“We all wish that would’ve happened, sweetie,” Finn said, slinging an arm over his fiancée’s shoulders. “I wish the Terminator would’ve been there.”
Since Emma’s father was a notorious child molester who didn’t leave his own children untouched, everyone spent a few moments picking a favorite movie bad guy to deliver retribution before turning to the conversation at hand.
“How was your day with your bodyguard, wife?” James asked, turning his attention to Mandy in an attempt to alleviate the sudden pall that had settled over the room. “He didn’t romance you, did he?”
“Ned was a gentleman,” Mandy said, smiling ruefully. “We did talk about art and he taught me a neat trick for doing tree branches. I’m going to try it tomorrow.”
“That’s good,” James said. “Since painting is so sexy I was worried he would try to get you naked.”
“Painting is only sexy when we do it together.”
“It’s sexy when I watch you do it, too,” James countered.
“You think everything she does is sexy,” Grady said. “You once told me that you got turned on watching her type in the courtroom.”
“I secretly told you that,” James snapped. “Secretly.”
Mandy arched a challenging eyebrow. “Watching me type turns you on?”
“I like watching you in court,” James clarified. “Those pencil skirts and your serious face make me think naughty thoughts. Sue me.”
“How about I dress up for you later instead?”
James grinned. “Will you wear the skirt with garters, but sans underwear?”
Mandy nodded.
“Everyone eat and compare notes quickly,” James ordered. “My wife needs to type something very important later.”
“You’re so sick,” Grady muttered.
Once everyone was settled around the table the conversation turned to more important – and serious – matters.
“What did you find, Jake?”
“I found that the college kids working at these haunted houses are annoying,” Jake replied, furrowing his brow. “The men weren’t willing to talk … about anything. They accused me of being a narc. Me! Can you believe that?”
“I can’t fathom it, Whipped Jake,” Grady said, grinning as he bit into a slice of pizza.
Ally shot him a dark look. “Don’t go there, Grady.”
“How is the painting?” Sophie asked, her eyes twinkling. “Is it hanging or hidden in the basement?”
“It’s hanging,” Ally replied. “I happen to love it.”
“I can’t believe you hung that painting,” Grady chortled. “You really are whipped.”
“Do you want me to tell you about all the sex I had with your sister last night?” Jake threatened.
“No!” James vehemently shook his head. “I think you look great in the painting.”
“That’s what I thought,” Jake said, puffing out his chest. “Where was I?”
“College students suck,” Ally supplied, patting his thigh under the table.
“Thank you, angel,” Jake said, returning to his recap. “Anyway, after I decided the male kids were never going to help me, I flirted with a couple of the girls to get answers.”
Mandy glanced at her best friend, worry clouding her features. “Should you be saying that in front of Ally?”
“It’s fine,” Ally said, waving off her concern. “He’s allowed to flirt for information.”
“That’s a fun precedent,” James said. “Baby, am I allowed to flirt for information?”
“Do what you want,” Mandy replied.
James looked dubious.
“Do what you want as long as you want to sleep alone,” Mandy clarified.
James smirked. “That’s what I thought. Continue with your story, Jake. You can leave out the flirting reenactments.”
Jake rolled his eyes but plowed on. “Some of the girls did think that a blond guy with blue eyes sounded familiar, but a lot of them are day laborers. They show up when they want money but don’t have specific schedules. They all said it would be possible for someone to grab a woman during a show without anyone seeing because those places are dark and someone might assume it’s part of a show because they’re never aware of what everyone else is doing.”
“I guess that makes sense,” James said. “Still … that’s odd to me. What about you, Finn?”
“I talked to two of the missing girls’ roommates,” Finn said. “Both of the women were at parties on the nights they disappeared. The roommates said they saw them one minute, they left for one reason or another, and when they came back the women were gone.
“They told me they assumed they left with someone, but when they didn’t show back up the next day they got worried and called police,” he continued. “No one saw specific men with the women. No one has heard anything since. It’s as if they just fell off the face of the Earth.”
“That’s terrible,” Emma said.
“It is,” Finn agreed. “What about you, Grady?”
Grady told everyone about his meeting with Morgan, wrapping up with the agreement to share information and keep in touch. “He’s going to raid Gunderson’s house tomorrow,” he said. “If Peter plans on going back, you might want to warn him off for a day, sugar.”
“I’ll call him as soon as I’m done eating,” Sophie said. “I don’t think he would be stupid enough to return there, but it can’t hurt to warn him.”
“Other than watching Peter go all Clint Eastwood on the greasy drug dealer, what else did you see?” Jake asked James.
“It was … interesting,” James said. “Gunderson is a bad liar. I think he honestly thought he was going to be able to dictate terms to Peter. When that didn’t happen, he fell off the rails pretty quickly.”
“Meaning?”
“Peter was … icy,” James said. “He knew exactly how to approach the situation and he unnerved Gunderson from the very beginning.”
