“That’s love,” Grady said, pushing his door open. “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”
“I can’t wait to see this schmuck’s face.”
MARCUS Gibson sat in front of his computer screen and studied the information he’d managed to dig up. He dipped his fries into the mountain of ketchup and frowned. He was out of a time and now he had no choice but to follow through on his promise.
He moved to get up but stilled when he saw the two men standing on the other side of the living room. The one with long hair had his gun drawn and leveled at Marcus’ chest. The one with shorter hair but more intense eyes merely clutched his gun at his side.
“Well … crap.”
“You can say that again,” the longhaired man said.
“SIT down,” James instructed, pointing toward the chair Marcus was trying to vacate.
“Are you cops?” Marcus asked, confused. They didn’t look like cops to him. That didn’t necessarily mean anything, though. There were guys in the joint who looked like women and yet they had penises. That was frustrating on a whole other level.
“Sit down,” James repeated.
Marcus did as instructed, resting the palms of his hands against his knees. “If you’re not cops, who are you? We might be able to work out a deal.”
“We’re going to ask you questions, you’re going to answer them, and then we’re taking you to the cops,” James replied. “There will be no deal.”
“I don’t see how that benefits me,” Marcus replied, nonplussed.
“Well, if you don’t answer the questions, then I’m going to smack you around,” James offered. “The benefit to you is not getting hurt.”
“You make a compelling argument,” Marcus said, sighing heavily. “What do you want to know?”
“Where is Lance Pritchard?”
Marcus stilled, surprised. “You’re here about Pritchard? Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Pritchard is an animal and we want to put him down,” James explained. “You’re an animal, too. You’re not an animal we care about, though.”
“I don’t know where Pritchard is,” Marcus said. “I can’t help you.”
“I don’t believe you,” James charged. “For argument’s sake, though, when was the last time you saw him?”
“Two hours after we escaped.”
“You’ve managed to stay under the radar since running,” Grady pointed out. “Why did you stick around the area? You would’ve had a better shot if you fled the state.”
“I had a job to do,” Marcus said, laughing hollowly. “It’s kind of weird that you guys showed up when you did. I finally geared myself up to do the job, and then you guys arrived at the perfect time to stop me. I’m kind of relieved.”
James and Grady exchanged a dubious look.
“You’re relieved to go back to prison?” James challenged. “That doesn’t sound likely.”
“I’m relieved not to have to do my job,” Marcus corrected. “There’s a difference.”
“Okay, I’ll play your game,” James said. “What is your job?”
“I have to kill a woman.”
James’ eyebrows flew up his forehead. “Excuse me? Are you actually admitting to us that you were about to go out and commit a murder?”
“It’s either that or die myself,” Marcus replied, his face unreadable. “You guys saved me from having to kill someone. I guess I owe you.”
“Who were you going to kill?”
“Audrey Lassiter.”
James made a face. “Should I know that name?”
Grady was one step ahead of his brother. “Is Audrey Lassiter married to the Jackson prison’s warden?”
James’ face drained of color. “Crap. That’s where I know that name from.”
“She is,” Marcus confirmed. “She’s about to be his ex-wife, and Lassiter doesn’t want to pay child support or give up half his pension.”
Things started clicking in place for James. “Lassiter helped facilitate your escape, didn’t he?”
“He did,” Marcus said. “He arranged for DeAngelo and myself to be in the right place at the right time. DeAngelo screwed up and killed the guard, though, so the whole plan was shot to hell from the start.”
“What about Lupo and Pritchard?” Grady asked. “Were they supposed to be part of this?”
“Pritchard was,” Marcus replied. “Lassiter wanted him to escape with us because he knew that the cops would focus on him over us. Lupo just hitched a ride. He was always an idiot, so it doesn’t surprise me that he was the first one caught.”
“Lassiter wanted Pritchard on the outside to draw attention,” James said. “You and DeAngelo were supposed to kill his wife. You didn’t, though. Why?”
