Deadly Intentions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 1) Page 14

  “Mandy,” Grady nodded, sitting down at the dining room table. “You look well.”

  Mandy turned around, gracing him with a smile. “Thanks.”

  Grady turned back to his brother, looking him up and down. “You look … rested.”

  James rolled his eyes. “Don’t be an ass.”

  “You look happy, too,” Grady said. “That’s why I’m not going to smack you upside the head for leaving Finn with all the work for the past few days.”

  “Do you want breakfast, Grady?” Mandy asked.

  “What are you cooking?”

  “Pancakes.”

  “Load me up.”

  Grady relaxed in his chair, happy that there didn’t seem to be any tension in the room. The last time they’d all sat around this table together his brother had been practically ready to crawl out of his own skin. There was no sign of that now.

  “So, are you living here now?”

  James scowled at the question. “Until we’re sure she’s safe? Yes.”

  “And you’re just keeping her safe, right?”

  Mandy slid a plate of pancakes in front of Grady, smacking him on the back of his head as she moved away. “Don’t torture your brother.”

  Grady’s grin was unmistakable. “You look rested, too, Mandy.” He stuck his tongue out at James. “It looks good on you.”

  Mandy returned, pushing a plate of pancakes in front of James. “Thank you. I’m not going to let you get to me, no matter how hard you try. You forget, I remember what a scamp you were as a teenager.”

  “You’re not going to let me get to you, huh?” Grady felt the need to rise to her challenge, despite James’ warning look. “In that case, you look thoroughly debauched.”

  Mandy sat down at the head of the table, situating herself between the two brothers and cutting into her own stack of pancakes. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

  “It was meant as one.”

  “Good.”

  The three of them settled into a comfortable silence, everyone eating their breakfast for a few minutes. James practically inhaled the food on his plate, pushing it forward when he was done. “What have you found out?”

  Grady eyed the plate curiously. “How hungry were you?”

  James shrugged. “I worked up an appetite.”

  “I can see that.” Grady turned his attention to Mandy. Her plate was empty, too. “Just how much sex have the two of you been having?”

  James frowned. “Really? How is that any of your business?”

  “Well, since Finn and I have been fighting off Ann for you, I’d say that I deserve a bone.”

  Mandy smirked, patting his hand. “You’re a good brother, Grady.”

  “You’re not going to offer me any details?”

  Mandy opened her mouth to respond, but James reached over, silencing her by engulfing her hand with his own.

  “Do not answer him,” James warned.

  “Fine,” Grady replied. “He’ll just tell me later, over a few beers. That is, if he ever leaves this apartment again, which I’m starting to doubt.”

  James flipped his brother off irritably.

  “Not that I’m complaining about the breakfast,” Grady said. “But why aren’t you at work?”

  “James told me to take the day off so we could brainstorm,” Mandy replied. “I have about a hundred days saved up, so I didn’t see the problem.”

  “A hundred days, huh?” Grady raised his eyebrows. “I bet James here can figure out something to do with those days.”

  “You’re an ass,” James muttered.

  “So were you a few days ago,” Grady reminded him.

  Mandy ignored their verbal sparring. “Do you have anything?”

  Grady leaned back in his chair, watching as his brother ran his hand down the back of Mandy’s head affectionately. For a second – just a second – he felt a sense of longing. They seemed right together. They fit. Grady shook his head to snap himself out of his reverie. “I don’t have much,” he admitted. “I ran the security guard through a more strenuous search. I might have found something.”

  “What?” James asked, his interest evident.

  “It didn’t show up on the initial check,” Grady said. “He changed his name. Finn caught it when we were looking through his file again.”

  “He changed his name?” James leaned forward. “Why?”

  “It still could be nothing,” Grady cautioned. “His mother married a guy named Steve Phillips,” he said. “He was about three, and his mother changed his name. When he was eighteen, he changed his last name back to Miller – which is what it was on his original birth certificate.”

  “Maybe he just wanted to go back to his real name,” Mandy suggested.

  “That’s a possibility,” Grady agreed. “I did a search on the stepfather. There were more than a dozen domestic abuse complaints recorded in that house over the years. From what I could find, all the abuse was aimed at the mother.”

  James chewed his lip thoughtfully. “That doesn’t mean the stepfather didn’t abuse him.”

  “No,” Grady agreed. “The mother divorced the stepfather when Clint was sixteen. He didn’t change his name until he was eighteen.”

  “It’s not legal for him to change his name on his own until he’s eighteen,” Mandy supplied.

  James regarded her curiously. “How do you know that?”

  “I work in the courthouse, duh,” she pinged his forehead with her finger. James grabbed her hand, pulling her fingers to his lips as he considered what she said. “His mother would have had to request the change before he turned eighteen.”

  “Why wouldn’t she,” Grady pressed. “If the stepfather was such a douche, why wouldn’t she change her son’s name after she divorced him?”

  Mandy shrugged. “It costs money.”

  James pursed his lips. “I still don’t like it. The guy has an abnormal interest in her.”

  “So do you,” Grady reminded him. “It could just be a guy with an unhappy childhood.”

