Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) Read online

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” Violet said.

  “I need you to think really hard,” Sophie pressed.

  “Oh, just tell her,” Pansy said. “What does it matter now?”

  JAKE stepped outside of the warehouse, sucking in great gulps of air as he tried to dislodge the stagnant oxygen from his lungs. He was beyond sick of this place. He didn’t want to give up, but he couldn’t take much more of it.

  He missed being home by dinner every night. He missed curling up with Ally on the couch and watching a movie. He missed watching her throw her iPad across the couch when she got stuck on a level of Candy Crush.

  He missed her, plain and simple.

  Jake rolled his neck, the audible crack filling his ears. The more time he spent down here, the more despondent he felt. He hated human suffering, that was why he donated his time and supplies to the homeless veterans in Macomb County. This area, and the people trying to live in it, were beyond his help.

  He glanced around the neighborhood, his gaze falling on two prostitutes about a block down. They were talking to someone. A woman. Jake took a step forward, narrowing his eyes. The woman standing with them looked familiar.

  “Sonofabitch!”

  Jake yanked his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed Grady’s number. After two rings, the middle Hardy brother picked up.

  “You need to get down here right now,” Jake said. “Sophie is questioning people, and I can’t see it ending well. I’ll try to watch her, but I have no idea how long I can stay out here without being missed.”

  “TELL me what?” Sophie asked.

  “It sounds like you’re looking for Lily,” Pansy said.

  “I’m fairly certain I said that myself.”

  “Yes, but you’re looking for the Lily.”

  “Who is the Lily?”

  “She’s the Lily who Christian is always looking for,” Violet said. “She’s bad news.”

  “How do you know her?”

  “We used to work together back in the day,” Violet said. “We used to go out in threes instead of twos. She was Christian’s favorite.”

  “I thought you worked for Frankie?”

  “And Frankie works for Christian,” Pansy said.

  “Oh. I didn’t realize it worked that way.”

  “It doesn’t very often,” Pansy said. “This is a … unique organization.”

  “How do you know that Christian is still looking for Lily?”

  “Because we were told that if we ever saw her we were to drop everything – even if it was a dick – and call him,” Violet said. “Whatever that girl did to him, it was bad. Christian isn’t messing around.”

  “Which is why you should be really careful who you mention Lily to,” Pansy cautioned.

  “Thanks for the tip,” Sophie said, glancing around. “If Lily came down here, where do you think she would go?”

  Violet shrugged. “If I knew, I wouldn’t go looking for her. That girl was always trouble.”

  “And mean,” Pansy added.

  “She’s still mean,” Sophie confirmed. “I need to find her.”

  “I wouldn’t do it alone,” Violet said. “You’re not the kind of girl who can survive these streets.”

  “You’d be surprised what kind of girl I am.”

  “Just be careful,” Pansy said. “Frankie has sworn to kill your boyfriend and his brothers. If he finds out who you are, he’ll take out his revenge on you.”

  Sophie stilled. “Thanks.”

  “Well, well, well, who do we have here?”

  One look at Pansy and Violet’s suddenly wan faces told Sophie she was in a world of trouble. She swiveled slowly, fixing the balding man in the polyester pants and Hawaiian shirt with a bright smile. “I’m sorry. I was lost.”

  “You’re certainly lost, honey.”

  “I was looking for C&P Warehouse,” Sophie lied. “I was told it was in this area.”

  “And what business do you have there?” Frankie asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “My brother is working there,” Sophie lied. “I was hoping to talk to him.”

  “And who is your brother?”

  “His name is Jake.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” Frankie asked.

  “I think you’re probably just suspicious by nature,” Sophie replied.

  “I think you should come with me,” Frankie said.

  “Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m already running late.”

  “I wasn’t asking,” Frankie replied. “I was telling you.” He reached out and grabbed her arm, digging his fingernails in as she tried to wrench it away. “I can’t tell you how sick I am of you suburbanites coming down here and sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  “That’s not what I was doing.”

  “That’s exactly what you were doing.”

  “You’re going to want to take your hands off of me right now,” Sophie warned.

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Because I’ll kill you if you don’t,” Grady said, stepping out from the nearby alley and striding toward Frankie. “Get your hands off her.”

  “Well, I’m so glad to see you again,” Frankie said. “You and I have some unfinished business.”

  “Good,” Grady said, slamming his fist into Frankie’s face and forcing the man to take a step back. “I have no problem beating your ass again.”

  “Benny! Marco!” Frankie was screeching as he held his nose. “This hasn’t even set right from the last time!”

  “We have to go, Grady,” Sophie said, tugging on his arm. “You can’t take all three of them.”

  Grady glanced over at the approaching thugs and then back at Sophie. As much as he wanted to test her theory, he wasn’t willing to leave her exposed if he failed. He grabbed her hand and yanked her back down the alley.

  “Get in the truck,” he ordered.

  “What about my car?”

  “We’ll send Finn for it later,” he said. “Get in.”

  Sophie did as she was told, holding onto the handle above the door as Grady raced away. He glanced in the rearview mirror, fighting off the urge to wave at Frankie’s men while they escaped. He drove silently for ten blocks, keeping watch to make sure no one was following them. When he was convinced they were safe, he pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store and pulled Sophie across the console so he could hug her.