“I never wanted to kill anyone,” Marcus explained. “I just wanted out. I’m a small guy. I was … popular … inside. I didn’t want to keep going through that.”
James realized what he was referring to. “I’m sorry about that,” he said, surprised to find he actually meant the words. “Why did you and DeAngelo separate?”
“After DeAngelo killed the guard, he knew that there was nothing he could do but die or run,” Marcus supplied. “He didn’t want to die, but he didn’t know how to run. He decided to ignore Lassiter’s orders and hang around so he could see his sister. I think he knew he was going to get caught.”
“Why do you think DeAngelo didn’t tell the truth when he was captured?”
“He’s probably sitting on the information until he can use it to his advantage,” Marcus said. “He thinks I’m going to kill the wife and then he’ll have all the ammunition he needs to make a deal.”
“Do you really think you would’ve done that?” James asked.
Marcus shrugged. “I’ve been putting it off for days,” he said. “Lassiter tracked me down through a prepaid cell phone he had waiting for me in the laundry truck, though. I should’ve dumped it, but it was the only thing I had once I ran.
“I still don’t know why I answered it when it rang,” he continued. “I’ve been hiding out for days with no one to talk to. It’s funny, but when I was being … used … inside, all I wanted was to be alone. Once I was outside, the loneliness was overwhelming.”
“Do you have any idea where Lance Pritchard is?” James asked. “It’s important. We’ll do what we can and help you go to another prison if you tell us the truth. We’ll make sure you’re not put in Lassiter’s care again.”
Marcus sighed and shifted his hand to the computer keyboard, tapping his finger against the side lightly. “Pritchard is a disgusting piece of filth, so I don’t feel guilty about telling you this,” he said. “Lassiter has been helping him hide. He knew that the longer Pritchard was on the outside, the more people would focus on him instead of me.”
“Lassiter told our man he thought he was going to lose his job,” Grady interjected. “He had to know this was going to go bad.”
“I think he believes that his wife’s death at my hands will somehow vindicate him,” Marcus said. “All that public hate will turn to sympathy when Audrey Lassiter is murdered.”
“And then he’ll get to keep his money and his job,” James surmised. “Jake was right about not trusting him. I can’t wait to take that jackass down.”
“Join the club,” Grady said, keeping his gaze fixed on Marcus. “How is Lassiter helping Pritchard? Where is Pritchard staying?”
“Lassiter has a cabin on Lake St. Clair out in Chesterfield Township,” Marcus replied. “It’s close to Twenty-Two Mile Road. I can’t be more specific than that. Pritchard has been hiding out there.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Marcus said, nodding. “He’s supposed to stay there during the day and only leave at night, but he hasn’t been doing what he was told to do either.”
“That’s because Lassiter can’t control Pritchard,” James said. “Pritchard manipulated Lassiter into thinking he would act as a pawn when Lassiter was actually his pawn all alon
g. Pritchard doesn’t care about furthering Lassiter’s cause. He cares about getting his hands on his daughter.”
“I can verify that,” Marcus said. “All Pritchard talked about during the escape was using and abusing his kid. He’s sick. I don’t want that to happen to anyone. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do,” James said, surprising sympathy washing over him. “Okay, come on. We’ll make sure you’re kept in isolation at the county jail until Lassiter is taken into custody. I can’t promise things are going to be good for you, but I promise to fight and make sure things are better.”
“That’s nice of you,” Marcus said. “I’m not going back, though. I would rather die.” He reached up and pressed a button on the laptop. “I’m really sorry.”
“What did you just do?” Grady asked.
“The house is wired with explosives I stole from the construction site around the corner,” Marcus said. “You have twenty seconds to get out. Well, actually about fifteen now. I would hurry if I were you.”
James and Grady exchanged a look and then broke into a run. There was something about Marcus’ defeated demeanor that told them he wasn’t making it up. They raced through the front door and jumped toward the spotty grass on the front lawn.
