Ender’s father had the same fierce reputation as his son. Lots of whispers and speculation, but no one in the family had ever gone to jail.
“I told Ender that I wasn’t interested in anything not on the up and up and that he better be listening, as I wasn’t the same puny fellow from elementary school and I’d kick his ass. He laughed.” Grey’s lips turned up in a half-smile. “I’ll give him a call and see what he knows.” He picked up his phone and called, hissing at having to leave a message.
“I thought we were headed to the mailbox place,” I said as he turned back towards home.
Grey shook his head. “I’m not going to ask for info that could lead to someone losing their job. I’m taking a step back until I figure out what I’m dealing with, and in the meantime, Avery is ferreting out what I hope will be a wealth of information.”
Chapter Fifteen
Grey spent the next day stomping around, grunting and growling. He’d left another message for Kent, which went unanswered. Ender had returned his call quickly and promised to get on the phone with his connection and get back to Grey, but that hadn’t happened yet.
I suggested that Grey take his frustration downstairs to the gym. He came back a sweaty mess and hit the shower, then came out to the balcony sporting a black t-shirt that molded to his muscles and a pair of sweat shorts. With a laptop and USB drive in hand, he lowered himself into the chair next to me.
Avery had dropped off Wilson’s laptop earlier, leaving it on the entry table, a drive with the information she’d procured lying on top.
“Thanks for the gym tip.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. He’d barely gotten the laptop open when his phone rang. He jumped up and went to grab it from the other room.
I hoped it was Ender with some news, but I swore I heard him say Gram. What the heck? If anyone thought it was easy to eavesdrop on one-sided phone calls, they were wrong. Based on Grey’s responses, I had no clue what they were talking about or why she would call him. The call didn’t last long, and then Grey disappeared down the hall. In a few minutes, he was back, having changed into blue jeans and a dress shirt.
“I’ll be back in a few hours.” He leaned down and brushed my lips with a quick kiss.
I fisted his shirt. “Hold on a sec.” His smirky smile flashed across his face—briefly, but long enough for me to catch it, and go on alert. “What are you doing for Gram? Why would she call you and not me?”
“You were listening?”
“If it was a private conversation, you should’ve gone into the kitchen and not stood a foot behind me.” I closed my laptop and set it on the side table. “Back to Gram.” I jumped up.
“Client confidentiality.”
“Partner,” I hissed. “That would be me.”
Grey waved. “See you later.”
“Sooner than you think,” I yelled as the door banged closed. “Not so fast, buster,” I grumbled, then grabbed up my phone and called Gram. No answer. Since when? The woman was married to her phone. I hit redial. No answer. We’d be having a reminder talk about always answering her phone. I raced to my bedroom and pulled on a sleeveless sundress, a clam shell belt, and a pair of slides. In between putting on each piece of clothing, I called Gram. Her voicemail would be full of breathing messages.
Grabbing up my purse and keys, I flew out the door. I got down to the garage and skidded to a stop.
Grey stood next to his SUV, the passenger door open. He tapped his watch. “That took longer than I thought. But I didn’t factor in you doing a quick change.”
I stormed past him and slid onto the seat. “As though I’d go to Gram’s in shorts.”
Grey laughed and shut the door, then went around and got behind the wheel.
“Reassure me that Gram is okay.”
“One of her friends wandered off, and she’s worried. He’s not supposed to be driving, and she wants me to find him before he gets into ‘jail trouble,’ as she called it.”
“And she called you? Because you’re on a friendly basis with all the neighborhood peeps?” This all sounded familiar and more reason why Gram should’ve called me, since I’d helped her with this kind of incident in the past.
“I’m the professional.”
“Gram’s up to something,” I mumbled and leaned back in my seat.
It surprised me that, despite having only been to Gram’s once, Grey knew the way and didn’t ask for directions. Traffic was on the light side, and we made it faster than usual.
