Deadly Christmas (20 page)

“I have every right,” James replied, unruffled. “Then we have Ryan’s criminal past, the video, Art’s statements here, which will definitely come into play. Most juries don’t look kindly on blackmail.”

“Art, maybe … .”

“Shut up, Ava,” Art snapped, cutting his pouty wife off. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Hardy?”

“I’m promising you that the charges against your son will stand,” James said. “I will not put my wife at risk for any amount of money. I won’t back down on this. You’d better find your son, and you’d better do it quickly. I was down for the count today, but tomorrow I’m going to find him – and when I do, I can promise you it won’t end well.”

“You can’t threaten me,” Art hissed.

“I think he just did,” Grady said.

“Now get out of my house,” James ordered.

“How dare you?” Ava sputtered. “Do you have any idea who we are?”

“We do,” Mandy said. “You’re the people we just kicked out of our house. Now you’d better go, because if I have to remove you physically, I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot more than you are.”

“Come on, Ava,” Art said, his eyes burning with fury. “We don’t have to take this.”

“I’ll show you out,” Grady said.

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”

“Oh, I’m sure it will be,” Grady countered. “Then, when we get outside, I’m going to let Sven see you off the property – just to make sure you’re not loitering about and casing the place.”

“I have never been treated like this in my entire life!”

“And somehow I think you’ve probably deserved it thousands of times,” James said. “Get out.”

“What do you think?” Grady stood next to the front window watching Ava and Art scream at each other. They sat in their car, making no attempt to hide their overt displeasure with one another, or pull out of the driveway.

Sven leaned against his own car, arms crossed over his chest, and watched the scene with an impassive face.

“Can Sven hear anything?” James asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s wait until they leave and then we’ll ask him.”

The brothers lapsed into amiable silence and watched Art slam his hand against the steering wheel. Whatever Ava was telling him wasn’t going over well.

“There’s something off about all of this,” James said.

“What was your first clue? Was it Art coming here to try and buy your silence or when he threatened you with painting you as a liar if you try to take this to court?”

“All of it,” James replied. “Honestly, I don’t get it. Ryan really never had a chance. I might feel sorry for him if he wasn’t such a douche. What is Art’s endgame here, though? Is he really so desperate to keep his name out of the papers?”

“Yeah, that is weird,” Grady agreed. “He’s a jewelry store owner. It’s not like he’s a public figure or politician. What good does hiding Ryan’s misdeeds do? Who really cares in the grand scheme of things?”

“Art is one of those guys who is obsessed with perception,” James said. “That’s why he walks around with Ava on his arm even though he obviously can’t stand her.”

“She’s evil,” Grady said. “You should have seen the looks on their faces, though, when they walked into the living room and you were pulling Mandy’s shorts down with your teeth. I swear, I thought Ava was going to implode.”

“That was kind of funny,” James conceded.

“Are you upset about losing Art’s business?”

“No. If I knew what kind of man he was from the start, I never would have agreed to do a job for him,” James replied. “We’ve already received payment for the California job. If he tries to stiff us here, we’ll sue him. I don’t care. If I never see him again, though, it will be too soon.”

“What do you want to do about Ryan?”

“Until we have a location, there’s nothing we can do,” James said. “Peter is on it. We’re running traps on his credit cards. I don’t think Ryan is smart enough to evade us for long.”

“I agree. I guess that’s all we can do for today.”

“I want to wrap this up tomorrow if we can,” James said. “We have the big family party the day after. That’s Christmas Eve.”

“It’s going to be weird without Mom and Dad here.”

“They wanted to go on a cruise so that’s what I got them for Christmas,” James said. “Once Emma has that baby, they’re never going to miss another Christmas again. I hate to say it because I love them, but the idea of not having to get dressed at all on Christmas day seems like the perfect way to celebrate the holiday to me.”

Grady snorted. “Are you and Mandy going to have a naked holiday?”

“Mandy and I are going to … just be together,” James said. “That’s why I want this Ryan situation taken care of tomorrow. Plan on being up early. We’re going to track that little ferret down before midnight tomorrow. I want this family to have a restful Christmas, and I’m willing to beat the snot out of Ryan to get it.”