  “What were you doing down here?”

  “Lily went missing,” Sophie explained. “I was just looking for her.”

  “Is there a reason you didn’t call and ask me to come with you?”

  “Because I knew you would say no,” Sophie admitted.

  “And why do you think I would have said no?”

  “Because it’s too dangerous.”

  “So, knowing that, you came down here anyway?”

  “I … .”

  Grady waited.

  “How did you even know I was here?”

  “Jake called,” Grady replied. “He saw you. You still haven’t answered my question.”

  “I’m an adult, Grady,” Sophie said, trying to draw away from him. He held her still. “I have to do what I have to do.”

  “Sophie, if something happens to you, I’ll never get over it,” Grady said. “I … I can’t lose you. I know you have a job to do. I understand that, and I think I’ve been pretty damn accommodating where your job is concerned.”

  “You have.”

  “All I ask is that you don’t purposely put yourself in danger,” Grady said. “If you can’t look out for yourself, then please look out for me.”

  “Grady … .”

  “Promise me you won’t do this again.”

  “I … .”

  “Promise me,” Grady said.

  “I promise.”

  Grady kissed her, gripping the back of her head tightly. “Never again, Sophie. I can’t … you’re going to give me a heart attack. If something
ever happens to you, I’m going to die myself. Just … please, sugar, think of me before you do these things. Think of us.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Twenty-One

  Friday afternoons were the best part of Mandy’s workweek. Judge MacIntosh purposely scheduled things so the afternoon docket was clear – except for unexpected emergencies – and once his staff was done with their work, they were free to go.

  This Friday was no different, and Mandy had worked hard to clear her desk by 3 p.m. She was ready to go home and spend some time with James – now that he was off his punishment, that is.

  She locked the door to her office and shuffled down the hallway, digging for her keys in her purse as she went. Fridays were eerily silent on the upper floors of the courthouse, so the sound of raised voices caught Mandy’s attention.

  “I don’t know why you have to be so difficult.”

  Mandy grimaced, recognizing the voice even before she saw the face it belonged to. Chad Cooper was a local prosecutor who had made a name for himself as a ladies’ man – even though James insisted he was gay. Mandy still wasn’t convinced.

  Chad was overtly sexual – in a creepy way. It wasn’t that he exuded sex appeal as much as he wanted people to believe he was screwing the entire county and leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. It was odd.

  He’d shown interest in Mandy from time to time – something that hadn’t escaped James’ attention when they’d first started dating. After searching his house, James decided that Chad wasn’t a threat – to anyone but himself – and wiped him off his suspect list.

  Mandy still disliked him.

  “I’m not being difficult,” a voice responded. “I’m being pragmatic. We’re going to be in a lot of trouble here if people find out about us.”

  Mandy tilted her head to the side. She recognized the other voice, too. She just couldn’t figure out from where.

  “Listen, Heather,” Chad said. “You’re the one who got me into this whole mess. Now, because of you, I can’t get out.”

  Heather? Not Heather Harrington? Now Mandy was intrigued. She pressed herself against the wall and continued to eavesdrop.

  “I got you into this? You greedy little bastard,” Heather grumbled. “You’re the one who came to me.”

  “That’ a complete lie, and you know it,” Chad said. “You came to me, and you practically blackmailed me into doing this with you.”

  “Blackmailed? That’s rich.”

  “Are you sitting there and denying that you made me do this?” Chad asked. “Seriously?”

  “I came to you with an option,” Heather said. “It was an option we both needed.”

  “I don’t need it.”

  “You don’t need it? You’re so full of it,” Heather said. “You were floundering when I found you here. I gave you a future. I gave you a way to move forward politically. It’s not my fault you’re all … squeamish now.”

  “I am not squeamish.”

  “You’re definitely squeamish,” Heather said. “I don’t need this. I did you a favor. Now you’re treating me like I’m some horrible wench that’s ruined your life.”

  “You are.”

  “Either grow up or shut up,” Heather said. “I’m done coddling you.”

  Mandy straightened as Heather strode out into the hallway. The prosecutor’s eyes flashed when they landed on her.

  “What are you doing out here?” Heather asked.

  “I work here.”

  “Were you … were you eavesdropping on us?”

  “I’m leaving the building,” Mandy replied. “It’s quitting time.”

  “Isn’t it a little early for you to be leaving?” Heather asked, glancing at her watch. “I’m fairly certain you’re paid by the hour.”

  “Really? That’s funny,” Mandy said. “Your pimp told me the same thing about you.”

  Heather made a face. “Do you think that’s funny?”

  “I think I don’t like you,” Mandy said. “I don’t really care what you think.”

  “I find it funny that a woman who works as a clerk, a woman who has no hope of ever being more than a clerk, has such high self-esteem,” Heather said.

  “Well, we all can’t make a name for ourselves off of our parents.”

  “I worked hard to get this job,” Heather snapped. “I’m a diligent soldier for those who need help. Don’t you dare talk down to me.”

