Rally and Cathy had been loaded into the backs of separate cop cars, which now pulled out. A young, hottie cop came over to question me. I told him everything that had happened today, starting with the phone call from Avery.
Grey, Seven, and my dad were getting more of an interrogation, and I was happy to be left out. I was still a jittery mess over facing death and hoping it never happened again.
Avery came rushing out of the building and hugged me hard. “What the heck?” She stepped back and checked me out from head to toe. “I was going upstairs for a chat and ran into Grey. He told me to go back to my office, lock the door, and take cover. I was sorry to miss the action, but when I heard gunshots, not so much.”
“My dad’s back.” I smiled and pointed.
“Bet he’s got a good story, and I don’t want to miss a word of it.” Avery poked me in the side as Dad and Grey walked over. “I call dibs on telling Rella what went down here today.”
“I see you two have had time to talk,” I said to my dad.
“This young man says you have something to tell me,” Dad said in a teasing tone.
Really?
Grey smirked.
“This is my, uh…”
“Boyfriend,” Grey whispered.
“And they live together,” Avery announced.
My cheeks burned.
“When are you two getting married?” Dad’s eyes narrowed on Grey.
“Daddy, please.”
“I’m putting in an order for a couple of grandkids, and if Gram knows you’re a… living together, she’s probably already done it, along with setting the date.” Dad gave Grey and me a stern look. “When I got called out of town, you two weren’t… I can’t wait to hear how you met.”
I hurriedly smacked Avery, in case she was preparing to blurt out the details.
Not one to miss anything, Dad said, “Bet it’s a good one.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Rella had invited everyone over to her condo at mid-morning the next day. Only the fact that she’d hired the chef from the Cat House to cook had convinced me to get out of bed in time to go.
Yesterday had been a long day. Our presence had been requested at the police station, and Avery had been disappointed she wasn’t included. It was my first trip there, and I didn’t need to go back. Ever. The officers were nice, but… people were locked up somewhere out of sight. We’d been separated and questioned and questioned again. Finally, they seemed satisfied, and we got to walk out with the admonition not to leave town.
Turned out, Cathy completely flipped her switch on the way to the station and ended up getting a ride to the hospital for a mental health check to see if she was faking or not. Rally pled his innocence to anyone who would listen, telling them he was there to stop Cathy and had nothing to do with any of her crimes. He’d been booked and was currently awaiting a date with a judge to tell his story.
My dad and I were the first to be released, and Rella and Avery waiting in the parking lot were a welcome sight. Dad and I got into Rella’s car for the ride home, while Avery waited in her car for the guys to be released. It was a silent drive home. I sat practically on top of my dad, not wanting to let him out of my sight.
We all rode up to the top floor together and said good-bye to Rella, who informed us about the breakfast she’d planned at her place in the morning.
“So much to talk about,” I said once the door closed. “Drink?” Dad nodded, and we went into the kitchen, got drinks, and sat in the living room.
“I really like Grey,” Dad said. “Solid guy. You chose well.”
I told him the whole story—how I’d snooped through his office and ended up kidnapping Grey. I didn’t gloss over anything I’d done.
Dad laughed for a good five minutes. “You really are my daughter.” He enveloped me in a hug.
“I owe you an apology for the invasion of your privacy, but if I hadn’t done it, Grey would be dead, so not too sorry. And now, mister, about that office of yours… Insurance salesman?” I rolled my eyes. “I’m certain you’ve never sold a policy in your life. Homeowners or some such, wasn’t it?”
“You know very well it was a one-stop shop.” Dad laughed.
“What were you really doing?”
“What I can tell you is that I worked undercover for the FBI and helped bring down bad guys in a variety of ways. I established a reputation in criminal circles as being up for anything as long as the price was right. It came as a shock, to my clients anyway, that every one of them ended up in prison. Based on the number Rally called, the criminal he got it from had wanted the same service and is now locked up. It would be interesting to know what the relationship is between the two men. That’s all I can say, as I took an oath to keep my trap shut. That applies even after I’ve left service.”
“Am I in legal trouble, having used government resources?”
“Your old man is going to take care of this situation. I’ve still got connections in the bureau, and once they hear the whole story, they’re going to set their sights on Rally. Like me, they’ll have a few questions for him.”
I hugged him hard. “If something had happened and you’d been killed, would they have notified me?” I shuddered at the thought of never knowing.
