Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) (9 page)

“Emma,” Finn warned.

Emma turned, her eyes dark as she regarded Finn. “You can go and stay in a hotel if you want. Lily is staying here, where it’s safe. She shouldn’t be alone. She’s been traumatized.”

“We need to talk about this,” Finn pressed.

“No, we don’t,” Emma replied. “This is my apartment, and Lily is my friend. If you don’t like it, you can go. No one is making you stay.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Emma asked, meeting Sophie’s gaze in the rearview mirror as the reporter drove them across town.

Lily was sitting in the passenger seat, her face immovable as the fancy Grosse Pointe houses sped by in a blur. Emma was sitting in the backseat, clearly on edge.

“Lily needs protection,” Sophie said. “If she doesn’t want to let Finn and the others provide it, we have to go to someone who knows a thing or two about protection.”

“And your foster father knows about protection?” Lily asked.

“He does.”

“Is he a security expert, like the Hardys?”

Sophie shook her head. “No. His business is more … diversified.”

Emma snorted. “You really are masterful when it comes to words.”

“I guess that’s why I write for a living,” Sophie replied.

“You write? Like novels?” Lily looked interested.

“No, I’m a reporter for the Daily Tribune,” Sophie replied. “Remember, we told you that when we came to your apartment?”

Lily made a face and shifted in her seat so she could see Emma’s face clearly. “A reporter? What if she writes a story about me?”

“She won’t,” Emma assured her. “Right, Sophie?”

“I won’t write a story about you if you don’t want it,” Sophie agreed. “If you change your mind down the road, once all of this stuff is handled and the guilty individuals are locked away, I think it would make a compelling human-interest story.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be of interest to anyone,” Lily shot back.

“Then you don’t have to be,” Sophie said, pulling through the gate in front of Peter’s house and killing the engine of her car. “It’s completely up to you.”

“Wow!” Lily said, opening the door and climbing out. “This place is amazing! You grew up here?”

“After I was ten,” Sophie said.

“But it’s like a castle,” Lily said. “I can’t believe you ever left. Did you have servants? Did you used to pretend you were a princess?”

Sophie wrinkled her nose. “I used to pretend I was a cop.”

Lily made a face. “A cop?”

“I always liked to investigate things,” Sophie explained. “Even as a child.”

“Yes, my Sophie always was an inquisitive little thing,” Peter said, moving out from the eave of the house and embracing his foster daughter. “This is a surprise, my dear.”

“I’m sorry for just dropping in,” Sophie said. “We need your help.”

Peter greeted Emma with a smile and hug, and then he focused on Lily. “And what happened to you?”

“IT’S
horrible,” Finn grumbled. “That woman is sleeping one thin wall away, and Emma is doting on her and dressing her up like she’s a child – or a doll.”

James smirked. “So, no loving for you?”

“Emma is worried she’ll hear and it will upset her,” Finn said. “It’s only been two nights, and yet it feels like two months.”

The Hardys were grouped in James’ office with Jake. After another fruitless day of information gathering in the city, they were trying to decide on a new plan of attack. So far, all they’d done was listen to Finn complain.

“You have your own apartment,” Grady reminded him. “You don’t have to spend the night at Emma’s.”

“Oh, right, like I’m going to leave her alone with Lily,” Finn said.

“You don’t like Lily?”

“She’s mean,” Finn said. “She always makes fun of me.”

“Oh, poor, baby brother,” Grady said, poking Finn in the shoulder. “Is the big bully upsetting you?”

“She keeps calling me wholesome.”

“Is that supposed to be an insult?” Jake asked.

“In her eyes? Yes.”

James pressed his lips together, fighting the urge to laugh. “Have you asked her to stop?”

“She doesn’t care,” Finn said. “She likes it. She’s got a horrible personality.”

“She’s been through a lot,” Grady reminded him.

“And that’s the only reason I haven’t tossed her out on her ear.”

“Well, that and the fact that Emma would toss you out on your ear if you tried,” Grady said.

“Shut up,” Finn muttered.

“Listen, if it becomes too hard for you, I could have Mandy come over and beat her up,” James offered, giving in to the urge to smile.

“You’re so funny.” Finn cuffed the back of his brother’s head.

“Seriously, just stay at your apartment,” Grady said. “If it keeps you and Emma from fighting, it’s a win.”

“I can’t stay at my apartment,” Finn said. “Someone attacked Lily. They could be following her. I’m not leaving Emma unprotected.”

Grady’s face sobered. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Put her up in a hotel,” James said.

“That was my initial suggestion,” Finn replied. “Lily accused me of thinking that Emma was too good to hang out with her.”

“And then she kicked him in the kneecaps and stole his lunch money,” Grady interjected.

“Shut up, Grady,” Finn said, scowling. “This is serious. I feel like I can’t touch my own girlfriend.”

Grady rolled his eyes. “You are such a girl.”

“Hey, how would you like it if Sophie brought someone home and you two couldn’t … spend any time together?” Finn shot back.

“Sophie would never do that,” Grady said. “She can’t live without our … special time together. I’m like a drug for her.”

“I didn’t think Emma would do it either,” Finn grumbled, flicking Grady’s ear. “You’re like a drug for her?”

“She just can’t get enough,” Grady said. “She’s addicted.”

“Let’s turn our attention to the problem at hand,” James said. “Not that Finn’s lack of loving shouldn’t be our main concern.”

Finn shot him a look.

“We’re not getting anywhere by going down there every day and just randomly questioning people,” James said. “We’ve got to come up with a plan.”

“What you need is someone to get a job down there,” Jake said. “You need someone to establish a presence that isn’t about questioning people. You need someone to become familiar.”

