I elbowed Gram with a stop it look on my face. “A new friend.” I winked at Grey.
“Hey, son-of-a-gun.” The words came out of the beak of the parrot sitting on her hat.
On closer inspection, I determined that the colorful parrot was stuffed and somehow affixed to the top of the hat. I sighed with relief, having originally worried it was real.
Gram held out a small remote. “Isn’t Bogo the cutest? I had it specially made. I have to be careful letting him talk outside, as he’s not always appropriate. I should’ve thought of that before choosing the phrases.”
I shook my head. “Grey Walker, this is my Gram, Jean Winters.”
He bent over her outstretched hand, kissing the back, and I thought she’d swoon.
“You can call me Gram,” she said in a giggly tone.
“We need to get this in the refrigerator before it melts in the sweltering heat.” I pointed to the box Grey was holding.
Gram rushed to open the door into the living space—a two-bedroom unit with its own patio, the living and dining rooms together with a kitchen on one side. I’d helped her decorate, and we’d had fun choosing comfortable furniture.
I took the box and handed it to Gram, who rushed it into the kitchen and came back licking her fingers. “So good,” she moaned.
“You spit on it so you wouldn’t have to share, didn’t you?” I admonished, winking at her.
“When you get to be my age, you can’t wait to be doing stuff, and that includes that delicious pie, which tastes like sin.” Gram pointed to a couple of oversized chairs, then took a pad and pen off a nearby credenza and handed it to me. “Write down the information for that Shark character. Don’t tell me you don’t remember, cuz you and I know that you don’t forget squat.” She trotted back to the kitchen.
I put the pad on a side table. “Hope you like iced tea,” I said to Grey.
“I like your Gram.”
“If you were a bit older, she’d hop you.”
“So we’re clear, I’m taken.” Grey winked.
“I wouldn’t phrase it that way. Remember that preacher I mentioned? I forgot to tell you he lives down the road and can be here before you blink.”
Grey shook his head, a grin on his face. “You better not let it slip that you’ve already compromised me.”
Gram came out, tray in hand with glasses lined up on it, along with a pitcher of iced tea and a bowl of Pop Tart bites. She set it on the coffee table.
There was a thundering banging on the door. Grey jumped to his feet. “Do you want me to get it?”
Gram gave him a moony smile and hooked her arm in his. “Let’s go together.” She patted his biceps.
Grey opened the door.
Ender Perry inched into the entry and came to a halt. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
Gram made the introductions.
“Don’t want to interrupt anything,” Ender boomed. “I saw Trouble’s car parked out front and thought I’d say hello.” He maneuvered his considerable bulk into the living room with a certain amount of grace. “How’s it going?” He waved, a patented smirk on his lips that he never went anywhere without.
I waved back. I hadn’t move out of my chair since I was able to hear everything that was said. Ender wanted something. It would be interesting to see how he contrived to get me away for a chat. “Gram, I looked through my phone and don’t have contact info for Shark.” I turned to Ender. “You wouldn’t happen to have a number for him, would you?” Gram didn’t notice my sarcasm, but Grey did, his eyes boring into the two of us.
No one at the retirement village knew that Ender Perry, aka Shark, had another life, one that was shady as heck, and that included his grandmother. The moniker had been bestowed on him when he went into business as a private money lender, and he still used it when he didn’t want his name associated with whatever deal he had going.
Ender noted Grey’s intense stare and returned it in spades. “Interesting that we’re all old friends.” He twirled his finger. “Growing up together. Grey and I went to the same elementary school, and Harper and I met when she moved in with her Gram. Being older and more responsible, I did my best to be a good influence.”
I choked back a snort.
“Harper was always game to tag along, whether invited or not… You know how trouble is—it finds some people because they’re up to the challenge.” Ender winked at me, both of us knowing he was full of it. “Then, good friend that I was, I’d step up to bail her out with a believable story for her Gram.”
Gram snorted frighteningly loud. “Some of those stories were horse-doo, but you were such a sweet boy and always my favorite on the block.”