“I’m right there with you,” Grady said. “Do me a favor and get some sleep.”

“I’ve slept the whole day away.”

“Yeah, well, have some dinner with your wife,” Grady said. “For the love of all that’s holy, make her fix her hair.”

James smirked. “I think her hair looks cute.”

“I think her hair looks like animals could be living in there,” Grady shot back. “How do you want to handle her tomorrow?”

“Who are you guys talking about handling?” Mandy appeared behind them in the hallway.

“You, baby,” James replied, not missing a beat. “We’re tracking down Ryan tomorrow and now we need to decide how to keep you safe.”

“Won’t Peter’s men handle that?”

James glanced at her. “Will you promise to stay in this house with all the doors locked?”

“No.”

James scowled. “Mandy … .”

“I promise to stay on this property,” Mandy clarified. “I still have wrapping to do.”

“Maybe Sven can spend the day in the house with Mandy,” Grady suggested.

“Sold,” James said.

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Well, you’re getting one,” James said. “I’m sure Sven is a whiz at wrapping presents.”

Mandy considered the offer. “He can’t be any worse than I am. Ally says I wrap like a ten-year-old boy with two left thumbs.”

James barked out a laugh. “Thank you for agreeing to this.”

“I’m only agreeing if you make me a promise,” Mandy said.

James waited.

“Don’t kill Ryan. I know he’s an ass, but I don’t want you to risk spending Christmas in jail.”

“Agreed,” James said, reaching for his wife so he could pull her in for a hug. “As much as I hate Ryan right now, I honestly think I hate Art more.”

“I never liked him and his wife is … .”

“Evil,” Grady finished.

“On that note, you need to get out of here,” James said, turning his attention to his brother. “You’ve wasted the whole day babysitting us. Go and spend some time with Sophie. We’re going to eat dinner and go to bed. We’re not going to be very exciting here.”

“Speak for yourself,” Mandy countered. “I bought new red velvet cake massage oil and whipped cream. We’re having a party.”

“And that’s why I love you, wife.”

“You two are sick,” Grady muttered.

“I’M SORRY
you got stuck with babysitting duty,” Mandy said, her expression rueful as she led Sven to the guesthouse the next morning. “James is adamant that I not be alone today.”

“James is a smart man with a lot to lose,” Sven replied. “I don’t mind helping you wrap gifts. Who doesn’t love an easy duty right before Christmas?”

“Do you have anything special planned,” Mandy asked, unlocking the guesthouse door and ushering Sven inside.

He placed his hand on her arm to still her. “Please let me do a quick pass.”

“Go nuts.”

Sven scoured the room, making sure to check behind the wooden bar in the saloon and the bathroom off to the right. He locked the front door before ascending the stairs, checking all closets and the side bedroom before declaring the space “psycho free.”

He stared at the pile of gifts. “Do you have to wrap the presents for your entire family?”

“Sadly, that’s just what I bought James.”

Sven snickered. “I see you went overboard. How many things do you think he bought for you?”

“Too many, I’m sure.”

“Ah, well, it is the season for showering those you love with gifts and adoration,” Sven said, removing his coat and hanging it over the door handle. “Where do you want to start?”

“You don’t have to help me,” Mandy said. “That’s not part of your job description.”

“I’m not doing anything else,” Sven said. “What’s with the paintings?” He moved over to the side of the room where two finished canvases were leaning against the wall.

“Oh, I did them as gifts for Emma and Sophie,” Mandy explained. “I painted a portrait from a photograph a few months ago. It was from my wedding. Afterward, Ally demanded I do one for her.

“She picked a photo that makes her look like a princess and Jake look kind of goofy because he’s staring at her with adoring eyes,” she continued. “Despite that, Emma and Sophie have been making noises about wanting paintings of their own so I did those.”

“You’re very talented,” Sven said. “I am dying to see the one Ally has, though. She makes me laugh.”

“She makes everyone laugh,” Mandy agreed, scanning the floor. “Crap. When James called and told me to run, I had the Scotch tape in my hand. I dropped it in the woods. I remember. I need to run back to the house to get another roll.”