  “It could be,” James agreed, refusing to relinquish Mandy’s hand. “It could also be a guy that fixates on women because he was abused as a child.”

  “That’s not the norm,” Mandy argued.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I work in the court system,” she reminded him. “Yes, it’s true that an abused child often turns into an abusing adult. It’s also equally true that an abused child goes in the exact opposite direction. I don’t get a dangerous vibe off of Clint.”

  “What do you get off him?” James asked.

  Mandy shrugged helplessly. “He’s kind of sad. I don’t think he has a lot of friends. I think he just wants to connect with someone.”

  “Meaning you.”

  “Meaning anyone,” Mandy shot back. “I don’t think it’s Clint. There is no way he could’ve gotten out of that building, into the parking lot and into a car in the time it took me to walk from the front of the building to the parking lot. There’s just no way.”

  James blew out a sigh. He didn’t doubt her. He just wanted the answer to be easy. “Okay. If it’s not Clint, what else do we have?”

  “The stepmother,” Grady replied.

  Mandy visibly balked. “Sheryl is a nice woman.”

  “She seems to be,” Grady said. “Now.”

  James lifted his eyebrows. “Now?”

  “Well, funnily enough, she changed her name, too.”

  Mandy frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Okay, here’s the situation,” Grady said. “Sherry Lee Martin was born in Kalkaska, Michigan. She was one of ten kids – no joke – they like to procreate up there apparently. Her family was poor. Not just poor, but like impoverished poor. Three of Sherry’s brothers were arrested for armed robbery, another for rape, and a fifth for car theft.”

  Mandy was still at the end of the table. She didn’t know what to say.

  “Sherry Lee Martin changed her name to Sheryl Madison when she was in her t
wenties. It seems Sherry Lee Martin had a few arrests for fraud on her record. She would sleep with wealthy men and then write personal checks to herself from their accounts before moving on. After serving some time in the county jail, she reinvented herself.”

  “And Sheryl Madison?” James pressed.

  “Sheryl Madison doesn’t have a record,” Grady replied. “In thirty years, she hasn’t nudged a toe over the line. She married a man named Patrick Darby. They spent ten years together before he died of cancer. And, yes, I made sure he actually died of cancer. He left her a small pension, but not a lot else. Since he died, Sheryl Madison has held a handful of jobs – mostly menial labor. She seems to have hit the jackpot, though, when she met Mandy’s father.”

  “What do you mean,” Mandy asked, her voice small.

  James clutched her hand tighter, pressing her palm into his lips as he waited for Grady to finish.

  “Sheryl Madison had a son with Patrick Darby.”

  “Troy,” Mandy supplied. “His name is Troy.”

  “You’ve met him?” James asked.

  “No,” Mandy shook her head. “He lives in Idaho or something. He sounds like a real dirt bag. Dad said he refused to pay child support and now he’s hiding from the police. I’ve only ever seen a photo.”

  “He is a real dirt bag,” Grady agreed, holding up his hand to ward off James’ next question. “As far as I can tell, he hasn’t left the state of Idaho. I don’t think he’s responsible.”

  “What about Sheryl?”

  “I don’t know,” Grady admitted. “Her past is a red flag. The fact that she’s been clean for decades seems to indicate that she’s turned over a new leaf. She could be telling the truth.”

  “You saw her at the restaurant,” James said. “What were your initial impressions?”

  Grady shrugged. “She seemed like an older woman that liked to knit. She kept talking – and talking and talking, frankly. Mandy wasn’t exactly at her best that day,” Grady said pointedly. “She spent her whole afternoon pretending she wasn’t crushed and that the salad in front of her wasn’t making her sick to her stomach.”

  Mandy scowled. “Why were you watching me?”

  “I was worried about you,” Grady admitted. “You seemed a little … defeated.”

  James rubbed his free hand across his forehead. “Can we not talk about that?”

  “I’m sorry, bro,” Grady said. “I should have been paying more attention to the stepmother. I was worried about Mandy, though.”

  James waved off Grady’s apology. “I understand.”

  “I don’t,” Mandy said. “I still don’t think Sheryl is a bad person. If what you’re saying is true, she should be happy with the inheritance my dad left her.”

  “She should be,” James agreed. “What if she wants more?”

  “Even if something happened to me,” Mandy countered “She wouldn’t be entitled to that money.”

  “Who would?” Grady asked.

  Mandy shrugged. “My mom. She’s the beneficiary of everything if I die.”

  James mulled over her answer. “Is there a possibility the stepmother doesn’t know that?”

  “My guess? Yes,” Grady said. “She might very well think that, if something happens to Mandy and the will is still in probate, then she’ll get everything.”

  “My mother would never let that happen,” Mandy said, her voiced tired. “She’s still mad my dad got remarried in the first place. She was totally pissed off when she found out he didn’t leave me the house in his will.”

  “Why?”

  “She thought that I should get everything.”

  “Didn’t she get remarried, too?”

  “She did. She also made the guy sign an ironclad prenup. He’s a little … henpecked. She was still pissed off about the house.”

  “What did you think?” James asked.