James and Grady hit the ground hard, momentarily relieved.
“I think we … .”
Grady didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Instead of announcing they were safe and probably faked out by a convict, his words were drowned out by a deafening explosion.
James and Grady rolled to their stomachs, covering their heads, and waited for the debris to stop falling. It seems Marcus Gibson wasn’t bluffing after all.
Twenty-One
“Well, this has been a great afternoon,” Grady said, rolling over to his back and staring at the blackening sky. “You really do take me to the nicest places. You’re the best big brother ever!”
“The house blew up,” James muttered.
“I was there. I saw it.”
“Do you think Marcus really sat there and blew himself up?” James asked, the far-off wailing sirens causing him to cringe.
“I think he wasn’t going back to prison for anything,” Grady replied. “I can’t say I blame him.”
“We’re about to get ourselves into a whole lot of trouble,” James pointed out, resigned. “You need to call Sheriff Morgan before they get here and I’ll call Jake. We need to get out to that cabin on Lake St. Clair – and we need to make sure Sophie and Mandy know we’re okay before they hear about this secondhand.”
“That’s a good idea,” Grady said, digging for his phone. “We’re probably going to be arrested.”
“I’ll make sure Jake brings bail money.”
“Oh, the fun we Hardys have,” Grady sang as he pressed his phone to his ear.
“ALLY, put all that stuff in the refrigerator and come with me,” Jake ordered, walking into the kitchen. “We have to go over to Oakland County.”
Mandy and Ally jolted at the sound of his voice. They knew something serious had happened without voicing a single question.
“What’s going on?” Finn asked, walking into the kitchen with Emma.
“We have big updates,” Jake said, glancing around. “Some of what I’m about to tell you is very good. Some of what I’m about to tell you is going to freak you out.”
“I think I’d better sit down,” Emma said, sliding onto one of the dining room chairs and raising her dark eyes expectantly. “Please tell me the good news is that they’ve either captured my father or that he’s dead.”
“I can’t tell you that yet,” Jake cautioned. “We know where he’s holed up, though. We’re getting people together to move, but before that happens we have to go to Oakland County and bail James and Grady out of jail.”
Mandy frowned. “What?”
“Before I explain what happened, James wanted me to tell you that he’s absolutely fine and not to freak out,” Jake said.
“That’s not helping,” Mandy said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Okay, Sheriff Morgan called Grady and James into his office to talk this morning,” Jake launched into his tale. “You already know that.”
“Yes, that’s how I got stuck listening to you and Ally argue for an hour in the grocery store,” Mandy said.
“I’m going to make a roast for you and the baby tonight,” Ally announced to Emma.
“That sounds nice,” Emma said, although she didn’t look thrilled with the prospect. Apparently Ally had forgotten she was a vegetarian.
“Go back to James,” Mandy ordered.
“Morgan gave them some crap about being in the middle of all this prisoner escape stuff,” Jake said. “He also admitted to watching the house and security business because they’re desperate to be the ones to catch Pritchard. Morgan needs the boost for his political aspirations.”
“I am this close to killing you if you don’t tell me what happened to James,” Mandy warned, holding her fingers in front of Jake’s face for emphasis.
“Morgan said that all the local law enforcement heads are in the middle of a pissing contest,” Jake said. “He gave Grady and James a tip on where to find Marcus Gibson. It happened to be in Oakland County. He wanted them to grab Marcus and bring him back to Macomb County, and he said they could ask him any questions they liked during the trip back.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Finn said, excited. “Did they find him?”
“They did,” Jake confirmed. “They didn’t have a lot of time to talk, but James gave me the basics. The warden is the one who facilitated the escape. He’s in the middle of a divorce and he wanted DeAngelo to kill his wife.”
“What?” Mandy was dumbfounded. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“I wish I was,” Jake said. “Lassiter allowed Pritchard to be part of it because he thought everyone would be focusing on him instead of the other convicts. Apparently Lupo wasn’t even supposed to be there.