“That’s because Ender would sneak you cigarettes, sit on the back porch, and trade outrageous stories with you,” I said.
“How would you know that, young lady?”
“You really are getting old, Gram.” I almost laughed at her look of outrage. “There was a window right above the stoop, and I oiled the hinges so I could hang my head out without being heard. It paid to know what the two of you were BSing each other about. Ignore Ender’s innocent look—the best one he can muster anyway—he knew I was up there. He’d raise his head and grin when you turned to blow smoke into the neighbor’s yard.”
“That would’ve been cool—blowing smoke in any direction I pleased.” Gram mimicked inhaling and whooshing out.
“Gram and I went cold turkey together.” Ender patted her gnarled hand. “Though I suspect she’s cheated a time or two.”
Gram blushed.
Grey, who’d been silently assessing Ender as though trying to make a connection, spoke up. “I remember you now. You were always getting kicked out of school for thuggish behavior. Mostly kicking butt. Thankfully, mine was never on your list.”
“I was totally misunderstood as a kid,” Ender said with a smarmy smile. “Most times, I got the finger of blame when I hadn’t done a thing.”
Grey laughed, the good one left unsaid.
“You know, Gram, since Ender’s here, maybe he can help you with your problem.” I almost laughed at Gram trying to act like she didn’t know what I was talking about. “You know the problem—the one that wouldn’t be one if you minded your own business.”
“Harper Finn.” Gram shot me a ‘behave’ squint-eye.
Oops! Full name. I knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t so much mad as exasperated.
Grey raised his hand. “Maybe I can help.”
“You’re such a sweet boy.”
I looked down and laughed.
Ender grunted. “Tell me what you need.”
“It doesn’t kill a person to be helpful if they can,” Gram said.
The three of us stared expectantly.
“You know April? Pam Manning’s lovely granddaughter?”
“The hot young blonde that trots around here in a skimpy bikini, giving an eyeful to the old men rocking on their porches?” I said.
“If this is about the ex-boyfriend not taking no for an answer, I’ll tell you the same thing I told my granny: Butt out. It’s being taken care of.” Ender stared Gram down, which didn’t intimidate her in the least; in fact, she smiled at the man.
“Now promise me that you won’t pitch the bastard’s body in the lake.” Gram nodded toward the sliding door. “Sooner or later, it’ll float to the top. Then eww.”
Ender unleashed an aggrieved sigh. “I’m not a killer,” he said emphatically, as though we needed to be reminded. “I’m certain such drastic measures won’t be called for. Brady’s been warned that I better not ever hear another word about his scrawny ass.”
“Or what?” I asked, trying to tame the smirk. Ender ignored me.
“You were my first choice. I even had my phone in hand.” Gram smiled at Ender. “But I was with your grandmother at the time—you know she detests you calling her Granny—and she reminded me, not that I needed it, that you’re a successful businessman and your attention is needed elsewhere.
I called Harper, who wasn’t the least bit helpful.”
“I brought pie.” I wondered if Gram knew the extent of Ender’s business enterprises.
Gram’s house phone rang, and she jumped up and trotted back to the kitchen.
“Is Brady still alive?” I asked once she was out of earshot.
“Of course he is.” Ender shook his head and turned to Grey. “Sorry to hear about your arrest; you were always a tight-ass, goody-two-shoes type, and I want you to know I never believed that you did it. And if you had, you wouldn’t have been dumb enough to dump the body on your property.”
Grey’s mouth tightened.
I cut in and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to tell Gram to keep her nose out of April’s situation. I knew something was up and had to strong-arm my granny for the details. Before you jump to the wrong conclusion…” He eyed me. “I threatened to cancel our weekly dinner. Once I got the details, I knew without having to ask that my granny had offered to help get up in the not-so-lovebirds’ business. We both know full well that expecting our grannies to mind their own business, even after requesting help, would be wishful thinking.”
