Deadly Arrival (Hardy Brothers Security Book 16) (14 page)

Rodrigo scowled. “Thanks for ruining my night with that visual.”

Sophie grinned. “You’re welcome.”

“I don’t understand any of this,” Grady admitted, leaning back on James’ office couch the next morning and clasping his hands behind his head. “How was Pritchard getting information about Emma while he was in prison?”

“Do we know what his computer access was like?” James asked Jake.

“I emailed Lassiter to get some answers, but he hasn’t followed up yet,” Jake responded. “He seems eager to help, but he has his own problems. Plus … well … there’s something about him I don’t like.”

“Can you expand on that?”

“He had odd questions about Emma,” Jake admitted.

Finn stiffened on the couch next to Grady. “What kind of odd questions?”

After questioning DeAngelo and turning him over to the sheriff’s department, Grady called James with an update so they could schedule a meeting the following day. This included inviting Peter, who remained mostly quiet for much of the recap. Now the older man looked intrigued.

“I’m not sure … .” Jake hedged, darting a look in James’ direction.

“Tell us,” James prodded. “You seem uncomfortable, but everyone needs to know what’s going on.”

“He went on the offensive with me relatively quickly,” Jake explained. “He wanted to know what I knew about Emma, what kind of person she was. He mentioned her mother and Jeff and how she would be the only ‘good apple’ in the bunch.

“I countered that while Jeff made mistakes, I didn’t think he was a bad man,” he continued. “I explained that Jeff got into trouble because he was trying to take care of Emma.

“He then gave me some lip about what kind of person Emma was, and I honestly said she was the sweetest person I’ve ever met,” Jake said. “He then asked me if I was having a thing with her.”

Finn scowled. “Of course his head would go there,” he said. “What did you say?”

“I explained I was in love with my girlfriend,” Jake replied. “I love Ally dearly, but there are times I wouldn’t describe her as ‘sweet.’ I also explained that Emma didn’t have a mean bone in her body.”

“I don’t understand the purpose of those questions,” Grady said. “Why is this Lassiter guy worried about Emma?”

“Because he’s going to lose his job,” Peter answered for Jake. “Have you been watching the news? The public wants someone to pay for that guard dying and those prisoners escaping.

“Had it been another run-of-the-mill prisoner and not Pritchard, the public outcry would not be what it is right now,” he continued. “People would be frightened, but Pritchard puts a hard edge on this one. What he did disgusted an entire nation.

“If you remember back to when he was arrested, he made national headlines,” Peter said. “He was on those cable news crime shows every night. People are fascinated with a disgusting deviant, and that’s exactly what Pritchard is.

“The other men who escaped are dangerous, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not Pritchard,” Peter said. “Pritchard is an animal of a different sort. Lassiter might have been able to survive this if it wasn’t for Pritchard. That will not be the case now.”

“Lassiter mentioned something about that himself,” Jake said. “He said he was going to lose his job and the minute one of these guys actually hurt or killed someone he was out of there. He seemed resigned to his fate.”

“Why do you think he asked the questions about Emma?” Peter asked.

“I … it was weird,” Jake replied. “I kind of got a little worked up at his attitude, and then he admitted he was under a lot of pressure because of his job situation and he was only asking about Emma because he thought she might help Pritchard. He claimed he didn’t know what Pritchard did to his own kids.”

“Do you believe him?” James asked.

“I’m not sure,” Jake said. “I just don’t know. There were times I thought he was telling me the truth. Other times, though, it was more like he was trying to get information from me.”

“DeAngelo and Lupo are off the streets, which is a good thing, but Pritchard is the one everyone is focusing on,” Peter said. “The screws are going to start tightening on Pritchard. We have to hope he makes a mistake.”

“Well, I have something else I want to float by everyone,” James said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “Before anyone argues – and there is going to be arguing about the privacy factor and I’m already prepared for it – I think we should all move in together at my house until this is over.”

The room was silent for a moment, and then Grady and Jake immediately started arguing while Finn remained thoughtful and quiet.

“No way,” Grady said. “How am I going to get any loving when I’m sharing a wall with Jake and Ally?” He shot a sheepish look in Peter’s direction. “I’m sorry for being crass.”

“I’ve gone momentarily deaf,” Peter replied. “Continue.”

“You and Sophie can have the guesthouse,” James said. “I want you to be able to spread out on the main floor with the monitors as it is, and I think Sophie is the one who is going to need the most space.”

“What about me?” Jake asked. “Ally is a lot of energy for a small bedroom.”

