“What about our political connect in Chicago? Maybe he could help lose some of that evidence.”
“Nope, Washington is up for re-election,” Cutter says. “And he won’t touch this case with a ten-foot pole. We offered him ten stacks and he wouldn’t take it.”
“He wouldn’t take a ten-thousand-dollar campaign donation?”
“Turned us down flat.”
I continue to try to troubleshoot.
“Cam, can’t you make the prints go away with a few clicks of a mouse? Isn’t everything stored on an online database?”
“Doesn’t work like that, my friend. First, I’d have to break through the Chicago PD firewall and then I’d have to erase a million different digital footprints so it wouldn’t trace back to us.”
“What’s your friend Kat paying us for this job?” Stone asks.
I guess Cam and Cutter don’t share everything yet with their long-lost brother.
“Enough,” I say.
“Enough to risk Cam breaking into the police department’s database?”
“Hell no,” Cutter chimes in.
“Was she a sex worker?” I ask, trying to figure out an alternative solution. “Maybe we can pay off the witnesses in the apartment building.”
“Negative. She was a dental assistant he met at a hotel bar. The girl’s family already has a GoFundMe campaign up, collecting money for the case and demanding for the killer to be brought to justice. The prosecutor’s office is going full throttle on this,” Stone responds. “The girl was an innocent.”
“Should we pass on this one?” Cutter asks. “I thought we were going to get celebrity clients like Mendez from Kat, not messy ones like this.”
“Clients like Mendez are not fixes, they’re babysitting jobs,” I say. “I’m learning that we’re not going to get a lot of those types of jobs. People hire us to fix the messy shit.”
“Yeah, and just because a job is a little more complicated doesn’t mean we’re going to pass. Kat is paying us a lot of money to get Whitfield back to Miami, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re just going to go old-school to get him out of there,” Camden says.
“So we have to knock a few heads around,” I say matter-of-factly. “Like the old days.”
“Exactly.”
Cutter is right about one thing. I promised that we wouldn’t take on a lot of risky clients like this anymore, but that’s because Kat made me certain assurances too. She said she’d give us cushy fixes for her celebrity clients in Miami. This one is a lot more complicated and could end up being one of those cases we call a barn burner or in other words there will be casualties.
“We don’t know how long we must be there, Rome,” Camden says. “Maybe you sit this one out and help on the next project?”
“Yeah, what about Elizabeth and Knox? You’ve got a lot more to lose than we do, brother.”
Both Camden and Cutter are bringing up an excellent point. Just because I want to jump in balls deep and get back to work doesn’t mean I want to be risking my neck over seven hundred miles away from my family.
“You three go. I’ll ask Joseph if he can find us a few hired hands if you need extra muscle in Chi-town. He definitely has connections there. I’ll manage the day-to-day stuff here.”
Camden nods his head. “That’ll work.”
“Plus, you’ve got that kid you need to frighten over in Drexel Village,” Stone says with a smile.
“Shut up.” I laugh. “You’re getting as bad as they are.”
“Feels almost like old times.” Cutter laughs. “Welcome home, Rome.”
Yeah… I guess I am home.
9
ELIZABETH
“Where’s my grandbaby? Mimi Juliette is ready for some serious face time with her baby today.”
My aunt glides through the doorway and into our living room, dressed as always in effortless glamour. She’s wearing a pair of breezy wide-leg khaki slacks, a crisp white T-shirt, her hair is smoothly pulled back in a low bun, and gold hoops adorn her ears to finish the look.
Excited energy is practically humming off of her. She’s never been able to have children of her own and so being a hands-on grandmother (fondly known as Mimi) to Knox has been like a dream come true for her.
“I’m super glad to see you but I didn’t know you were coming. I’m afraid I have plans today.”
“I know you do,” she says, as she playfully raises and lowers her eyebrows. “That’s exactly why I’m here.”
“I’m sorry, but I think you and I may be talking about two very different things. What plans are you talking about?”
Aunt Juliette walks over to the high chair and picks up a very overstimulated Knox. I sat him in the chair to calm him down, but he’s been banging on the tray table ever since I placed him there. She struggles to lift him free from his seat because of his height and girth. They definitely build these chairs for the average-sized baby and not a child as large as Knox.
“He isn’t buckled in but let me pull out the tray for you. That’ll make it easier for you to lift him out.”
“No, hun, I’ve got him.”
Knox is as solid as a rock and I can practically feel a twinge in my own back watching Juliette continually try to lift him free.
“Got him! Ooh, he’s getting so chunky. I love it!” she exclaims, as she pecks a kiss on Knox’s cheek. “He’s the most scrumptious baby ever.”
Knox babbles several strings of nonsense words in what I believe is an attempt to have a full-blown conversation with her.
“And then what?” she says to him with bright eyes.
He babbles some more and she laughs in response.
“Is that so, Knox? You are so smart.”
The two of them are definitely in love with each other. It’s actually really sweet.