“Your man crush is showing,” Mandy teased.
James squeezed her knee under the table. “He told Gunderson he either had to stop selling Twilight or be wiped off the map.”
“Wow,” Emma said, exhaling heavily. “Do you think he would really do that?”
“You’ve only seen the warm and fuzzy side of Peter,” Sophie said. “Trust me. He would do that and more if he deems it necessary. What else did he do?”
“He told Gunderson he wanted the women returned and the location of any of the bodies of the women who died,” James said. “He also demanded that Mandy’s assailant be turned over to him.”
“What did Gunderson say to that?”
“Gunderson was trying to negotiate while lying about his involvement,” James replied. “It was interesting to watch. He kept acting like he knew what was going on, but then denying his involvement with the next breath.”
“What did Peter do?”
“He basically told him to shut up and listen,” James said. “I’m not joking, and I know this makes me sound like a total fanboy, but I was in awe. I want to be Peter when I grow up.”
“You’re so cute with your little crush,” Mandy teased.
“Mandy should do a painting of you and Peter for your office,” Grady suggested. “Peter can wear a hat like Clint Eastwood and you can stare at him adoringly – like Whipped Jake.”
“I will beat you,” Jake warned.
Grady winked at him. “Shouldn’t you be worshipping my sister?”
“I do that every night,” Jake shot back.
“Okay, stop grossing me out,” James said, holding up his hand. “I can only take so much.”
“Let’s go back to talking about James’ man crush on Peter,” Jake suggested. “I like that conversation much more than the one about the painting.”
“Stop hating on the painting,” Ally ordered.
“Was that all?” Grady asked, focusing on James.
“He also ordered Gunderson to make sure Winona stayed away from Sophie and turn over the guys dosing
drinks at the bar,” James said.
Sophie straightened, surprised. “He did? How did he even know about that?”
James shrugged. “I assumed you told him.”
Sophie shook her head, her dark waves brushing against her shoulders. “I would never tell him something like that. He would freak.”
“I have no idea how he found out,” James said, turning his palms up.
“Let’s talk about Whipped Jake,” Grady suggested.
Sophie turned her suspicious eyes to Grady. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world, sugar.”
“Those are fighting words at this table,” James warned. “Although, I think you’re about to have your own fight so I’m going to let it go.”
“Thanks so much,” Grady deadpanned, his eyes widening to comical proportions.
“Did you tell Peter what happened at the bar that night, Grady?”
Grady licked his lips, unsure how to answer. “Um … .”
“Why?” Sophie was incensed. “Did you want to upset him?”
“No,” Grady protested. “I was already upset. It was the night you took Sven and Gregario out as your backup when you met Winona. Peter and I had a long talk about … things.”
“What things?”
“You know very well what things,” Grady snapped. “I was upset.”
“So you told on me?”
“No,” Grady said. “I explained to him why I was frustrated and … I don’t know … he’s a good listener. I honestly didn’t realize what I was doing.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t realize it was going to be such a big deal,” Grady replied. “I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”
Sophie sighed as she rubbed her forehead. “I don’t understand why he didn’t ask me about it.”
“He probably knew it would be a sore subject,” James offered. “Mandy and I don’t talk about her wandering off in Hell House for the same reason.”
“I didn’t mean to wander off,” Mandy grumbled.
“See,” James said, reaching over and rubbing her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have brought that up. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, Mandy, remember when he had sex with you and then walked away in the middle of the night?” Ally asked. “Whenever he tries to be a douche and bring up you walking away at the haunted house, just remind him of that.”
“Thank you, Ally,” James snapped.
“You’re welcome.” Ally smiled brightly.
“I’m sorry, baby,” James said. “It worked out all right. I heard you scream for me and I got to you in time. I should never have brought it up again. I just know it’s going to ruin my typing fantasy later.”
When James risked a glance in Mandy’s direction there was no anger on her face. Instead, her forehead was wrinkled with confusion. “What do you mean you heard me scream for you?”
“At the haunted house,” James said. “It was faint, but I heard you scream. That’s how I knew to run to you.”
“I didn’t hear it,” Grady supplied. “He has supersonic hearing.”
“But I didn’t scream for you,” Mandy said. “I … tried. I opened my mouth, but no sound would come out. I was screaming for you in my head, but I never managed to actually do it.”
James stilled, surprised. “I heard you.”
“You couldn’t have.”
“Holy crap,” Ally said, clapping her hands excitedly. “You heard her in your head, James. You’re psychically connected now.”
James snorted. “I don’t believe in that.”
“How do you explain hearing her scream in her mind?” Ally challenged.
“I … .” James opened his mouth to answer but instead turned his thoughtful expression to his wife. “I don’t know.”
Mandy looked equally troubled. “I don’t know what to think. I was crying for you in my head and then you appeared. I managed to say your name when I saw you, but just barely. That’s how I knew I was going to be okay.”
James reached over and snagged her hand, rubbing her knuckles softly. “Maybe you screamed and didn’t realize it.”