Grey checked in with the guard at the shack, and we were waved in. “Why does your Gram park her collector car in the driveway and not keep it in the garage?” He pulled up alongside the Thunderbird.
“That’s her way of saying, ‘I’m home.’”
“Really bad idea. I’m going to have a talk with her after I’ve solved her current problem.”
I smiled noncommittally. Good luck. I’d harangued her since she moved in to do just that and see where that’d gotten me. He’d find out on his own that if it garnered Gram more attention to request help, real or not, she’d be calling for help all the time.
By the time we got out, Gram stood in the doorway with a welcoming grin. She wrapped her arms around me in a smothering hug. “I hoped you’d show, proving me right that you’re h-o-t for him,” she whispered hoarsely in my ear.
If Grey couldn’t hear every word, then he needed to get his ears checked.
“Mrs. Winters.” Grey leaned over her outstretched hand, kissing the back of it.
“You’re to call me Gram, young man.” She tittered.
I was too old to be sent to my room for eye-rolling, but I turned away and then did it. Old habits. I left the two fawning over one another and went inside to take a seat, the others right behind me. I needed to get comfortable to hear Gram out. I’d bet she left out a fact or two when she called Grey. It wouldn’t take him long to catch on to her tricks, and in the meantime, I’d enjoy the show.
Gram didn’t ask but handed us each a glass of iced tea from the tray she’d assembled, then settled on the couch across from us. “Bernard is a dear friend, and I don’t want him getting into trouble.”
“Nate Bern again?” I asked in surprise. “You’re calling Grey when I found him the last time and took his keys away?”
“I know that you’re special friends, and don’t want to mar the relationship in any way.” Gram trotted out her used-car-salesman smile.
“You make it sound like Bern and I have cha-chaed in the past, and that never happened. Besides, he’s a hundred if he’s a day. I wouldn’t want the poor man expiring.”
Grey laughed.
“Harper Finn,” Gram said in exasperation.
I waved, which made her smile. Using her antics against her was paying off at the moment.
“So, Grey dear…” Gram turned her attention to him. “Bern is a drinker and likes to suck down the sauce. He favors the bars where the servers are half-dressed and have large… well, you know.” She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to him. “These are his favorite haunts. I tried calling a couple of them and got put on hold for so long that my ear started to hurt.”
“I thought I taught you how to press the speaker button,” I said.
“Yes, dear,” Gram said absently.
“So you called Grey, who charges a thousand bucks an hour, when I found dear Bern the last time and only got a cold one out of it.”
“There’s no charge for family,” Grey reassured Gram, since she’d stuttered when I mentioned his inflated hourly rate.
Gram preened. “The two of you working together will find Bern that much faster.”
“Except you never mentioned me asking Harper.” Grey stared at Gram in a way that would make most squirm.
“I know my Harper. No way was she going to miss being in the middle of the action. And look…” Gram waved her hand. “Here she is.”
Grey perused the list. “Do you know where these establishments are located?” He handed me the list.<
br />
“That’s a big five-dollar word for dive bars.” I returned Grey’s flinty stare. “And yes, I know where they all are, and before you ask, I’ve been in all of them, but not as a regular.”
“You two make such a cute team,” Gram cooed.
Grey focused his stare on Gram, brows raised. “Give me a good reason why we’re interrupting an old man’s fun?”
“Bern and I are friends, and I promised to help him stay on the straight and narrow. Mostly anyway. If you need to play hardball, remind him that if his son gets wind of him getting in trouble, he’ll follow through on his threat to move him out of here.”
After a quick perusal of the list, I handed it back to Grey. “How about a little contest? Whoever finds Bern first wins bragging rights and can lord it over the other. Loser coughs up for a fancy dinner on the beach.”
Grey turned and glared, and I returned a ferocious one of my own, almost laughing. “I hear a setup,” he grumbled.
“Now, now.” Gram stood. “You two are the cutest. I still haven’t heard how you met.”
Grey and I exchanged an “I dare you to tell her” look that rapidly changed to “You tell her; no, you do it.”