He hesitated for so long, I already knew the answer. “Probably not immediately, but eventually, yes. But I’m back and not going anywhere. You’ll have me around to tell you what to do for a long time to come.”
Grey walked in and pulled me into his arms, hugging me.
“I’ll see you two at breakfast.” Dad slipped out quietly.
* * *
Rella had set the table out on the balcony and told me to invite the need-to-know people. Dad arrived with Seven. Not sure how they met. The latter singled Avery out to flirt with, and she informed him he was a hot lug but not her type. He laughed.
I’d been chosen as door-greeter. “What are you doing here?” I asked Ender upon opening the door. He ignored me, busy tugging on Gram’s arm.
“Really, Harper, you’re being rude.” Gram tsked, pulling away and shoving Ender inside (with his help). He grinned at her.
“Lucky me, I showed up when Gram was getting ready to jet out the door, and once I heard the details, I invited myself.” Ender continued to grin. “Very opportune, I’d say.”
It was an amazingly gorgeous day to have breakfast outside on the balcony, the sun glittering off the blue water below and a family-and-friends affair around the table. The cook fixed us each one of his signature waffle stacks, and the food was quickly devoured, Ender the only one to eat two.
“If you barf,” I said, “do it in your shoe and try not to make a mess.”
Most laughed.
Gram shook her head and finger at me and poked Ender. “No barfing.” He grinned back at her.
When everyone was finished and the plates cleared away, Rella refilled drinks and had us all move down to the other end of the balcony to sit in the deck chairs, each with its own footrest.
“How is it that Dad and Seven were the ones to burst through the doors… ahead of the cops, I might add?” I asked.
“Your phone call had us both flying in your direction, albeit separately,” Seven said. “Grey and I had already concluded our business, and he was headed home when he got your call. I was en route to another appointment when I got Grey’s call and U-turned. On the way to your office, I called a law enforcement friend who’d already been consulting with me and Grey, and he said reinforcements were on the way. I’m perusing the parking lot when this old man practically sideswipes me, backing me up so that he can hog two parking places, which I contend is laziness, even if it turns out he owns the building.”
“Seven ordered me to come back another time, thinking I’d cower in my trainers, and I laughed. Told him mine are bigger than yours any day of the week.” Dad smirked.
Everyone laughed.
Rella and I blushed.
“When he introduced himself as Old Man Finn, I made the connecti
on to crazy chick and filled him in, telling him he might want to stay in his car,” Seven said.
Dad snorted. “Seven’s idea of filling me in was half-assed at best. Upon hearing my daughter might be in trouble, no way was I waiting. Told him if he was a ’fraidy, he could be the one to wait in the parking lot. Whipped open my jacket and drew my firearm, saying, ‘Follow me, son.’” He demonstrated.
Grey laughed.
I shook my head.
“Call me ’fraidy and see what happens,” Ender taunted with a grin.
“I heard you don’t have a girlfriend,” Gram said to Seven. “I’m available.” She winked at him.
“You’re too old for him,” Dad pointed out.
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
I shot Seven an “I told you so” look.
“I’ve got a couple of updates,” he said. “Cathy was Baker-acted, so she’s in the looney bin until a court decides otherwise. Rally’s awaiting a bail hearing. I’m sure his father will throw his weight around to get him released.”
“If that happens, let me know. I don’t want him showing back up at the office without some warning,” Grey said.
I held up my hand. “I want all of you to know I’m removing my nose from Grey’s business and concentrating on my own. I’ve had enough excitement.”
Grey wrapped his arm around me.
“I’m always the boring one.” Rella sighed.
“Anyone ever tells you that to your face, you tell me.” Avery air-boxed.
“Staring down the barrel of a gun is not fun,” I said. “Especially when you know the person on the other end is going to pull the trigger.” My friends and I grimaced. “I’m looking forward to a little boring.”
~*~
When you’re being framed for murder,
should you draw a line in the sand…
or run for the water?
Excerpt from Not Guilty
Chapter One
“Avery English, when are you going to start locking your door?” Seven demanded in a grouchy tone as he kicked open the door and crossed the threshold, a paper cup in each hand.
I wiped the smirk off my face as I turned and faced the blond-haired, blue-eyed hottie dressed in jeans and a dress shirt. Little did Seven Donnelly know, but his latest acquisition—a black Escalade with tinted windows—had caught my attention when it passed by on the large security monitor that sat on the corner of my desk. I’d tracked the car as it curved around the back of the building and pulled into the underground garage. He also didn’t need to know that I knew exactly how long it would take him to climb the stairs to the second floor.
