Deadly Payback (Hardy Brothers Security Book 22) Read online

  Mandy didn’t call. He was in his office screwing around with his brother Grady when a local news station broke into some talk show on the television. When James recognized the courthouse in the background his heart sank. He waited for Mandy to call him. She knew he would panic. The call didn’t come, and as tense minutes ticked by he couldn’t take it one second longer and bolted in the direction of the courthouse.

  Grady opted to drive. He knew James was too much of a mess to do it himself. He tried to bolster his brother’s spirits over the long twenty-minute haul to downtown Mount Clemens. He told him not to worry, that Mandy was probably trying to help in a fluid situation. She’d probably just lost track of time … or couldn’t get to her phone. He wasn’t sure he believed it, though. She always called … or at least tried to call.

  James hopped out of the truck when it was still moving on the east side of the building, leaving Grady to find a parking spot amidst the news station vans. Grady wanted to be with his brother in case something terrible happened, but James took that choice from him. By the time he caught up with his brother in the lobby, James was on the verge of losing it.

  “Anything?”

  “Does it look like I have anything?” James spat, his frustration bubbling over. “Does it look like I have my wife?”

  “I’m sorry,” Grady said, holding up his hands. “I just … I’m trying to help.”

  “Well don’t.” James tugged a frustrated hand through his hair as he tried to collect himself. “I’m sorry. I’m just … where is she? She’s not down here. I don’t see her.”

  “You haven’t really looked, though,” Grady pointed out. “You expected her to run to you, like she usually does. Maybe she can’t because she’s answering questions from the police or something.”

  The hopeful look on James’ face was almost enough to crush Grady. “We have to find her,” James said. “I need her right now.”

  “We’ll find her.” Grady wanted his brother to have hope, although his was starting to wane. Mandy had a good heart and knew James would worry. She would move the moon and the stars to get in contact with him. “Just … hold on.”

  The brothers moved in tandem as they scanned the lobby. The sight of a blond head filled Grady’s chest with warmth for a moment, but then he realized the woman in question was far too tall to be Mandy. He was about to suggest heading up to Mandy’s office when a familiar face floated into view.

  “There’s the judge.”

  James bolted in Judge MacIntosh’s direction, pulling up short when he caught sight of the ashen tone of the generally friendly man’s skin. His features were grim as he listened to a sheriff’s deputy relate something to him, and James was convinced his heart was about to break when the judge locked gazes with him. James opened his mouth to ask the obvious question, but no sound would come out.

  “Where’s Mandy?” Grady asked, resting his hand on James’ shoulder. “We saw the coverage on the news. She didn’t call.”

  “She’s … a little out of it,” MacIntosh replied, sucking in a breath as he fought to calm himself.

  “She’s alive?” James croaked out the words as his shoulders sank. “Please tell me she’s alive.”

  “She’s alive,” MacIntosh confirmed, bobbing his head. “She was not physically harmed.”

  The words sent a jolt of happiness through Grady … until he recognized the caveat the judge threw in at the end of the statement. “What do you mean? She wasn’t physically harmed but … what?”

  “Where is she?” James asked, frustrated as he glanced around. “I need to see her.”

  “We had an … incident … in the courtyard at lunchtime,” MacIntosh said, his voice wavering. “Mandy and Heidi were on their way to a restaurant when … shots were fired. Two, to be exact.”

  “We heard that on the news,” James said impatiently. “You’re not telling us anything new.”

  “Ignore my brother,” Grady said, shaking his head and shooting James a dark look. “He can’t see beyond Mandy at this point. It might be helpful if you tell us where she is so he can see her. I would love to hear the rest of the story, though.”

  “You have to hear the story before you see her,” MacIntosh said. “Trust me.”

  “No, I need to see her,” James argued. “I need to see her right now. You just said she wasn’t harmed.”

  “No, he said she wasn’t harmed physically,” Grady pointed out. “That doesn’t mean she wasn’t harmed.”