“Since you don’t have your ride, I win by default… unless you’re taking your Gram’s car.” Grey looked pleased when Gram hissed.
“Gram doesn’t allow anyone else to climb behind the wheel. She can barely stand it when someone occupies the passenger seat.” I waved his car keys. “But maybe she’ll make an exception for you.”
Grey stood and turned his pocket inside out. “That’s the second time you’ve pilfered my pockets. I hate it.”
“My girl’s got a few crafty tricks.” Gram beamed at me and grabbed Grey’s arm, then mine, and herded us toward the door.
At the door, I disengaged from Gram’s hold and waited at the end of the porch as the other two trailed behind. “What are you really up to?” I asked her.
“He’s a keeper, that one.” She patted my cheek.
I caught Grey’s smirk over her shoulder.
“A little adventure will be fun for your relationship. Show that you’re meant to be together.” Gram beamed.
“What it’s going to show him is that we’re a family of nutjobs.” I didn’t bother to lower my voice, knowing he could hear every word. “For the record, he’s already given me that swell nickname. Your antics are only reinforcing that he’s right.”
Gram grabbed my shoulders, giving them a shake. Grey smirked, enjoying watching the two of us. “You need to show him what a great partner you’d be, and then I’ll get the grandchildren I want.”
I didn’t think my cheeks could burn more than they were at the moment. “Newsflash: we just met.”
Gram gave me a slight push forward. “Don’t keep Grey waiting. Men don’t like that.”
I closed the space between Grey and I, and he hooked his arm around me and led me over to the SUV. “Love your Gram.” He held out his hand.
“You want the keys?” I took them out of my pocket and unlocked the doors, then handed them to him. “You might as well learn your way around town, since I’m certain there will be more distress calls.” I walked around and got in the passenger side, then pulled out my phone.
“Your Gram is quite the matchmaker,” Grey said in an amused tone. “I take it she doesn’t know we’re close?” He honked and waved as he headed to the exit.
“You think you’re so funny. You know what they say about the apple… Don’t be surprised if the next time you wake from a stupor, we’re married. As for Gram, since she’s gotten it into her head that you’re a keeper, you even hint about our closeness and see how fast we end up in matrimonial bliss.”
Grey laughed.
“Following Gram’s advice, I’m supposed to show you how useful I can be.” My mouth twitched up in a smile. “Forget the list and head to Captain’s. It’s a hole in the wall and only a couple of miles straight down the road. It’s a colorful shack that caters to locals—mostly men who like to be fawned over by big-busted, scantily clad women—and, in my opinion, a waste of prime real estate.”
“You were going to win the challenge with inside knowledge?” he asked in a shocked tone.
The man was a good actor, I’d give him that. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty, since I knew he’d been entertained by Gram’s antics. “Calm your horses, as Gram would say. I’m proposing that we both get a trophy for our team effort. I’ve done my part. Now you pokey on into Cap’s and haul Bern out. I’ll wait in the car.” I trotted out the shiftiest smile I could manage. “Another tip: partners and all…” I ignored his snort. “You need to come up with a good bribe, or you’ll be dragging his scrawny backside to the car.”
“What about his car?”
“You get him back to the car, and I’ll relieve him of his keys and drive it back.”
“You’re way too good at pickpocketing.” Grey shook his head. “I hope you’re not practicing on just any Joe that stumbles by.”
“Just friends.” I pointed. “That dirt patch within spitting distance is the parking lot.”
Grey pulled into the gravel lot and parked. He hung his head over the steering wheel, staring at the brown wood-sided shotgun-style building splashed with various colors of paint, a red ramp up to the double glass doors. At first glance, one would think it was a dank hole, and they’d be right. But Cap did a brisk business, as evidenced by the half-dozen cars parked haphazardly in the lot.
“You coming?” Grey opened the door.
“You want me to wave my girls under his nose, get him moving?” I demonstrated.
Grey growled and shut the door.