If Gram heard him use “granny” to describe her, she’d relocate that big head of his.
Ender hefted his bulk out of the chair and scanned the room, then focused on the kitchen. “I thought we’d have a few words outside.”
“You want to talk to Harper, I’ll be right by her side,” Grey said. “So why don’t you sit back down and tell us what’s on your mind?”
“Nothing to do with you, dude. I halfway like you, old time’s sake and all.” Ender leveled a shifty smile at him. “I’d like nothing more than to sit here in the cool air, except Gram hung up several minutes ago and has been eavesdropping ever since.”
“Am not,” Gram yelled as she marched back into the room, not the least bit embarrassed that she’d been caught. “I have to run next door, so you can sit right here.” She thoroughly scrutinized the three of us but didn’t say anything more and, without another word, banged out the front door.
“So you two are a…” Ender waved his pudgy finger around, sitting back down. “You need to stop thinking with your…” He pointed at Grey’s crotch. “I’ll remind you again, Mr. Straight and Narrow—also humorless, as I recall—this one is trouble and wouldn’t make a good match for you.” He was back to waving his finger around.
Trouble? He had some nerve. “My foray into… whatever I was doing… is over,” I told him in an irritated tone. “For your information, and so you won’t worry your pretty head, I closed up shop and dumped the burners.” Maybe I saved one or two. None of Ender’s business. “Even though you suggested it, I decided to take credit if anyone asks. I’m now renting out the office building and focusing on Finn Media.” Among other things that were none of his business.
“Sounds good.” Ender snorted. “Until you turn around and stick your nose into someone else’s business. It runs in the family, and you won’t be able to help yourself. So next time you call, I’ll remind you of your high and mightiness and hang up.”
“No need to worry about Harper,” Grey told Ender in an even tone. “She’s got backup anytime she needs it.”
“You’ve got it bad.” Ender shook his head and turned to me. “Keep an eye on your Gram—yours and mine, as they’re already up to something else. I can smell it. I caught them whispering together earlier and called them out. Both straight out lied to my face.”
I laughed, which earned me a hair-raising glare. Would’ve loved to have a ringside seat when that went down.
Annoyed with me, Ender turned his attention to Grey. “It would be a good idea to swap out your car. I can get one delivered tomorrow.”
“Let me guess, you’re my nephew?”
Ender grinned. “Harper was in over her head and confided the predicament she’d got herself into answering a phone that wasn’t hers. When I heard the details, I suggested she throw the phone in the Atlantic and move on. We know how that worked out—in one ear and out the other. She laid out her so-called plan. I did my best to unravel the runaround without choking her to death. I thought she was ballsy, but those that know her know she’s got a pair. From the start, she did her best to be light on details. Had I known you were the ex-cop, I still would’ve advised her to mind her own business, but I’d have tipped you off.” Ender shot me a toothy grin, then looked back at Grey. “You’ve been given fair warning—are you up to the challenge that is Harper Finn?”
I glared at Ender. “You’re going to have to derail our grandmothers from discovering Shark’s identity. Unless you’re ready for that grilling.” I knew the questions would be never-ending, and so did he.
“Shark is dead. Only a handful of people know me by that name, and none have the cajones to call me that now that I’ve issued the stop order.” Ender swiveled his neck around, checking out the room suspiciously, as though Gram had managed to sneak back in without us noticing. “Those two old broads are sneaky as hell, but they’re outmatched.” He heaved himself to his feet and strode around the room, stopping in front of the buffet, his beady-eyed gaze zeroing in on something. He picked it up—it looked like a handheld radio or walkie-talkie—turned it in his hands, then dropped it on the floor and crushed it under his foot. “We were being recorded. I’m going to wring Granny’s neck. Neither of those old broads can claim immunity; they’re thick as thieves.”