  “I thought that there was no way I was ever going to move to Barker Creek again,” Mandy replied. “I didn’t want the house.”

  “What about the money?”

  “I never wanted to live off his money,” Mandy replied. “I still don’t. I would rather have him back than the money any day of the week.”

  James sighed. “I know that, baby. I’m not saying that you want the money.”

  “Then what are you saying?” Mandy challenged him.

  “I’m saying that we need to talk to your stepmother.”

  Nineteen

  Sheryl was still in town. There was some knitting convention at Gibraltar Trade Center – and she was staying for its entirety. It only took one call – and a few little nudges from James – to force Mandy into wrangling a lunch date, despite her initial reticence.

  They were in his Explorer, driving toward Mount Clemens, but James wasn’t sure how to read her mood. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t seem fine.”

  “I’m just … thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Mandy worried her lower lip. “What if she is the one?” The question was short, but there was a lot of emotion behind it.

  “Then we’ll catch her.”

  “What if it’s not her?”

  “Then we’ll find out who it is.”

  “What if … ?”

  James reached over and grabbed Mandy’s hand. “I need you not to freak out about this.”

  “I’m not freaking out. I don’t freak out.”

  James couldn’t hide his smile. “For someone who doesn’t freak out, you were quick to sass your way into my office and confront me after the … incident.”

  “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

  “I’d like to pretend it never happened,” James said honestly. “Since I know that’s not possible, I have now taken to calling it the incident. In the future, though, I’m going to start referring to it as the accident. After that, I’m going to call it my ‘cute little freak out.’ Someday, you’ll forget.”

  Mandy couldn’t help but doubt that statement. “I’m going to refer to it as emotional blackmail.”

  James chuckled. “I can live with that.”

  Mandy squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

  James was surprised by her words. “For what?”

  “You didn’t have to do this,” she said. “When I showed up at your office, you could’ve just sent me away. Instead, you jumped right in to Crazy Town.”

  “No,” James argued. “I certainly couldn’t have done that. I would never have walked away from you.”

  “Because you wanted to sleep with me?” Mandy questioned.

  James shook his head. “Because I wanted to make you happy.”

  “What?”

  “Is this a test?”

  “No.”

  James sighed. “I understand why you’re still … leery.”

  “I’m not leery,” Mandy protested.

  “You are, and it’s okay,” James replied. “I did a horrible thing. I regretted it the minute I did it.”

  “I forgive you. I told you, I forgive you.”

  “That doesn’t mean you’re still not scared I’ll do it again,” James pointed out.

  Mandy considered arguing with him but, ultimately, she didn’t see the point. “Am I that obvious?”

  “Not obvious,” James argued. “I see the worry in your eyes sometimes. It makes me feel like a jackass.”

  “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

  “I don’t want you to feel anything but what you feel,” James said. “One of these days, you’re going to wake up next to me without checking to make sure that I’m in the bed and I haven’t sneaked out in the middle of the night. When that day happens, I’m going to be a happy man.”

  “You’re not happy now?”

  James smirked. She looked worried again. “I’m happy every time I see you smile.”

  JAMES PARKED in front of the Greek restaurant, glancing at Mandy as he did. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

  Mandy was surp
rised by the question. “Are you willing to stay out here?”

  James stiffened. He had a few questions of his own that he wanted to ask Sheryl. He also knew Mandy was struggling. She wanted to believe in her stepmother. She wanted to believe in him even more. He wasn’t going to force the situation. “If you want to do this yourself, I’ll stay out here.”

  Mandy leaned over the console and pressed her lips against his cheek. “I want you to be there.”

  James exhaled slowly, trying to hide his relief. “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, please,” Mandy scoffed. “If I didn’t want you there, you would’ve paced outside the restaurant until you couldn’t take it anymore. Then, you still would’ve interrupted lunch and then distracted me with sex until I forgave you.”

  James smiled, reaching his arm around her shoulders and dropping his lips to hers. “I’m glad you get me.”

  “I’ve always gotten you.”

  “You have,” James agreed. “Even before I was ready to be gotten.”

  They entered the restaurant together, hand in hand, and searched the booths for Sheryl. Mandy saw her first, moving toward the table and tugging James behind her. “Let me do the talking.”

  “Is this a test?”

  Mandy ignored the question, sliding into the booth across from Sheryl and making room for James beside her. “Thank you for meeting me.”

  Sheryl eyed James curiously. “This isn’t the guy from Don Pablo’s, although they kind of look alike.”

  “No,” Mandy agreed. “This is his brother.”

  “You picked his brother?” Sheryl raised her eyebrows appreciatively. “That was gutsy.”

  “No,” Mandy said. “I was always interested in this brother.”

  James rested his arm on the back of the booth, content to let Mandy lead the conversation. “I’m James.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, James,” Sheryl said. “I have to ask, though, is there a reason you had your brother following my stepdaughter?”

  James flinched at the question. “It’s a long story.”

  “It’s a good thing that we have an endless time for lunch then, isn’t it?”

  James flashed a grin – the one that made women across the state go weak in the knees when they saw it. “I guess so.”