby, I’ll figure out a way to fix it.”

  “It doesn’t matter, James,” Mandy said. “It’s already too late.” She snapped her attention to Grady. “Since you’re both here, I’m guessing you need a favor. What is it?”

  “It’s nothing,” James said, pushing himself away from the desk. “What we were going to ask is inappropriate, and I’m not going to do it. I’m sorry we came here. I’ll pick up dinner and wait for you at home. What do you want?”

  “I’m not really hungry,” Mandy answered. “Pick out whatever you want and I’ll be fine.”

  James didn’t believe that for a second. He knew his wife’s mannerisms well enough to know that she was ticked. She didn’t want to cause a scene in the courthouse, though, so she would wait until they were home before unleashing her building fury.

  “We can’t leave until we ask her,” Grady interjected. “It’s important to me. I have to know.”

  “No, Grady,” James said, vehemently shaking his head. “I won’t put my wife in this position. We’ll find another way to get the information.”

  “There is no other way,” Grady argued. “We both know it. Mandy is our only shot.”

  “Then we’re done,” James said. “I’m not going to let you pressure her into doing something that’s going to upset her.”

  “You’ve already upset her,” Grady pointed out. “What have you got to lose?”

  “My spot in the bed when she goes nuclear tonight,” James hissed. “I’m going to have to beg and plead as it is. You’re not forcing this issue. It’s not her fault that you snooped in Sophie’s history and need help unraveling a mystery. Let it go.”

  Mandy narrowed her eyes, curiosity and suspicion warring for supremacy in her mind. Finally she settled on suspicion. “Is this an act?”

  “No,” James said. “It’s a mistake. We shouldn’t have come here. I don’t know how I let Grady talk me into this.”

  “Talk you into this?” Grady scoffed. “You were the one excited to find out if she’s wearing underwear.”

  Mandy’s expression was murderous when James risked a look in her direction.

  “Baby, you knew when you married me that I say incredibly dumb things and leap before I look a lot of the time,” James said. “You also know that I love you more than anything and I’m always sorry when I do something stupid. I’m officially sorry.”

  “And I’m officially annoyed,” Mandy said. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I think that’s a bad idea because I’m already in trouble,” James admitted. “I would rather not compound the issue.”

  “Tell me what’s going on or I’m going to call security and have them bar you from future visits – and that includes if my life is in danger, which we all know will eventually happen.”

  James narrowed his eyes. “You play dirty, wife.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Sophie had a bad reaction to a jewelry box we found in her storage unit and Grady got it in his head that something horrible happened to her as a child and it’s somehow associated with that box,” James said. “Like a complete and total moron, he ran a search on Sophie and found a sealed file from a foster home when she was younger. He wants you to open it.”

  Mandy’s mouth dropped open, horrified realization washing over her.

  “Nice, man,” Grady said, bobbing his head as he took in Mandy’s furious features. “You’re definitely sleeping alone tonight.”

  “Are you two somehow defective?” Mandy asked, finally finding her voice. “Did you honestly think you could come down here and ask me to unseal a file that you have no business looking at?”

  “Yes,” James admitted, guileless. “Although it’s probably not for the reasons you think.”

  “And what reasons would compel me to do this illegal act for you?”

  “Love,” Grady replied simply. “Sophie freaked out when she saw that jewelry box. I love her more than anything. I want her to be happy.”

  Mandy’s face remained remote and cold for a few seconds, and then it softened. “Dammit! That was a good answer. Fine. I’ll unseal it. If this comes back to bite you, though, I’m not going to feel bad for you .”

  “Duly noted,” Grady said, moving to join James and Mandy behind his sister-in-law’s desk as she logged into the family court records.

  James moved to rub the back of Mandy’s neck, but she jerked away. “Baby, come on,” James pleaded. “I don’t want to fight.”

  “Oh, we’re going to fight,” Mandy said, squinting as she navigated through multiple windows in search of Sophie’s sealed file. “You have no idea how much we’re going to fight.”

  “Can we make up before bed?”

  “No.”

  “Baby, you know I can’t sleep without you,” James said, his tone approaching petulant child territory. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you. I’m really sorry for letting Grady embarrass you. I promise I’ll make it up to you if you give me a chance.”

  “Shut up, James,” Mandy said, typing a password into a window and watching with grim curiosity as Sophie’s file opened up. “Here it is.”

  “What does it say?” Grady asked.

  Mandy locked gazes with the middle Hardy brother. “Do you really want to know? You can never take this back. You know that, right?”

  “I don’t want to know. I have to know.”

  “Okay,” Mandy said, exhaling heavily as she leaned forward to read the file. “Oh, my … oh.”

  “What does it say?” Grady was beside himself.

  “Sophie’s third foster home was supposed to be permanent,” Mandy said, her eyes busy as she scanned the horrific details of Sophie’s short stay in a terrible home. “Will a
nd Bree Jordan were considered pillars of their community. In reality, Will was an abusive jackass.”

  “Did he … touch her?” Grady choked out.

  “No, not in the way you mean,” Mandy answered. “He beat her several times for minor infractions in the house – usually with a belt – and then one night he got drunk and hit her three times and she lost consciousness.”

  Grady felt sick to his stomach, and this time when James rested his hand on Mandy’s shoulder she didn’t fight the effort.

  “Apparently Will thought he killed Sophie, because he dragged her down the stairs by looping a belt around her neck and left her on the main floor,” Mandy said, fighting off tears. “Sophie was unconscious for hours and a neighbor happened to see her on the floor when Bree opened the door and the neighbor was walking by.

  “The neighbor called the police and they collected Sophie and arrested the Jordans,” she continued. “Sophie was in the hospital for three weeks and placed with Peter shortly after that.”

  “That is horrible,” James muttered. “Please tell me those people are still in prison.”

  “I don’t have access to that information,” Mandy said. “I just have the family court records.”

  “I don’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me that,” Grady said, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead as his stomach churned. “It’s horrible, but … I would’ve talked it out with her. I would’ve understood.”

  “Sophie is a private person, Grady,” Mandy said. “Sometimes people prefer pretending things didn’t happen rather than admitting the world can be a terrible place and the reason they know that is because it was terrible to them.”

  “Still, though … I love her.”

  “She loves you, too, Grady,” Mandy said, sympathy rolling off her. “This is going to hurt her, though.”

  “Don’t tell her you know,” James suggested. “She’ll pick a huge fight if you tell her you know. Find a way to sucker her into telling you. That’s your best shot.”

  Mandy scowled. “You’re definitely sleeping on the couch.”

  “Oh, baby,” James whined. “I can’t be away from you. If you try, I’ll sleep on the bedroom floor.”