Deadly Rivalry (Hardy Brothers Security Book 17) (16 page)

“That did it,” Ally said, tossing her napkin on the table. “I’m going to rip your hair out.”

Peter grabbed Ally’s arm to still her. “The Hardy shenanigans can wait until this is over with,” he said. “You’re angry. You might want to ask yourself what you’re truly angry about. You’re usually very observant, missy. How come you missed the signs on this one? They were obvious.”

“But … .” Ally pressed her lips together. “Fine. I’m not angry. Well, I am angry. I’m not going to do anything about it, though.”

“That’s good,” Peter said. “We’re not out of the woods yet … although they’ve thinned considerably. Mandy, you are to eat your breakfast before we all force it down your throat. Then you’re to let your husband take you home and do … whatever weird things you do involving sharks.

“The rest of us will suss out Mr. Thorpe’s part in all of this,” he continued. “I also want to find out what is going on with Detective Mason. Other than that, we seem to be in a good position. I would like to keep it that way.”

“Someone needs to explain the sharks to me,” Givens said. “I’m fascinated.”

“No, you’re not,” Grady said. “You’ll have nightmares if I tell you. I’ve seen what happens when the girl fills her head with sharks. It’s … freaky.”

“You’re not freaky, baby,” James said, kissing her cheek. “You’re perfect.”

“And I’m ready to throw up again,” Grady grumbled.

“
Y
ou didn’t have
to take me shopping and to dinner,” Mandy said as James pulled into their driveway just as darkness began to descend. “I would’ve been perfectly happy getting naked in the Orca and watching sharks all night.”

James chuckled as he killed the engine to his Explorer and turned to study his wife. “I love you, baby.”

Mandy’s face was earnest. “I love you, too.”

“We’re going to have to put a time limit on how long you can spend with the projector in the Orca, though,” James said. “I’m really worried you’re going to live there if I’m not careful.”

“I don’t want to live there,” Mandy scoffed. “We need a bed on the main floor if we’re going to do that.”

“I was actually considering getting one of those funky hammocks for that open corner once you finish your mural,” James said. “I’ve never had sex in a hammock. I’m betting it’s going to be difficult, but if anyone is up to the challenge, I think it’s us.”

Mandy grinned. “That sounds fun. I still want to watch the sharks tonight.”

“You can watch the sharks as long as you want tonight,” James said. “I’m looking forward to you watching the sharks. Why do you think I bought that eight-pack of Gatorade? I’m going to need to keep my electrolytes in balance since you’re going to be jumping me every chance you get.”

“Ha, ha.” Mandy’s face sobered. “Can I ask you something?”

“No.”

“Come on,” Mandy prodded.

“Mandy, I can’t deal with one of your deep questions right now,” James said. “Do you want to know something? I have an answer ready. If I could go back in time and change things I totally would. I would embrace my inner pervert and run off with fourteen-year-old you. To hell with what’s right and decent.”

Mandy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

“Is that what you wanted to hear?” James prodded.

“Actually, no,” Mandy said, giggling. “I was going to ask if you thought Detective Mason would be a threat if he loses his job. Now that you’ve given me that other answer, though, I’m going to hold it over your head forever.”

“Oh,” James said, rubbing his neck. “I don’t know, baby. That’s a pretty good question, especially given your history with crazy people. I’ll make sure the security system is set once we’re inside. We put a new one out in the guesthouse, too, and you need to know how to work it.”

“You added a system in the guesthouse?” Mandy knew she shouldn’t be surprised, but the information was mildly disappointing.

“I know that’s your safe haven where you like to paint,” James said. “You don’t want to think of being unsafe out there, but two crazy people have gotten into that guesthouse now. The first was a woman you managed to take out with a pool ball, but Pritchard was another story.

“I don’t want to make another mistake,” he continued. “Keeping you safe is the most important thing in the world to me. Keeping you happy is second. I’m doing the best I can, but I want that system to stay in the guesthouse.”

“I’m okay with that,” Mandy said. “Do we always have to turn it on, though?”

“No,” James conceded. “On the rare three days a month you’re not being stalked or threatened we can leave it off.”

“You’re a funny guy,” Mandy said, leaning over to kiss her husband. “Now, come on. You’ve stuffed me full of crab legs and bought me a new pair of shoes. I want to see the sharks. I need it.”

James laughed, his shoulders shaking. “You’re an addict, wife.”

“I’m addicted to you first and foremost,” Mandy said. “The sharks are like the whipped cream topping on the strawberry shortcake of our life, though. I need them.”