Sven studied her for a moment. “I can do that,” he said. “You need to promise to stay up here while I get it. If you give me your key, I will lock you in the guesthouse while I’m gone.”

“Do you think that’s really necessary?”

“I think I like my job,” Sven replied. “Peter likes you and he thinks it’s necessary. I probably should take you with me, but it’s cold out and I think you’ve had your fill of the cold. Where is the tape?”

“There’s a whole package of it in the drawer by the sink in the kitchen.”

“It shouldn’t take me more than three minutes to get it,” Sven said, reaching forward to accept the keys Mandy offered him. “Time me.”

“You have an odd sense of fun.”

“WHERE
are we at?” James asked, his gaze bouncing between the three sober faces in his office. “Someone tell me we have a line on Ryan.”

“Not yet,” Jake said.

“Son of a … .”

“We’re doing the best we can,” Finn said. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but we’re honestly working on it. For all we know Ryan left the state.”

“Or he’s hiding in his car,” Grady suggested.

“Or he crawled in a hole and died,” Jake offered, brightening at the thought.

“We need to find him,” James snapped. “I want this done today.”

“Then you’re going to be very glad I stopped by.” Peter Marconi breezed into the room, his trench coat moving gracefully as walked. For some reason, he reminded James of Batman in that particular moment.

“Did you find him?”

“Yes,” Peter said. “He’s in a fleabag hotel on the other side of Eight Mile. I have two men watching the room now. They have orders to grab him if he tries to leave.”

“Let’s go,” James said, reaching for his coat.

“We need to have a talk first,” Peter cautioned. “I know you’re desperate to get this settled. I don’t blame you. If anyone came into my house and attacked me … and threatened those I love … I would kill them.”

“So why are we standing here?” James pressed.

“Because you are not me,” Peter replied. “You are a man with a code of ethics and a wife at home who loves you more than anything. I’m getting constant updates from Sven, by the way. He loves your wife’s studio – and he wants me to ask if there’s any way he can see the portrait of Ally and Jake because he thinks it would be hilarious.”

Jake scowled. “I hate that thing.”

“Oh, it’s okay, Whipped Jake,” Grady teased. “I took a photo on my phone. I’ll text it to him.”

“You suck.”

James ignored the jocularity and kept his focus on Peter. “Are you worried that I’m going to kill Ryan?”

“Yes.” Peter was never one to mince words, but his outright admission threw James for a loop.

“I’m not going to kill him,” James said. “I already promised Mandy I wouldn’t risk spending the holiday in jail. It’s not just that, though. After talking to Art yesterday, part of me feels sorry for Ryan. The idiot never had a chance.

“Don’t think that means I excuse what he did,” he continued. “He threatened my wife. I am going to punch him … and maybe use his own taser on him for good measure.”

“I brought Ally’s because I figured you’d want to do that,” Jake said. “It’s charged.”

James smiled. “That’s all I want to do, Peter,” he said. “The most important thing to me is handing him over to the police so Mandy and I can enjoy our Christmas. I have plans that don’t include being locked in our house … or being hyper-vigilant if we go out. I just want Christmas with my wife.”

“That was a very good answer,” Peter said. “Come on. Let’s go get Ryan Carmichael and save the Hardy family Christmas, shall we?”

“Does that make you Santa Claus in this equation?” Grady asked.

Peter shrugged. “I can live with that.”

SVEN
was gone for five minutes before Mandy started worrying. She moved to the small bedroom and stared out the window, studying the grounds for what felt like forever. Everything was quiet, though.

Finally, she gave up waiting and walked back downstairs. She figured Sven couldn’t find the tape and loath as she was to admit it, she was nervous without him around. Until Ryan was caught, she realized she wouldn’t feel safe in her own home.

Mandy was just about to leave the guesthouse and return to the main one to help him when she saw a hint of movement by the front door. “I thought you got lost or something,” she said as the door opened.

She pulled up short when she recognized the figure walking through the guesthouse door. It definitely wasn’t Sven.

“Why am I not surprised you’re a part of this?” Mandy was disgusted. No, she was beyond disgusted. She was enraged.

“Perhaps you’re smarter than you look.”