I guess not. I laughed, got out, and leaned against the front bumper. Normally I’d want to be in the middle of the action—clearly it was in the DNA—but I’d been in there before, and the smell of animal pee was too much for my sensitive nose. I’d held my nose the last time and earned a glare from Cap himself.
It took longer than I expected, but Grey and Bern finally came out, chumming it up like old friends. Bern looked my way and did a double take. I waved, walked over to meet them, and held out my hand. “Keys, dude.”
“I love it when you talk all sexy.” Bern held up his hands. “Go ahead and feel me up.”
“You need to behave yourself.” I hugged him, then straightened and stepped back. “I’ll see you two back at the house.” I jingled the keys as I strutted over to a baby blue rust bucket, the front hood about eaten through.
“I’m going to marry her,” Bern cooed.
Grey snorted and asked, “What is that and does it even run?”
“Have some respect for Gracie.” I patted the roof of the car. “She’s a 1966 Porsche 912 and runs like a dream. Bern’s promised that when he’s ready to sell, I get to make the first offer.”
“You’re sure it won’t break down?” Grey eyed it suspiciously.
Bern snorted and attempted to slug Grey in the arm, but ended up tripping over his feet. Grey caught him before he hit the dirt.
“Don’t you listen to him, Gracie.” I stuck my hand in the rolled-down window to open the door. I hopped in and shifted around in the sunken seat, getting the springs just right where I could still see over the steering wheel. “Gracie, when you’re mine, I’m tricking you out. Not a speck of rust for you, babes.”
I followed Grey out to the highway, then put it in gear and blew by him, honking and waving. Soon, they were a speck in my rearview mirror, and I roared back to Gram’s, the breeze blowing through the windows keeping me from expiring in the heat.
Chapter Sixteen
I waved to the guard as I blew past, parked Gracie in Bern’s garage, and with one last wave to the car, locked her up. Then I removed the ignition key from the ring and stashed it on one of the shelves over the work space that never saw any action.
Ender lumbered over in jeans and a t-shirt that barely fit across his chest, showing off his thick, muscled arms, and met me at the end of Gram’s drivewa
y. “What kind of trouble is Bern in?”
“None for now. He was out driving around when he shouldn’t be. Grey’s bringing him back.”
“Bern needs to offload that piece of—”
I cut him off. “You need to have some appreciation.”
“Yeah, okay.” Ender looked around. “I’ve got an update for Grey on the Kent case, one he’s probably not going to like.”
“He’ll be driving up any second. If this case has red flags, you need to give him a heads up. He’s got a lot on the line.”
Ender gave me a hard stare, letting me know he didn’t like being told what to do.
“In case you hadn’t heard, I went with him to the mansion, and I know Kent’s full of it. If he doesn’t have anything to hide, he didn’t act like it.”
Ender made kissy noises. “Who knew you could make a go of a relationship with the man.”
“Grow up,” I said with a shake of my head. “If it’s any of your business, we’re growing on one another.”
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t just go on a dating app and meet someone I could scare the daylights out of if he crossed you.” Ender grinned at the SUV approaching. “How is it that you beat him back here?”
“Grey drives the speed limit.” I laughed at Ender’s snort. “He’s got Bern in the car, and I’m guessing they made a liquor store run. Knowing the old guy, he got that concession before he got in the car.”
“I don’t know why Bern goes off the property when every oldster here has a well-stocked liquor cabinet, not to mention the beach bar and restaurant.” Ender flicked his finger around. “Stand back…” He turned as Gram’s front door opened and she hustled to stand with us in the driveway. “I swear, if she’s not lurking in the window, she’s got a camera. My granny’s the same way.”
“I hope I’m around when Granny finds out that’s what you’re calling her behind her back. That stick-skinny woman is going to knock you on your massive behind.”
“Not happening.” Ender laughed. “I’ll run. When I show back up, it will be with enough sweets to last her a year.”
Hired Killer (Biscayne Bay Book 1) Page 10