  The implication of Grady’s words rolled over James as he considered what MacIntosh was inferring. “What happened to my wife?”

  “Mandy and Heidi were in the middle of a conversation,” MacIntosh said, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Witnesses said they were having a good time. Heidi even started twirling before … .”

  “Before what?” James was at his limit. He truly thought his heart was going to burst out of his chest if the judge didn’t lead him to his wife.

  “Before someone shot into the crowd,” MacIntosh replied. “Mandy wasn’t hit, although she is covered in blood. Heidi is another story.”

  James pursed his lips as tears pricked the back of his eyes. For a moment, the gregarious court stenographer’s face popped into view. Almost every memory he had of her involved laughter. He knew the judge wasn’t the type of man to string him along. If he was drawing things out, it was because Heidi was dead.

  “Heidi was shot in the head,” MacIntosh said, his voice breaking as tears leaked out of his eyes. “She dropped right there. Mandy remained standing – perhaps paralyzed by fear, I’m not entirely sure – but Heidi was gone before anyone could reach them.

  “She’s dead,” he continued. “She’s gone. Heidi is dead.”

  And just like that, the relief James felt over Mandy’s survival seeped out of his chest as if he was a deflating balloon. His wife was alive, but her heart was most certainly broken.

  “WHERE is Heidi’s body?” Grady asked, keeping his voice low as he followed the judge toward the security office. “We came in through the side glass doors down on the end. What about the ones in the front?”

  “She’s still out there,” MacIntosh replied. He’d managed to regain some of his composure. “They covered her, though.”

  “How close was Mandy?” James asked, guilt rolling through him. He should’ve been mourning Heidi, but he needed the judge to paint a picture of the scene.

  “She was right beside her,” MacIntosh replied. “Heidi was shot in the head. It was … explosive. Mandy was covered in blood and I’m afraid she seems to be in shock.”

  “Meaning what?” James asked, fear rolling into a ball and settling in his stomach. “How is she in shock?”

  “She hasn’t spoken since I got to her side,” MacIntosh answered. “I was the first to approach. She just stares vacantly and doesn’t answer when you address her. I don’t know if she grasps what happened or … .”

  “It’s almost better if she doesn’t understand right now,” James said, waiting for the judge to open the security office before rushing inside. The office was small, pristine white and sanitized to extremes. He pulled up short when he saw Mandy sitting in a chair, a paramedic holding her wrist as she checked his wife’s vitals. “Baby?”

  Mandy didn’t lift her head, instead remaining fixed on a point only she could see.

  James licked his lips as he locked gazes with the female paramedic. “That’s my wife. Is she okay?”

  “Her blood pressure is a bit high,” the paramedic replied. “Given the circumstances, that’s to be expected, though. She’s okay otherwise. She hasn’t spoken one word, or looked at anything other than blank space, for that matter. She’s in shock.”

  “I noticed.” James ran his hand through his hair as he studied his blond. He wanted to hold her, but she was covered in blood. “We need to get her out of those clothes.”

  “There’s a forensic team member collecting a bag and the other items we need to preserve the evidence that has
… um … accumulated on her,” the paramedic replied. “We have scrubs for her to change into.”

  “I’ll do that,” James said.

  “I understand your concern, sir, but the forensic person is a woman and she needs to do it for evidence collection,” the paramedic said. “You can stay close, of course, but … .”

  “I get it.” James rubbed the palm of his hand against his forehead. He was lost in a sea of helplessness and Mandy’s vacant expression didn’t make him feel any better. She was alive – which was the most important thing to him – but this wouldn’t be something she would bounce back from in record time. “Has she said anything at all?”

  “No,” the paramedic answered, opting not to mince words. “I think you should probably take her home, get her in the shower, and then put her to bed. I can give you something to knock her out for the evening. She needs to shut her brain off and sleep.”