“I know that,” James said. “She’ll be fixated on Emma, though. The closer Emma is to giving birth, the more worried I am about her going into labor. That test she put us through the other day was a real eye-opener. We need those women there if Emma goes into labor. We’re useless. Am I the only one who noticed that?”

“I don’t want to be separated from her during the day,” Finn protested. “At least here I know she’s upstairs.”

“That’s why we’re shutting down the office and moving our business to the house,” James said.

“I don’t know,” Jake said, cracking his neck.

“By doing it this way we can consolidate Peter’s men in one area,” James explained. “He can put a car on all four streets around the property. It’s not perfect and there are holes in the perimeter, but someone would really have to be looking to find them. He’ll also have another car there in case someone needs to go somewhere.

“The women will be better equipped to take care of Emma, and with all of us in the same house, someone would have to get through three people before making it to Emma,” he continued. “I think it’s our best move.”

“I agree with James,” Peter said. “Not only will it be easier to keep Emma safe, but it will also be easier to keep eyes on Mandy, Sophie, and Ally. They may not be happy with the situation, but it is what’s in their best interests.”

“Fine,” Jake said, blowing out a sigh. “When Ally tries to kill everyone, though, you’re the ones taking her on.”

“We’re used to it,” Grady replied, unruffled. “Don’t worry about that.”

“While you’re moving everyone under the same roof, I’m going to reach out to contacts I have in the prison,” Peter said. “I don’t want to rely on Lassiter’s word regarding Pritchard’s actions. That could be disastrous if we’re not careful.

“I trust Jake’s instincts,” he continued. “If he thinks there’s something off about the man, then perhaps there is something we’re missing there. I also want zero in on Marcus Gibson. There has to be a reason absolutely no one has sighted him.”

“Okay,” James said, pushing himself up from his desk. “Now I just have to tell Mandy and hope she doesn’t blow a gasket.”

“You haven’t told her yet?” Grady asked, snorting.

“I wanted everyone to agree before I started begging,” James replied. “This is not going to put her in a good mood.”

“HEY,
baby,” James said, breezing into Mandy’s office with Lebanese food for lunch shortly before noon. “How was your day?”

Mandy lifted her eyes, frowning as she looked her husband up and down. “What did you do?”

James stilled. He shouldn’t have been surprised by her reaction. She could read him better than anyone. He thought he would have a few minutes of fun before she turned on him, though.

James shut the office door to isolate them and dropped the food bags on her desk. “Do you want to argue or eat first?”

“Argue.”

“Okay,” James said, resigned. “Would it be all right with you if everyone moved into the house until Pritchard is caught?” He’d rehearsed this ten times during the drive. He was determined to make her part of the decision – even though it was technically already made.

“What happens if I say no?” Mandy asked, her face unreadable.

“Then we’ll figure something else out,” James answered. “It’s your house, too, baby. I believe our best shot at keeping everyone safe is to put us all under the same roof. If you don’t want that, though, I’ll consider moving Emma to a hotel.”

“Have you already told your brothers this plan?”

“Yes,” James said. “We had a meeting with Peter earlier and we had a few things to discuss after DeAngelo’s capture last night. The fact that Pritchard knew so much information about Emma’s situation when he shouldn’t have been able to glean most of those details in such a short amount of time is troublesome.”

“You know everyone is going to fight if you do this, right?”

James nodded. “I’m hoping Ally will pool all of her excess energy into helping Emma, but yes, I know there’s going to be squabbling.”

“Okay,” Mandy said. “I’m fine with it.”

James knit his eyebrows together. “That’s it? You’re fine with it?”

“You asked my opinion, and that’s my opinion,” Mandy replied. “I want Emma safe. I want to make your job easier. This is the best way to do it.”

“If I didn’t already love you more than anything in this world, I would fall in love with you all over again,” James said sincerely.

Mandy winked, her mischievous nature coming out to play. “I know. With that in mind, though, why don’t you lock that door and drop your pants?”

James’ heart flopped. “Seriously? You want to have a nooner?”

“Not if you call it that,” Mandy scoffed, although she was already pushing herself to a standing position and lifting her skirt. “Come on. I know you have a thing about my skirts and this desk. In six months it’s not going to be an option, and if we do it now I’ll work up a proper appetite for lunch.”

James smiled and flicked the lock, his hands going to his belt. “You’re the best wife ever.”

“I know,” Mandy said, grinning when he rounded the corner of her desk, his eyes widening when he realized she wasn’t wearing underwear.