“Your wish is my command,” James said, pushing open his door. “Let’s leave the stuff in the Explorer until tomorrow. Nothing is going to spoil. I want to get you to those sharks before you turn into a pumpkin.”

“Yay!” Mandy clapped excitedly as she skipped toward the front door of the house. James hadn’t seen her giddy in so long he realized he was worried he would never see it again. She seemed lighter, and he couldn’t be happier. He would give her a week straight of sharks if she remained this excited.

Mandy was almost to the door, her fingers outstretched to grab the handle, when three scratches near the lock mechanism caught James’ attention. He grabbed Mandy’s hand and cocked his head to the side as he regarded the door.

“What?” Mandy asked, confused. “Is something wrong?”

“Someone’s in the house, baby,” James said, keeping his voice low as he pulled Mandy to his side. He moved them away from the door and pressed Mandy’s body against the outside of the house and leaned back so he could look up at the upstairs windows. Everything was dark. There was no way he could see someone if they watched the couple’s approach from the second floor, which would be the smart thing to do.

James dug into his pocket and retrieved his cell phone. He handed it to Mandy while keeping his eyes alert. “Call Grady and tell him we need help. Keep your voice low and don’t move. I need to listen, so I’m going to move away, but only a few feet. I will not let anyone touch you.”

Mandy nodded. “I’m okay.”

“You’re going to stay okay,” James said, pressing a solid kiss to her forehead. “Make the call.”

“
O
H
,
this can’t be good,” Grady said, setting his glass of wine on Peter’s coffee table as he checked his cell phone screen. “If James has taken to calling me while he’s having sex, we’re going to have a serious talk tomorrow.”

Peter grinned as he exchanged an amused look with Sophie.

“Hello,” Grady said. “If you’re calling to brag, just remember that real men don’t have to brag.”

Grady’s smile was wide as he listened, and then it began to slip. Peter realized something was wrong before Sophie registered the change in Grady’s demeanor.

“Have you seen anyone, Mandy?” Grady asked, his tone serious.

“What’s happening?” Peter asked. “Should I send people to the house?”

Grady nodded.

Peter hopped to his feet and moved to the hallway. “Rodrigo! Get a team together and get to the Hardy home right now. Be careful. James and Mandy are there and I have no idea what’s going on. It sounds like they’re in trouble, though.”

Rodrigo was usually all swagger, but his face flushed with concern when he hit the bottom of the stairs. “That blonde always finds trouble.”

“Well, it found her tonight,” Peter said. “Save her.”

“Consider it done,” Rodrigo said, striding toward the door.

Grady was still talking to Mandy when Peter returned.

“Mandy, help is on the way,” Grady said. “Tell James to get in the Explorer and leave. I don’t understand why he’s got you hiding under the eave unless … .” Grady broke off, realization dawning. “He thinks someone is watching the two of you from upstairs with a rifle. If you go back toward the Explorer you’ll be sitting ducks.”

“I’ll relay that information to Rodrigo on his phone,” Peter said. “I’ll tell him to go in through the back.”

“Mandy, Peter is sending Rodrigo,” Grady said. “He’s going in through the back. Make sure James knows that so he doesn’t inadvertently shoot him. Wait, he doesn’t have a gun, does he? Crap. We’re on our way.”

“
P
ETER
sent
Rodrigo and Grady is on his way,” Mandy said quietly as she slipped James’ phone back into his pocket. “Have you seen anyone?”

“No.”

“How do you know someone is watching us?” Mandy asked. “Can’t we risk a run to the Explorer and drive away?”

“The driveway is too long, baby,” James explained. “That’s too much open space. If someone has a gun up there, they’ll be able to hit us without much trouble. Especially if they have training.”

“You think it’s Mason, don’t you?”

“I think he’s the best suspect,” James confirmed.

“What are we going to do?” Mandy asked. “I’m not sure we’re much safer here. We’re out in the open if he decides to go out the back door and arc wide to hit the front.”

“Your mind is a wonder sometimes,” James said. “You figure things out even when you have no business understanding how they’re supposed to work. What you’re saying is true. That means we have to find cover, and we have to do it in a way that doesn’t expose us.”

“And how do we do that?”

“You’re going to run for the woods in that direction while I draw whoever this is out toward the end of the driveway,” James replied matter-of-factly, bracing himself for Mandy to screech or stomp her foot.

“That’s not going to happen,” Mandy replied, her tone blasé.

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it’s not,” Mandy said. “We’re not splitting up.”

“We have to,” James said. “I need you to get to safety. I won’t risk you again. I won’t let you down this time.”