  “I’ll take it,” James said, moving to the side as another woman entered. She carried several evidence bags and dropped a pair of medical scrubs on the counter as she surveyed the guests.

  “We need some privacy.”

  “This is her husband,” the paramedic said. “He’s going to be here to help in case … .”

  The technician nodded. “Okay. You guys need to go, though.” She inclined her head in Grady and Judge MacIntosh’s direction. “It won’t take long.”

  Grady rested his hand on James’ arm before leaving. “I’ll be outside.”

  “Go up to her office,” James instructed, keeping his voice even as he fought off tears. “She needs her purse.”

  “I’ll show him where it is and make sure the office is locked,” MacIntosh said. “We’ll be waiting outside once you’re ready to go.”

  “I’ll want to move quickly,” James said. “The media is all over the place. I’ll carry her through the side door and we’ll run from there.”

  “I’ll be ready,” Grady said, sympathy for his brother causing his heart to roll. “She’s alive. That’s the most important thing.”

  “I don’t think you’re going to convince her of that,” James said. “Just … be ready. I want to get her home.”

  JAMES watched the forensic technician work, the urge to take over and strip Mandy himself almost overwhelming. He tamped down his impatience, though, and waited as the technician gathered Mandy’s pants and top, taking time to pick through her hair as well.

  The usually blond locks James loved to run his fingers through were muted with blood, and the side of her face was stained with an obvious splatter pattern as well. James worried other remnants of Heidi’s last moments remained, too, but there was nothing he could do until he got Mandy in the shower. Once she was bare except for her bra and panties, James stepped forward and helped her into the scrubs. Mandy automatically rested her hand on his shoulder so she wouldn’t fall over, but otherwise she didn’t register his presence or what was going on.

  Once he was done, James glanced at her bare feet and pursed his lips. “I don’t suppose she can keep her shoes, can she?”

  The forensic technician shook her head. “We need them for evidence. You can have a voucher if you want them back after we’re done with them.”

  “I don’t want them back,” James said, slipping his arm around Mandy’s waist and hoisting her up to cradle against his chest. “We don’t want any of it back.”

  “Put her to bed,” the paramedic instructed, resting a small pillbox on Mandy’s chest as James shifted her. “She won’t be able to deal with this until she sleeps. Just … knock her out.”

  “I’m on it,” James said. “If you guys have people who need to ask questions – which I’m sure you do – keep them away from the house until tomorrow. I won’t let anyone in before then.”

  “I’m not sure what questions they’ll have,” the technician said. “It seemed to come out of nowhere. But … I’ll make sure the sheriff knows.”

  James stilled. “Sheriff?” The former sheriff, Aaron Morgan, resigned from his position weeks before after being tied to financial fraud and illegal activities. James wasn’t aware of anyone taking over the position.

  “The undersheriff,” the technician clarified. “He’s on the scene, but I’m sure he’ll leave you be until after your wife has … settled.”

  “Yes, settled,” James intoned, making a face. “A good night’s sleep is all my wife needs to wash this all away.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know,” James said, flashing an apologetic smile. “I’m just … at a loss. It’s not your fault.”

  “Take care of your wife,” the technician instructed. “We’ll do the rest.”

  “Taking care of my wife is the only thing I care to do,” James. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  GRADY was waiting for James on the other side of the door when it opened. He lifted the purse to show James he completed his task and then hurried through the lobby.

  The court workers and visitors turned in their direction, understandably curious, but Grady and James ignored them all as they cut a swath through the crowd. They were almost at the door when James risked a glance through the front window and cringed when he saw the sheet draped over Heidi’s body.

  He paused, his eyes busy as they scanned the people standing there. He recognized the judge, but it was the sobbing security guard standing at the judge’s side who tugged at James’ heartstrings. Clint – Heidi’s fiancé and a guy James never particularly liked – openly wailed as he tried to climb on top of the body. Police deputies fought to stop him, and even though the glass was thick enough to mute the sound, Clint’s grief was palpable.