“Did you have this planned before I even showed up, baby?”

“Oh, actually I was waiting for some random lawyer to show up, but I guess you’ll do instead,” Mandy replied, feigning naughtiness.

James grabbed her around the waist from behind, yanking her body to his as he kissed her tender neck. “That is not funny, wife.”

“Who says I was trying to be funny?”

“I know you only want me,” James growled, snapping her garter belts for emphasis. “That’s why you wear these. You know it drives me crazy.”

“I have always only wanted you,” Mandy said, sighing when she felt his fingers dip into her warm core as he licked her ear.

James momentarily sobered. “Baby, you’re all I’m ever going to want,” he said. “Have faith in that. You have to admit something to me, though, or I’m not going to give you what you want.”

Mandy giggled as she rubbed her bare rear end against James’ erection. “You’re going to give me what we both want whether I admit anything or not. Let’s not play games.”

“Fine,” James conceded, slipping one of his hands beneath Mandy’s top so he could cup her breast. He would prefer stripping her completely bare, but there was no way he would risk that in the middle of a busy courthouse. “Did you plan to do this when you left the house this morning?”

“I planned to do this before we went to bed last night,” Mandy answered, causing James to growl.

“Well, I guess I shouldn’t keep you waiting then,” James said, surprising Mandy when he pushed himself inside of her with little preamble. Mandy opened her mouth to moan, but James tilted her head to the side so he could swallow the sound with his own mouth. “I love you, my baby.”

“I love you, too,” Mandy whimpered. “We have to be really quiet, though. If we get caught, I’m never going to live this down.”

“That’s funny, baby,” James said, twirling his fingers against her pulsating mound and causing her to bite her lip as an orgasm approached. “From my perspective, if we get caught I’m going to be a hero forever.”

“James,” Mandy gasped, slamming her hips back and tightening herself around him.

James couldn’t hide his own groan. “Be careful, baby,” he hissed. “We’re going to have people lining up outside that door to see what we’re doing if you do that again.”

“I don’t care,” Mandy said, reaching back to grip his strong thighs. “Come on. I’ve been dreaming about this for almost twenty-four hours.”

“Your wish is my command, wife,” James muttered, kissing her again. “God, I love you.”

“I love you more.”

“That’s not possible, baby. No one has ever loved anyone as much as I love you.”

Mandy was nervous as she joined everyone in the kitchen the next morning. She knew James was about to flip his lid – and she would rather tell him her news in private – but that didn’t appear to be an option.

“What took you so long, baby?” James asked, kissing her cheek as she moved to his side. When he left her in their bedroom an hour before, she claimed she was going to take a quick shower before joining everyone.

“Heidi called,” Mandy said, licking her lips.

“I made pancakes,” Ally said, using her hip to move James so she could position herself between her best friend and brother. “I know you prefer eggs, but I can make those tomorrow.”

“Pancakes are fine,” Mandy replied, offering Ally a wan smile. “I … .”

“What gossip does Heidi have?” James asked, missing the furtive look Mandy shot in Ally’s direction. Whatever unsaid warning passed between them, Ally wisely took a step back.

“She … um … maybe we should go in the other room and talk?” Mandy suggested.

James stilled, narrowing his eyes as he finally focused on his wife. “What did you do?”

Mandy wanted to laugh at his reaction. It was the exact mirror of her response to his arrival the previous afternoon. She was too worried to do anything of the sort, though. “You’re about to have a really big meltdown, and I’m not sure you want to do it in front of an audience.”

“Batten down the hatches,” Grady deadpanned. “Here comes the storm.”

James sucked in a steadying breath. “I am not going to yell. Tell me what’s going on and we’ll tackle it together.”

“Heidi called because she wanted to remind me that we’re not supposed to report to the courthouse today,” Mandy said.

“Are you saying you have the day off?” James asked, relieved. “Why would I be upset about that? That’s going to make my day better when we repeat yesterday’s lunchtime activities in my office here.”

“You’re so sick,” Ally muttered.

James flicked her ear. “You’re just jealous.”

“Whatever.”

“I don’t have the day off,” Mandy clarified, her gaze landing on Grady because she figured he was going to be her best shot at backup over the next few minutes. “I forgot that we have a judges’ conference. It’s at the Best Western on Gratiot. Every judge in the tri-county area is going to be there, as well as their staff. It’s mandatory.”