Mandy frowned. “You didn’t let me down last time,” she said. “No one let me down. No one could’ve expected Pritchard to make the move that he did. You’re desperate for me to let his death go. Well, you need to look in the mirror and let the guilt you feel go, too. You didn’t let me down. You save me every day we share together.”

James shook his head. “I promised I wouldn’t let him get near you and he almost killed you,” he said. “That’s on me, baby. That’s not going to happen this time.”

“We don’t know what’s going to happen this time,” Mandy said. “I’m not leaving your side, though. Think about it, James. Given my track record, I’m going to take off alone and run into whoever Mason is working with in the woods over there. It’s probably Russ Thorpe because he’s nasty and slimy and I don’t like him. That would pretty much be my luck right now. Do you want me to deal with whoever it is alone?”

James was frustrated. “We don’t know anyone is over there.”

“We don’t,” Mandy agreed. “I’m playing the odds. You’re going to go out there with every intention of acting as bait and it’s going to backfire because somehow I’m going to end up in trouble. It always happens. Why should this time be any different?”

James silently worked his mouth. He couldn’t argue with her logic, and that was a sad thing. “Fine,” he said finally. “We’re going to head for those trees and move in the direction of the back of the lot. Do you understand what I’m saying, because I need you to be clear once we hit those woods? We can’t talk.”

“I understand,” Mandy said. “You want to circle the property and meet up with Rodrigo. With backup you plan on foisting me off on one of Peter’s men so you and Rodrigo can thump your chests and take down the bad guy.

“Then you want to turn him over to the police and romance me with sharks, massages, and candy all night,” she continued. “I’ve got it.”

“How can you possibly know that?”

“I’m a genius,” Mandy answered. “You said it yourself.”

“You’re so stinking cute,” James muttered, pressing a soft kiss to her mouth. “You stick close to me. If I tell you to do something, you can’t question me. You do it. Do you understand?”

“You’re the boss this round,” Mandy confirmed. “I’m the boss later.”

“Right,” James said, the corners of his mouth tipping up despite the surreal situation. “We’re going to move as fast as possible while remaining quiet. It’s going to be okay.”

“I know,” Mandy said. “I have you. Everything is okay when I have you.”

“God, I love you.”

“
W
E’RE
almost there
,” Grady said, signaling so he could pull into the right lane of the freeway. “Where is Rodrigo?”

“They’re parking now,” Peter said, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “They passed the front of the house and James’ Explorer is parked, but there’s no sign of him or Mandy.”

“What would James do in this situation?” Sophie asked.

Grady tilted his head to the side, racking his brain. “He’d make her run into the woods and draw fire by heading out toward the road.”

“Rodrigo didn’t see him,” Sophie pointed out.

“That’s because he told his plan to Mandy and she overruled him,” Grady said. “She refused to leave his side so James is going into the woods and working his way around to the back of the house.”

“Very good,” Peter said. “We’re parking in front of the house.”

“Why?” Sophie asked.

“To make sure that whoever is in that house has split attention,” Grady answered for Peter. “If he sees he’s outnumbered, he might run.”

“Sophie, you need to call the sheriff’s department,” Peter instructed. “I can’t do it by virtue of … well, just about everything. Tell them to get to the house because you suspect Detective Mason is about to murder the Hardys.”

“Should I really be that dramatic?” Sophie asked, pulling her phone from her purse.

“Yes,” Peter replied. “Morgan has to understand how serious this is and how badly it will look for him if one of his detectives – whether he was fired this afternoon or not – is after the citizens of Macomb County.”

“I’m on it,” Sophie said. “What are we going to do when we get to the house?”

“Help James the best way we can,” Grady answered. “We’re going to be extremely loud and draw as much attention to us – and away from James and Mandy – as humanly possible.”

J
AMES
clasped
Mandy’s hand in his and led her through the trees, picking a clear path that allowed as much foliage cover as possible while also limiting the amount of ground they would have to traverse.

He didn’t expect her to wilt and cry, but the stoic way she walked beside him took his breath away. Her eyes were active as they scanned the yard and her hand didn’t shake in his. He realized that despite her emotions running roughshod since Pritchard’s death, she was still the strongest person he’d ever met.

Once they hit the area parallel to the deep end of the pool, James slowed their pace and listened. He peered around Mandy’s shoulder and focused on the sliding glass door at the back of the house. It would be the main exit should someone try to move between the buildings. The door at the back of the garage, though, was hidden by the arboretum construction. The building materials and frame were covered with clear tarps that waved in the slight breeze as the night continued to darken. The garage door offered cover the sliding glass door didn’t. That meant whoever was in the house would opt to use that one instead of the more convenient choice.