“That’s a problem,” Grady said. “We’ve all been seen down there. We can’t get a job down there, even if it’s temporary. We’ll be recognized.”

“You could cut your hair,” Finn said. “If you cut your hair, you wouldn’t stand out as much.”

“I think the girl living in your apartment and pulling your hair has made you delusional,” Grady shot back. “I’m not cutting my hair.”

“Jake is right,” James said. “We’ve been going about this all wrong. We need a trusted face down there.”

“I’m not cutting my hair.”

“I wasn’t talking about you,” James said.

“Then who?”

James shifted his attention to Jake. “Who is the one person who hasn’t been down there questioning people?”

Jake shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Come on,” James said. “You could be saving lives.”

“And what’s your sister going to say when I come home smelling like liquor and cigarette smoke?” Jake asked. “She’s not going to like me going undercover.”

“Then don’t tell her,” Grady replied.

“I’m not going to lie to her,” Jake said.

“You’re going to have to,” Grady replied. “Ally will freak out if you tell her, and you’re our only option.”

“You could cut your hair,” Jake suggested.

“I am not cutting my hair,” Grady said. “Stop saying that.”

James smirked. “As much as I would love to force Grady into the barbershop, I think you’re our only option.”

Jake exhaled shakily. “Fine. If this blows up in my face, though, I’m going to throw each and every one of you under the bus – and when Hurricane Ally gets a hold of you? Whew, I wouldn’t want to be you.”

“Duly noted.”

“I’ll see what I can find down there,” Jake said. “I actually know a guy who runs a warehouse on the waterfront. Maybe I can get a job driving a forklift or something. That will give me a good vantage point to see everything.”

“That sounds good,” James said. He turned back to Finn. “Are you still pouting?”

“I’m not pouting,” Finn said. “I’m just … I’m frustrated.”

“Seriously, do you want me to send Mandy over there to have a talk with her? She can be vicious when she wants to be. Maybe she’ll throw a drink in her face and really show her who is boss.”

The room broke into scattered laughter.

Finn scowled. “I hate you guys sometimes.”

“THIS
sounds like an unfortunate situation,” Peter said, his gaze jumping between the three women and finally settling on Lily. “I’m sorry this has happened to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Lily said, shrugging.

“I can’t help but think it partially is,” Peter replied. “I’m the one who approached Hardy Brothers Security about investigating the disappearances. That put you in the crosshairs.”

“You approached them?” Lily asked, her interest piqued. “Why?”

“I heard rumors through my business,” Peter said. “I wanted to see if there was any truth to them.”

“And what business are you in?” Lily asked, scanning the impressive sitting room they were congregated in again. “Do you manufacture gold or something?”

Peter smiled indulgently. “I am in the import-export business.”

“Like, what, you import and sell purses?”

Sophie pursed her lips, avoiding Peter’s curious stare when it landed on her.

“Exactly,” Peter said.

“Well, you’ve done well for yourself,” Lily said. “I love purses.”

“I’m sure.” Peter sipped from his teacup. “So, Sophie, what is it you need?”

“We need Lily protected,” Sophie said.

“Isn’t that what Grady and his brothers do for a living?”

“Those girls? No,” Lily said. “I don’t trust them to protect me.”

“Girls?” Peter arched an eyebrow.

“Lily and Finn are having … issues,” Emma said. “My apartment is kind of small for three people.”

“I see,” Peter said, his eyes lighting up with amusement.

“He’s so sensitive,” Lily said. “I told him one time that his hands were tiny, like a woman’s, and he started crying like a woman. I don’t trust anyone with tiny hands to protect me. That means they’re not strong.”

“We were hoping you might have some ideas,” Sophie said.

“And I’m not staying in a hotel,” Lily said. “I don’t feel safe there.”

“Well, I have a few safe houses,” Peter suggested. “We could put her up in one of those.”

“Why would you have a safe house for purses?” Lily asked.

“I also invest in real estate,” Peter said.

“Oh, smart,” Lily replied. “I like a man who knows what he’s doing financially.” She sent him a saucy wink.

“Uh-huh,” Peter said. “So, a safe house?”

“Why can’t I just stay here?” Lily asked. “It’s not like you don’t have the room – or the security. I saw those two guys standing outside. They don’t look like they’re carrying purses, but they’re definitely carrying.”

Peter’s face was still, but Sophie could read the turmoil behind his eyes. “A safe house is probably better,” he said. “It would give you space to spread out.”

“Are you saying this place doesn’t have space?” Lily asked. “I’m sure you could give me one wing to spread out in, and you could have the other three all to yourself.”

“I … .”

“Seriously,” Lily said. “What’s the problem? Don’t you like me?”

“You seem … delightful,” Peter said. “It’s just that … well … I’m used to living on my own. I’m the only one who has ever lived here. I don’t share well with others.”

“Didn’t Sophia used to live here?”

“Sophie,” Peter corrected impulsively. “Her name is Sophie.”

“Oh, I thought it was Sophia,” Lily said, wrinkling her nose. “You should change your name to Sophia. It’s prettier, and it fits you better.”

“I’ll consider it,” Sophie said, turning back to Peter. “Can you help us? Please?”

Peter sighed, resigned. “I suppose she can stay here for a few days.”

Lily brightened. “Great. You have a maid, right? And a cook? I’m going to want something special for breakfast.”

“For a few days,” Peter stressed.

Sophie smiled. “Thank you.”

“If she starts referring to me as a girl, all bets are off,” Peter said, lowering his voice as he watched Lily move around the room. “I know where to hide a body – and it’s not in a purse.”