“So, Auntie, what plans are you referring to?” I ask again to get the conversation back on track. Knox has a way of distracting everyone who comes across his path. He definitely possesses a magnetic energy that draws people in. He reminds me so much of his father in that way.
“Don’t you and your husband talk to each other? He told me to be here today at five on the dot.”
I purse my lips.
“Five o’clock for what?”
“Obviously, for whatever you’re doing this evening. Isn’t it date night?”
Roman and I haven’t had date night in weeks, but I get why he’s trying. We’ve been out of sync lately. I work and take care of Knox all day, and now he’s back at the club all night.
“He really should have checked with me first before he made any plans.”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Joseph does things like that for me all the time. I guess those two become more alike with each passing day.”
Juliette miraculously tosses my big baby in the air, and he squeals with delight as he soars up and then back down. I’m not sure how she lifts him that high without straining a back muscle or ending up looking like a mess. I feel like I have a dull lower backache and smashed Cheerio dust in my hair at all times.
“He thinks I’m working too much,” I confess. “He thinks I need some additional help around here.”
Juliette tilts her head and gives me a long look in the eyes.
“Well, now that you mention it, maybe you do. You do look a little tired. No offense, sweetie.”
“None taken.” I guess. “What gave it away? My dark circles?”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve read that most new mothers are sleep deprived for at least a year and don’t even realize it. How much sleep do you think you get at night?”
“I don’t know, maybe four or four and a half hours a night.”
“Four hours? Oh no, dear, you’re going to need at least double that. I don’t have kids or an exciting business like yours, and even I still need eight hours of rest.”
“Uh, eight hours will not happen. Eight hours is laughable. I can’t even recall the last time I slept a full eight hours.”
“This little pumpkin won’t leave you alone, huh?”
“He’s always hungry.” I chuckle. “Can’t you tell? He’s the biggest baby on the planet, or at least in the pediatrician’s office.”
“Do you take him to all his checkup appointments by yourself?”
“Sure.”
Aunt Juliette takes a seat on the couch and cradles Knox in her lap. I notice him eyeballing one of her earrings, but before I can warn her about his earring obsession, she continues with her inquisition.
“Hmm, so it’s true. Roman mentioned that you won’t allow him to help much with the baby.”.
“No, it’s not true,” I say defensively.
I decide to change the subject.
“Oh, goodness, I forgot to offer you something. Would you like anything to drink? I could get you a Diet Coke or some of that herbal tea you like.”
“No, dear, I was just wondering if perhaps you could let Roman do a few more things to support you.”
It’s obvious that she will not let this subject go. Maybe that’s her true purpose in stopping by. There probably is no date. I’m thinking the grand plan was for Juliette to conveniently drop by and tell me all of things I’m doing wrong in this relationship.
“He takes care of the dog,” I deadpan.
I take a moment to rub Mr. Tibbs’s belly. It’s easy to forget that he’s in the room sometimes because he’s such a good boy. He never snaps or snarls when Knox tugs too hard at his tail or ears. He just licks him in the face and then goes to lie down in a corner somewhere to stay out of the way.
“Mr. Tibbs practically takes care of himself. I was thinking more like having Roman take Knox to his next well visit or have him handle some solid food feedings so you can rest.”
“Knox doesn’t eat a lot of solid food yet.”
“Hmm, really? Could that be why he’s so hungry? How long are you planning to primarily breastfeed?”
Oh, she’s definitely been talking to Roman or worse… my parents.
“As long as he wants to,” I say defiantly. “It’s good for him. He’s getting all my antibodies and all the nutrients he needs. I’ve read extensively about it.”
“Of course, dear. I was just trying to help troubleshoot things.”
“Troubleshoot what exactly?”
I’m feeling attacked by this conversation, but Aunt Juliette doesn’t even bat an eye and continues on with her line of questioning.
“Elizabeth, Knox is eight months old. You’ve been engaged and living with Roman for well over a year. When are you two going to get married?”
“You’re not the first person to ask me that lately.” I sigh.
My parents have asked repeatedly about it, my old assistant Blake mentioned it when he emailed me last, and even someone at Zoe’s party complimented me on my ring and asked when the big day was.
“Well, it’s a perfectly legitimate question. This is the longest engagement in our family’s history.” She smiles.
Aunt Juliette’s attempt at a joke falls on deaf ears. My parents have made it quite clear how they feel about me living in sin “for no good reason” and I’m not about to appease their conservative ridiculousness by booking a wedding date at a church I don’t attend.
“I don’t want a church wedding. We don’t even go to church.”
“Then what kind of wedding do you want? I could help you with the planning if you want.”
“A Vegas wedding.”
“Vegas?” she replies with a distinct tone of disdain in her voice.
“Yes.”
“Like the kind of wedding with Elvis officiating?”
Although my aunt is considered the black sheep of the family, I don’t think she realizes just how much of my family’s elitist middle-class ways she still harbors.
“And if I had Elvis officiate would it be a problem?”
“Have you told your parents about this?”