“Were they listening this whole time?” I eyed the mangled mess. “Gram’s going to demand payment.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Ender growled. “It’s always something around here. Usually no big deal. In order to protect them from the fallout from their do-gooder activities, they need a go-to man they can rely on, and I don’t have the time.” Ender shifted his attention to Grey. “You were a PI—technically still are. Looking for some legit job referrals? The jobs would consist of grandkids in their twenties and thirties sucking off Daddy’s dime, their rich parents willing to pay to get them out of trouble.” He reached in his pocket, handing Grey a business card. “Call me if you’re interested.”
The front door opened, and Gram popped her head inside. “All clear?”
Ender stood. “I better not hear you’re in trouble, because that would mean that my granny is knee-deep along with you. That would put you both on my s-list.”
Gram grinned. That was like waving a red flag at her, but he knew her well enough to know that and didn’t need me reminding him.
Ender nodded in my direction and said to Grey, “If you’re going to… you know… remember you need to keep a tight rein.” He paused on his way to the door, picked up the mangled plastic, and handed it to Gram. “No bueno.”
“You big lug.” Gram growled.
Chapter Nine
It was bingo night at the rec center, and Gram insisted we tag along. Grey shook his head furiously at me over her shoulder, so I begged off, claiming dinner plans, and we left. We dined at a burger drive-thru and went back to the condo. He had a hundred questions, which I was able to put off because my phone rang—a client’s file needed attention and now. I knew it would come up again, though.
I woke every morning at the crack of dawn and set up my workspace on the balcony or, when weather wouldn’t permit, the kitchen island, holding virtual meetings with my staff not far from the coffee pot. Thankfully, everyone on staff came with a high degree of organization. It made it easy to keep the clients happy.
I heard Grey’s footsteps come up behind me, and he bent down and kissed my cheek. “Coffee’s ready.” I pointed to the pot I’d made, having already drunk two cups. I’d finished with everything that needed immediate attention. Clicking over to my email, I found a new one from Avery on Grey’s past acquaintances.
Grey grabbed a mug and claimed the stool across from me, setting his phone down. “You always awake this early?”
I nodded. “Love mornings. If I jump on everything that needs my attention first thing, I can
get a lot done.”
“I’ve been busy myself. I’ve got a crew coming to the office building to clean it from top to bottom and haul the trash out of the first floor.”
“Let me guess—you called your buddy Ender?” I asked.
“I was tempted to rib the man about his alter ego but decided it was juvenile. Instead, I got straight to the point and told him what I needed. He was more than happy to help.”
“His annoying habit of cracking his knuckles is enough to keep people in line.” I laughed. “Although I notice he hasn’t been doing it as much lately. His given name and burly physique are enough to put the scare into most people.”
“I’ve been thinking over his offer of client referrals. He confided without much prodding that he’s left anything illegal in his past; that happened years ago, and he now specializes in loaning money to real estate investors. Something goes south, and the property guarantees the loan. I did tell him that I’d never turn a blind eye to murder.”
I groaned.
“No worries. He laughed it off. I’ll admit it was an unsettling sound. Considering the duplicitous life I’m leading, I dialed back the moral high ground.”
“You’re really not. I did a little research, and it’s not a crime to not come forward and say, ‘Hey I’m alive.’ Also, Ender knows your true identity and wants to work with you.” I finished off the last drop of my coffee. “As for Ender, as you know, I’ve known him for a number of years, and his name’s never been linked to a murder. A couple of broken faces, yes. The story is that they threw the first punch.”
“Good to know.” Grey eyed my stack of paperwork. “Are you staying out of trouble today? Keeping your clients happy?”
“I can multi-task.” That wasn’t the right response, considering the growl he unleashed. “I’m about to move out to the patio and go through everything again, make sure I didn’t miss anything. I hate to waste a gorgeous, sunny day.”
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?”
I did have a couple of questions for him. Now was probably better than later, and he couldn’t accuse me of being evasive. Not too much anyway. “Don’t you think it’s odd that Mindy Graham’s father isn’t pushing for a murder investigation? You’d think he’d want someone brought to justice.”
Hired Killer (Biscayne Bay Book 1) Page 6