James swiveled quickly, his mouth flying open as he prepared to make unreasonable demands. Ally headed him off before he could make a mess of things, clamping her hand over his mouth and leaning in close. “Use your words,” she prodded. “Don’t say something we’re all going to regret.”

“Won’t Judge MacIntosh let you out of this?” Grady asked, taking over questioning while James regrouped. “I’m sure he would understand if you explained what was going on.”

“He’s offered to let me out of it, but I don’t feel comfortable with that,” Mandy clarified. “I’m his employee and he makes so many concessions for me that it’s not fair for everyone else as it is. He’s letting a mobster sit in his courtroom, for crying out loud. I am not asking for special treatment on this.”

James sucked in a breath. “Tell me about the setup at this conference and exactly what happens there.”

“It’s spread out over the main floor,” Mandy explained. “It’s basically three different informational sessions where we learn about new computer equipment, updates on rules, and new technology. I’ll be in closed rooms inside and surrounded by a ton of people.”

“There’s also a ton of exits and ways for someone to get close to you,” James pointed out. “There’s no way … .”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Ally warned.

“James, I know this upsets you, but I don’t have a choice,” Mandy said. “I refuse to be the one person incapable of doing my job. I know you don’t understand why it’s necessary to give this my all since I’m leaving in September, but I owe it to Judge MacIntosh to be the best clerk I can be.”

James rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to yell and scream. He wanted to shake her. He knew both of those actions would get him the exact opposite of what he wanted. “What if I come with you?”

Mandy balked. “I cannot bring my husband to work with me,” she said. “Everyone knows who you are. I’m going to look like a child who needs her daddy to follow her around. No.”

“You can’t go into a hotel without backup,” James argued. “I know you don’t want to be treated differently than everyone else there, but you
are
different right now. If Pritchard somehow manages to find out what’s going on … .”

Sophie cleared her throat, cutting James off. “I have a solution if you want to hear it before this goes south,” she offered.

James glanced at her. “What solution?”

“We can send Rodrigo and Sven,” Sophie said. “Both of them clean up well and no one is going to recognize them. We’ll explain to the judge what’s going on and he can get them clearance. He’s not going to put up a fight.

“If you take those two men – men Mandy is comfortable with because she knows them, mind you – they’ll be able to watch the room,” she continued. “Mandy will be able to relax. Mandy will also have to compromise by staying around other people at all times and not walking down any hallways by herself.”

“I can live with that,” Mandy said hurriedly.

James didn’t immediately answer, and when Mandy slipped her hand on top of his arm and fixed him with pleading eyes he realized he was going to relent even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

“I love you, James, but you have to let me do this and not fight me on it.”

James signed. “Okay, baby,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You need to text me in between every event, though, and I want you to be extra vigilant. Make sure you have Sven or Rodrigo in sight at all times.”

“I promise.”

James cupped her chin. “You also need to go without underwear and send me dirty photos with the texts.”

Mandy made a face. “I’m not changing into a skirt.”

“I had to try,” James said, breaking into a grin and kissing her. “If something goes wrong, you should be ready for me to handcuff you to the bed and not let you out of this house for the rest of your life. I’m just warning you ahead of time.”

“We’ll talk about how I’m going to reward you for being reasonable later,” Mandy teased, the weight from her shoulders lifting. “Now, where are my pancakes?”

“I’M
surprised you’re here,” Judge MacIntosh said, greeting Mandy in the center of the Best Western lobby an hour later and looking her over. “I thought for sure James would’ve put a stop to your attendance.”

“He’s not happy,” Mandy conceded. “I have a job to do, though. I have no intention of letting you down.”

“You could never let me down,” MacIntosh argued. “The only way you would let me down is if you refuse to take care of yourself. I’m assuming you’re not here alone.”

Mandy pursed her lips and shook her head.

“How many of Peter’s men are here?”

“Two,” Mandy answered. “I … James wants them to have event credentials so they don’t look out of place. If you’re not comfortable facilitating that, I understand. I don’t expect you to pull strings for them.”

“Which men are we talking about?” MacIntosh asked.

Mandy pointed, and MacIntosh studied Sven and Rodrigo with detached interest.

“They actually don’t stand out,” MacIntosh said after a few moments. “I’m not sure I would’ve recognized them for what they are in a busy setting like this if you didn’t tell me who they were. I’ll take care of security badges.”

“Are you sure?” Mandy was surprised.

“I’m positive,” MacIntosh said. “You stay here and I will handle your friends. What are their names?”

“Sven and Rodrigo.”