  James considered handing Mandy to Grady long enough to help Clint. He felt as he if he should do something, anything really, to make things better. Instead he cradled Mandy closer and turned to his brother. “We can’t help him.”

  “I know,” Grady said, his brown eyes glassy as he fought off tears. “We can only help Mandy.”

  “Let’s go,” James said. “I want to get my baby home. That’s the only thing I can do for her right now.”

  “We’re going.”

  3

  Three

  Grady kept an eye on Mandy and James in the back seat of James’ Ford Explorer as he drove to their house. James insisted on keeping her close – even refusing to force her into a seatbelt – and instead cuddled her to his chest as Grady drove. Grady couldn’t hear the words James murmured to his wife, but he knew they were somehow soothing … and he knew that Mandy refused to respond.

  The rest of the family was aware of the tragedy – well, as much as they could garner in two lines of text. Grady fired off a message to Finn and told him to close down the office, and then proceeded to watch as a nonstop parade of messages bombarded his phone. He turned it to silent and ignored them until he got Mandy and James settled. They were his priority.

  Given the nature of his family and the codependent games they played, Grady wasn’t surprised to find a host of vehicles parked in James’ driveway. He internally sighed as he killed the Explorer’s engine, casting a rueful glance over his shoulder as he regarded his brother. James obviously wasn’t happy with the development given the look he scorched his brother with.

  “Nice.”

  “They mean well,” Grady said as he turned from the front seat to the back, instinctively reaching out to touch Mandy’s blood-soaked hair. James slapped his hand away, causing Grady to jolt, and the two brothers stared each other down a moment before Grady retreated from James’ protective space.

  “I’m sorry,” Grady said. “I didn’t tell them so they would stampede you. I thought they had a right to know, though. They were bound to see the television coverage eventually, too.”

  James blew out a frustrated sigh as he rubbed his cheek against Mandy’s forehead. “I know you didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t mean to yell. I’m just … overwhelmed. I don’t need a lot of people shadowing me right now. I don’t want to answer
questions about what I’m going to do or fight off Ally. I don’t know what I’m going to do and the last thing Mandy needs is to be bombarded by questions and smothered.”

  “I understand that,” Grady said, rubbing his cheek. “I totally understand that. You carry Mandy inside and go straight upstairs. I’ll handle the rest.”

  “Mom and Dad aren’t going to like that.”

  “They’ll understand.”

  “Ally definitely isn’t going to like it,” James added.

  “I can wrestle her down and stick her head in my armpit if it comes to it.” It was a lame joke, but it was all Grady could muster.

  “I’m sorry to do this to you,” James said. “I just … she can’t take it.”

  Grady was pretty sure James was the one who couldn’t take it, but he let that observation slide. “Just take care of her,” he prodded. “I’ll take care of everyone else.”

  “I DON’T understand why James didn’t call us,” Ally Hardy complained as she brushed hot sauce over wings on a cookie sheet in her brother’s kitchen. “He should’ve known that we would want to help.”

  “Perhaps he didn’t have time to call,” Rose Hardy suggested, giving her daughter an affectionate sidelong look as she watched her work. “You’re getting quite handy in the kitchen, dear. That will go over well when Jake expects his dinner on the table at a certain time after work.”

  Ally snorted, taking her mother by surprise. “I happen to like cooking,” she countered. “If Jake thinks he’s going to be king of the meal heap, though, he’s got another thing coming. That’s not the way it’s going to work in our house.”

  “That’s not the way it works in our house either,” Louis Hardy said, his eyes twinkling as he shuffled into the kitchen and watched his wife and daughter work. “Are you guys sure James and Mandy are going to want all of this food? It sounds as if Mandy might’ve been close when someone was shot at the courthouse and she might not be up for visitors.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about Mandy,” Ally said, shrugging off her father’s concern with a hand wave. “She’s tough. James always overreacts about these things.”