“If I had screamed that guy would’ve run right then,” Mandy pointed out. “He didn’t run because he thought he had me. He didn’t think anyone was coming for me.”
“Okay, I’m officially weirded out,” James admitted.
“Me, too,” Mandy said.
“Well, it has finally happened,” Grady said. “You two are so codependent you’ve actually turned psychic for one another. You should definitely have your own television show.”
“You should shut up while you’re ahead,” Sophie warned, shooting him a dubious look. “You’ve managed to irritate pretty much everyone at this table.”
Grady grinned. “Well, I guess my work here is done.”
Twenty-One
Mandy was still mulling the ramifications of James’ words when they were alone later in their bedroom. After washing her face and stripping out of her clothes, she found James sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked as thoughtful as she felt.
When James heard her move into the room he pasted an expectant look on his face. “Not that I’m complaining – and never once think I want you to put clothes on when you’re already naked – but I thought you were dressing up to do some naughty typing for me.”
“I can,” Mandy said, looking him up and down. He’d removed his clothes as well and was sitting at the end of the bed. “I … did you really hear me scream?”
James sighed, chuckling as he shook his head. “Yes. I knew you were going to fixate on this.”
“I’m not fixating on it,” Mandy said, her face serious. “I just … I don’t know what to think. I swear I didn’t scream for you. I tried. I did. I knew I was in trouble.”
“We haven’t really talked about that part of it,” James said, working hard to ignore her nudity as she stood in front of him. “What were you thinking when it happened?”
“I wasn’t scared, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Mandy replied. “I thought he was part of the crew working Hell House. It wasn’t until I was moving past him and I felt … pain … in my neck that I knew something was wrong.”
James didn’t look happy with her answer. “See, that’s what worries me most about you, wife,” he said. “You weren’t afraid of the stranger in a mask.”
“We were at a haunted house.”
“I know that,” James said. “Emma wouldn’t have gone near him, though. Ally, despite her bravado, wouldn’t have separated from Jake because the house scared her. She was never in a vulnerable position. Sophie admitted she was scared. Even if she got separated, though, she wouldn’t have gotten close enough to that guy to let him inject her.
“You, on the other hand, didn’t even think twice about walking right past him,” he continued. “You weren’t scared until it was already too late.”
“I’m sorry,” Mandy said, her face serious. “I don’t want to give you a reason to worry. I never want that. It just keeps happening. Maybe I am cursed.”
“Who said you were cursed?”
“Grady says it all the time.”
“Grady is an idiot,” James said. “Don’t listen to Grady. He’s a moron and he bugs the crap out of me sometimes.”
“Grady is your best friend,” Mandy countered. “You value his opinion.”
“I value his opinion and yet I know when he’s trying to get under my skin,” James corrected. “You’ve known him long enough to recognize when he’s doing that to you, too. Don’t let him bother you, baby. You’re not cursed.”
“Every time I look at you I think I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
“You are,” James teased, winking at her before sobering. “Every time I look at you, wife, I know I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“Why do you think you knew I was in trouble?”
“Because you’re always in trouble.” James was going
for levity, but when his joke fell flat he knew Mandy was looking for a different answer. “I don’t know, baby. I just knew.”
“If I tell you something, you have to promise not to make fun of me and hold it over my head forever.”
James grinned. “What?”
“The idea that you knew I was in trouble makes me feel … like we’re somehow joined,” Mandy replied.
“We are joined. If we were any more joined we would be sewn together at the … hip.”
Now it was Mandy’s turn to smile. “You were going to say something else,” she said. “You were going to say we would be sewn together at the groin. Admit it.”
“I will admit nothing of the sort,” James said, sensing the immediate emotional crisis had passed. “I do know my heart is joined to yours and it always will be.”
“That’s a schmaltzy sentiment.”
“Maybe I’m feeling schmaltzy,” James said. “When you were unconscious in the hospital, you were whimpering and I was doing my best to hold you still so they wouldn’t strap you down. The idea of that happening was too much for me.
“I rolled you on your side and pulled you tight against me,” he continued. “I pressed your head against my heart. Your blood pressure was spiking and you immediately started getting better when you heard my heart. Do you know what that says to me?”
“That I love you?”
“That we’re destined for a lifetime together, baby,” James replied. “You recognized my heart even though you were lost in your own head. You let me hold you and didn’t put up a fight. You gave in and let me love you and take care of you.
“Now, if you’re asking me to believe that I psychically heard you scream in your head for me, I’m not sure I can do that,” he admitted. “I believe part of me recognized that you were in trouble, though. My heart knew I couldn’t live without you and I was in danger of having to do just that.
“So, did I psychically hear you? I have no idea,” James said. “I do know that souls connect, though. Mine is joined with yours, just like my heart is joined with yours. Is that a good enough explanation for you?”
Deadly Dealings (Hardy Brothers Security Book 13) Page 16