“DeAngelo was supposed to incapacitate the guard, not kill him, and when he screwed up DeAngelo opted not to kill Lassiter’s wife and instead took off on his own,” he continued. “Lassiter got Marcus on the phone and ordered him to kill his wife. Apparently he didn’t want to, but he also didn’t want to go back to prison because he’s everyone’s favorite toy behind bars.”
Ally made a face. “Oh, gross. Did you have to tell me that?”
“Marcus gave James and Grady a lot of information, including the location of the cabin where Pritchard has been hiding out,” Jake said. “Then he pressed a button on his computer and told James and Grady to run. They did … and the house blew up.”
“Omigod!” Mandy moved closer. “Is he okay?”
“I told you at the beginning that he was fine,” Jake said, resting his hand on Mandy’s shoulder. “They were outside when the house exploded. Police arrived on the scene shortly after and they’re hopping mad.
“Grady called Sheriff Morgan and he’s on the way to the jail, but we’re not sure how much he’s going to be able to do,” he continued. “We need to go to Oakland County with bail money to get them out. Because they’re trying to be jackasses, we need a different family member to supply bail for each one of your brothers and act as a guardian if we do manage to get them arraigned – which is still up in the air.”
“That’s Finn and me, right?” Ally asked.
Jake nodded. “That leaves Mandy to stay with Emma even though I know she’s about to pitch a righteous fit,” he said. “We don’t have a choice and you have to stay.”
Emma’s face colored. “I can stay alone.”
“Absolutely not,” Finn said. “You heard the doctor today. You could go into labor any second. Someone has to stay with you.”
“Why can’t I serve as James’ family member and Ally as Grady’s?” Mandy asked, refusing to give in.
“That was going to be my original plan until Finn showed up,” Jake admitted. “Once we spring James and Grady, we’re
immediately going with Morgan’s men to the cabin to get Pritchard. This saves time.”
“But … .”
“I know you want to see him, Mandy, but I promise he’s fine,” Jake said. “Think about it. In three hours this could all be over.”
Mandy sighed, resigned. “Okay.”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” Emma said. “I’m perfectly fine. I’m not going into labor right this second.”
“Peter’s men are positioned all around this house,” Jake said. “You’re safe in that regard. You still need someone in this house with you in case the unthinkable happens.”
“He’s right,” Mandy said, tugging on her resolve. Peter’s words from the previous afternoon echoed throughout her mind. She had to do what was right for her family. “Emma and I will be fine. Go and get Pritchard.”
“Thank you,” Jake said, squeezing Mandy’s hand. “I will make sure James calls you during the drive.”
“You do that,” Mandy said. “I … tell him I love him.”
“He already knows that,” Jake said.
Finn pressed a quick kiss to Emma’s forehead and smiled. “It’s going to be safe again very soon, sweetie,” he said. “Hold my son in for a few more hours and then everything is going to be fine.”
“I can’t wait,” Emma said, her eyes shining with tears. “This has been a nightmare, but it’s finally almost over.”
“THIS is such bullshit,” Grady intoned, shooting the Oakland County sheriff’s deputy a dark look as Ally signed his paperwork.
“It says here I’m responsible for your actions,” Ally said. “That means you have to do what I say.”
Grady made a face. “Over my dead body.”
“I can arrange that,” Ally said.
“I want to switch,” Grady said. “Finn needs to sign my paperwork.”
“Then we’ll have to start over at the beginning,” James snapped. “Suck it up.”
“We’re lucky they arraigned you right away,” Jake supplied. “They could’ve kept you overnight.”
“Not if they didn’t want to incur a media firestorm,” Sophie said, walking into the lobby. She threw her arms around Grady’s neck and gave him a long hug. “I’m really mad at you.”
Deadly Arrival (Hardy Brothers Security Book 16) Page 16