MacIntosh snorted. “That’s priceless,” he said. “While I’m doing that, go ahead and mingle. Don’t wander off on your own. I have trouble believing Pritchard would be stupid enough to approach you here, but then again, he went after you in the courthouse and that was one of the boldest things I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t especially smart, though. I will take care of these other two gentlemen, and then we can enjoy our day.”

Mandy forced a smile. “I can’t wait.”

“THAT
was really interesting,” Heidi bubbled as she left one of the conference rooms with Mandy a few hours later. “Didn’t you think that was interesting?”

While Mandy was a big fan of Heidi’s over-the-top exuberance on a normal day, she had to wonder if she’d been in the same informational session as her friend. As Heidi happily jotted down notes and soaked up the knowledge, Mandy stared at the wall clock and counted the minutes until they were done.

It was a sobering thought, but Mandy realized she was already mentally checked out of her job. She wasn’t sure when it officially happened. She’d never considered clerking to be a lifelong ambition. She always wanted to be an artist. She was pragmatic enough to know that wouldn’t pay her bills, though.

James made enough money that she didn’t have to work. In theory, he didn’t have a problem with her working as much as he had a problem with where she worked. He didn’t like his wife hanging around lawyers and criminals all day.

After her father died, Mandy also received an inheritance. Despite his protestations, Mandy insisted on giving James a big chunk of the money to use as a down payment on their house so they could be equal partners. She invested the rest of the money into retirement accounts, and now she felt she should bring money into the household coffers, even if it was paltry in light of what James made.

Mandy always fancied herself a diligent worker. Her stomach sank at the realization that she was biding time now. It wasn’t a good feeling.

“Are you even listening to me?” Heidi asked.

“I’m sorry,” Mandy said. “I was just … absorbing the knowledge.”

“I know, right?” Heidi was back to being excited, seemingly oblivious to Mandy’s epiphany. “That new computer system is going to be great. We won’t get it until January, but it’s still going to streamline everything for us.”

Mandy knew she wasn’t going to be at the courthouse in January. There was no way she could tell Heidi that, though. Heidi liked to gossip more than just about anything else. She couldn’t risk Heidi breaking the news before she was ready to do it herself. “It is going to be great,” Mandy lied, moving closer to a hallway wall to allow a group of women to pass. “Where are we supposed to be going for lunch, by the way? Do you know?”

“Oh, um … .” Heidi broke off, biting her lip as she scanned the area leading into the lobby. “I think the dining room is over there.” She pointed. “It’s supposed to be closed off for just us. I hope we get something good.
Oomph
.” Heidi flew into the wall as a man barreled into her, taking both women momentarily by surprise.

The man was wearing a delivery uniform, a hat pulled low, but Mandy recognized him instantaneously. She shoved Heidi farther away and took a step back as she faced down Lance Pritchard.

“I cannot believe you’re this dumb,” Mandy hissed.

“I can’t believe
you’re
this dumb,” Pritchard said, reaching for Mandy’s wrist. “Come on. You’re coming with me.”

Mandy instinctively reacted, slapping Pritchard across the face as hard as she could and rocking him back to his heels. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Omigod!” Heidi wailed. “Is that Lance Pritchard?”

Pritchard’s eyes widened as numerous eyes shifted in his direction. He reached toward his pocket and withdrew a jagged-edged knife, causing Mandy to take another step back. “I will gut you if you don’t walk out of this hotel with me right now.”

Mandy opened her mouth to respond, a pithy comment on her lips, but she changed tactics midcourse and did the only thing she knew would save her. She screamed.

It wasn’t necessary. Sven was already at her side, his hands on Pritchard’s arm as he forcibly turned him. Rodrigo stepped into the space behind Mandy and grabbed her around the waist, spinning to put his body between her and danger.

Sven momentarily grappled with Pritchard, but the melee was enough to cause people to panic.

“He’s got a knife!”

Mandy had no idea who was screaming, but when everyone joined the fray it resulted in pandemonium. People rushed by the fighting men and someone inadvertently fell into Sven, forcing him closer to Pritchard, where he was impaled on the knife.

Sven’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t give up trying to wrangle Pritchard. Pritchard took advantage of Sven’s weakened condition and pulled away, shoving Sven into the wall and locking gazes with Mandy. “This isn’t over.”

He didn’t wait for her to respond, instead bolting through the terrified people and heading toward the front door. Mandy broke from Rodrigo’s grip and rushed to Sven’s side as the man buckled.

“Call 911!”