  “Well, the good news is, I don’t want to talk to you at all,” Mandy said, taking a step away from Heather and pointing herself in the direction of the exit. “You’re not a concern of mine.”

  “What’s going on out here?” Chad asked, stepping out from the conference room and glancing between the furious looks on Heather and Mandy’s faces. “Oh, cat fight.”

  “And here’s the dog to make things worse,” Mandy grumbled.

  “Oh, now don’t be like that, sweet thing,” Chad said. “You’re always so grouchy. I’m beginning to think that husband of yours doesn’t work hard enough to put a smile on your face.”

  “I’ll tell him about your concerns,” Mandy said.

  “Oh, what, is he going to come and beat me up?”

  “He might.”

  “He is very … alpha, isn’t he?”

  “He’s a good man,” Mandy countered. “Something you would know nothing about.”

  “I have to wonder why he married so far beneath him,” Heather mused.

  “You’ll have to ask him,” Mandy said.

  “Oh, I think I’d rather keep his brother from making the same mistake with a bottom-feeder reporter.”

  Mandy frowned. “Grady Hardy wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole – not even if it was to push you over the ledge of a cliff.”

  “You seem pretty sure about that.”

  “Listen, I don’t know what your problem is with Sophie – well, actually I do, and you’re the pathetic one in that scenario – but you aren’t fit to shine her shoes,” Mandy said.

  “Sophie Lane is a blight on this county,” Heather shot back.

  “Oh, let it go,” Chad said. “You’re not going to win this fight. You can’t get to her, no matter how hard you try. She’s got her happy little circle of freaks to surround herself with.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Heather sniffed, smoothing the front of her jacket down. “Talking to someone like her seems like a waste of time.”

  “Speaking of wastes of time,” Chad said, tapping his watch. “We have to get going.”

  “I thought you weren’t going?”

  “I changed my mind,” Chad said. “Let’s just get it over with.”

  “Good,” Heather said. “I knew you would come around.”

  Mandy watched the two of them walk down the hallway. She told herself she should ignore them. She told herself she should go home early and surprise her husband. She didn’t. Curiosity got the better of her – like it always did – and she opted to follow them instead.

  JAMES frowned when he saw Mandy’s car still parked in the lot on the south side of the courthouse. He’d expected her home two hours before. She usually came home early on Fridays, and he’d gotten into the habit of finishing his own work early so they could start their weekends in style.

  After texting her twice, and then calling her three times, James gave up and drove to the courthouse. He didn’t like to worry. He knew hovering drove her crazy. He also didn’t like the idea of her not answering her phone.

  It was shortly before five, and the building was still open to the public. James jogged up the steps, nodding at the security guard by the front door. “Hey, Clint, how are things?”

  “Great,” Clint said, smiling widely. “I’m ready for the weekend.”

  James had an odd relationship with the security guard. When he’d first started dating Mandy, he was convinced Clint was interested in her – and not in a healthy way. The man seemed amiable, but he’d followed Mandy around like a lost puppy dog.

  Over the
past year, though, James had developed a grudging respect for the man. Now that Clint was involved with Mandy’s friend Heidi, James was over his suspicions.

  “Do you and Heidi have any special plans?”

  “Yeah, we’re going to go to the art festival up in Romeo,” Clint said. “Heidi loves that stuff.”

  “What about you?”

  Clint shrugged. “I love what she loves.”

  James grinned. “Good man.”

  “Don’t you do the same for Mandy?”

  “I’m certainly not going to the theater to watch shark movies because I enjoy them,” James joked.

  “What are you and Mandy doing this weekend?”

  “Hopefully nothing,” James said. “Speaking of Mandy, have you seen my lovely wife? She’s not returning my calls. I figured she had some last-minute case pop up. I thought I would surprise her and take her out to dinner. She keeps talking about going to that seafood place over on Groesbeck.”

  Clint furrowed his brow. “She’s not here.”

  “She has to be,” James said. “Her car is in the parking lot.”

  “They’re done for the day,” Clint said. “Heidi left almost two hours ago. She’s waiting for me at home.”

  “Maybe Mandy is up in her office,” James suggested. “Maybe she had stuff to catch up on.” That wouldn’t explain why she wasn’t answering her phone, but James kept those concerns to himself.

  “I don’t think so,” Clint said. “I was told the sixth floor was clear, and I’m sure I saw Mandy leave before Heidi.”

  “She didn’t say where she was going, did she?”

  “No,” Clint said. “She seemed really distracted.”

  “Distracted how?”

  “Well, I don’t like to gossip … .”

  James clenched his jaw. “Gossip Clint.”

  “If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve sworn she was following two of the prosecutors,” Clint said. “She was acting all stealthy, but she was obviously following them.”

  “Which prosecutors?”

  MANDY kept her distance as she trailed behind Chad and Heather. She’d turned her phone off so it wouldn’t betray her presence, and she’d purposely stayed as far behind them as she could without losing sight.

  She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they were obviously in the middle of a heated discussion.

  By the time they’d walked to the far end of the downtown area, Mandy was growing more and more suspicious. Something was definitely going on here. She just couldn’t figure out what.