“They are aware and they hate the idea just like you apparently do, but I have my reasons for wanting the wedding in Las Vegas.”
“May I ask what the reason is?”
“There’s a special guest who will attend who lives there.”
“You mean Roman’s mother?”
“Yes.”
“I want Roman to connect with his mother more than anyone, but what about your guests who live here? Do we all have to fly to Las Vegas to accommodate her?”
“My guests can afford it, so yes. If anyone in the Hill or Masterson family chooses to be a part of our special day, then they will have to fly to Las Vegas.”
“But you can also afford to fly Frances here as your special guest. I don’t get why you have to inconvenience everybody else. She wouldn’t want that.”
Roman and I made a bet that if either of us guessed the sex of the baby correctly, that we’d be granted one wish from the other. Getting the Masterson Made tattoo highlighted in blue was part of my gender reveal surprise. Even I didn’t know I was having a boy until Zoe showed me the design when it was halfway completed. So since I guessed the sex correctly, the wish I requested was for us to be married in Las Vegas so we could invite his mother as our special guest. He hates that it binds him to our agreement because his relationship with his mother is quite complicated and it makes him uncomfortable, but I will not cave.
I realize that it’s a risky request. His mother doesn’t have the best track record and we would be putting the ball entirely in her court to show up, but I seriously doubt that she would miss her only son’s wedding, especially if it’s hosted in the city where she lives.
“I’m sorry, but this is something Roman and I decided a long time ago and if we’re going to be honest, you have no idea what Roman’s mother would want.”
“Well, I guess there’s no need to get into a debate about the theory of a Vegas wedding right now anyway, because the way you’re moving it’s not happening anytime soon. I mean, you haven’t discussed a potential date at all and weddings take months to plan.”
“No, we haven’t locked down a date as yet, but I’ve been a little busy with the company and raising this little stinker. When the time comes to plan, you’ll be the first to know.”
I bend over and kiss Knox on the nose.
“Okay, then why don’t you tell me about School Bucks. Could Roman possibly help in some capacity with the business so you can start planning this Vegas wedding?”
Just what in the ham sandwich has Roman the snitch been sharing with Juliette? She is like a dog with a bone today.
“Uh, no, he can’t. Just like I can’t help him with his business.”
“You have a new important client, right?”
Unbelievable.
“Did Roman tell you what I had for breakfast too?”
Juliette laughs. “Instant oatmeal with bananas?”
“Oh, my God! Since when have you two been best buds and having all these brief chats about me?”
“It’s not like we talk about you all the time. Just a few times.”
“All the time when?” I ask, totally confused.
“When he comes by for dinner.”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“He comes for dinner a lot?”
My aunt shifts her feet uncomfortably because she clearly thought I knew.
“Well, he hasn’t been lately.”
Now I’m embarrassed that it’s obvious that I don’t know where Roman is half of the time. I thought perhaps he’d been at the club with the Kings since he recently returned to work, but now it seems as if he’s been going by to see Juliette and Joseph too. It almost seems like he wants to be anywhere but here.
“Elizabeth, understand, I’ve never seen Roman act like this about anyone ever. He only comes to talk to me out of concern. Loving you and Knox is very new for him, just like it is for you. He had you all to himself for a good while and now he has to share you. He just wants to protect and love you both the best way he knows how.”
The chasm between R
oman and I is a little more complicated than what my aunt just described, but it’s not something I want to discuss with her. I have too much on my plate and with this possible university contract on the horizon; I need to keep my energy high and focused.
“Did Roman really make plans for tonight, because he’s going to be very disappointed if he can’t change them. I have an important meeting tonight and it’s probably going to run late because of the time difference with some participants.”
“He definitely had something planned, but I truly don’t know what it is. I’m just here to watch Knox while you two do whatever it is you end up doing. Those were my instructions when he came by for—”
My aunt stops mid-sentence.
“Came by for what?”
“Pot pie.”
Jerk.
He didn’t even bring me any leftovers.
“And Elizabeth,” Juliette continues, “before you two wander completely off course, I’d cut the man some slack and reconsider taking part in whatever he has planned. It seems to me like you both need it.”
My smart watch alarm dings just in the nick of time. I’m totally over this conversation. I guess I really had no idea that everyone in my life was going to have such strong opinions on how I mother my child, run my business, and manage my relationship. I’m through explaining myself to everyone in my life about why I do what I do, especially Roman. Not to mention that date night has always been Friday nights, not Thursdays.
Gah!
“Oh, crap, I forgot all about the call that I need to take before my meeting. It’s a good thing you’re here. The sitter isn’t coming until six.”
“Cancel the sitter. I’m here for the entire day and I can’t wait to have my little grandbaby bean all to myself.”
Knox calmly lays his head on Aunt Juliette’s breast and starts playing with one of her gold earrings. He looks utterly content and it makes me think my little boy has a thing for boobs with or without milk, just like his daddy.
“Aww, he’s so adorable,” she says as she rhythmically pats Knox’s back.
Masterson Made Page 6