“Would you believe that a client just left?” I took off my oversized cat-shaped glasses and tossed them in the drawer, knowing that he didn’t like them. I didn’t actually need glasses, but they lent credence to the nerdy persona I liked to project. He claimed they blocked his ability to see my “beautiful” eyes.
With a shove, Seven slammed the door shut and strutted over to my desk like he owned the place. He set down a cup of coffee right under my nose like he did every morning on the way to his third-floor office.
I’d really begun to look forward to these visits.
The previous occupant of the third floor and owner of the property had recently retired and now spent most of his time with cronies on the golf course, showing up on occasion to make sure the building was still standing. Seven had partnered with his longtime friend Grey West, both ex-cops, in their newly formed security firm, WD Consulting, which had moved into the space vacated by the owner.
“I think you just made that up so you don’t have to listen to another safety lecture.” He gave me a piercing stare, one hand reaching out and pushing back a couple stray locks of my sun-streaked hair that had come loose from the messy twist I’d fashioned earlier. He stepped back, claimed one of the two chairs in front of my desk, and stretched his legs out. Settling back, he raised his cup and winked. “I happen to know you’re obsessive about detail, so were you by chance expecting me?” He cut off my response with a wave of his hand. “I know what’s coming next—you’re going to tell me that another client’s about to walk through the door. Do I have that right? No answer needed, as I know how accommodating you are to your clients—meeting most of them on their turf—hence only a handful grace these premises. Good excuse, though. Save it for someone who doesn’t know you.”
“Did you hear that?” I tilted my head, staring up at the ceiling. “Grey’s yelling for you to get upstairs and get some work done.”
Stupid grin on his face, Seven rolled his eyes. “With this building’s layers of concrete, we could have a bloody free-for-all going on up there and you’d never hear a thing.”
“That’s all we need.” I air-boxed.
“How about dinner? Say yes. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“I don’t date.” Rarely anyway. I’d done my share of casual encounters and friend fix-ups, and they’d turned out okay, but nothing special. After a lot of stilted conversations where I’d done my best to dumb it down, they always ended on an awkward note with my date as eager for the evening to come to an end as I was.
“That’s a new excuse. You’re usually busy, with some client demanding your attention.” He gave me an exaggerated frown.
It was hard not to laugh, and it just slipped out. I’d done my best to discourage him, hadn’t I? He was just so damn cute, but I wasn’t going to go into all the ways that we were better off being casual friends. “The truth is, I don’t date clients.” Actually, I liked the friendly banter and didn’t want it to change.
“When it comes to WD’s finances, you deal primarily with Grey. You’re thinking too hard.” Seven’s feet hit the floor, and he leaned forward. “One dinner, no expectations.” He crooked his head to the side and stared at the security monitor. “We need a couple of these upstairs. In the meantime, something’s going on…”
My eyes shot to the monitor. “What’s happening?”
Seven and I watched as another Miami-Dade police car followed the first one into the parking lot and both parked in front of the building. The officers got out, checked out the building and exchanged a few words, then headed to the entrance.
“They buzzed me.” I eyed the intercom pad at the door. “Wonder if they just started pushing buttons to see who might answer.”
“This probably isn’t a social call.” Seven stood. “I’ll go down and find out what’s going on.”
I ignored the shiver that raced up my spine. Or tried to, anyway. “Be careful. I know you used to be one of them, but you never know.”
“I knew you liked me.” He grinned and raised his shirt, showing off impeccable abs as well as the gun holstered at his waist. “In case you need peace of mind, I’ve got backup on the off chance I need it. In this case, I highly doubt it will be necessary.”
I gave him a weak smile.
Seven crossed to the door and double-checked the lock, then turned back to me. “Keep it locked until I get back.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” I saluted as he shut the door. I thought of Hugo’s cleaning service on the first floor and hoped that none of the guys that worked for him were in any kind of trouble.
~*~
Other Titles by Deborah Brown
BISCAYNE BAY SERIES
Hired Killer
Not Guilty (September 2021)
Jilted (October 2021)
PARADISE SERIES
Crazy in Paradise
Deception in Paradise
Trouble in Paradise
Murder in Paradise
Greed in Paradise
Revenge in Paradise
Kidnapped in Paradise
Swindled in Paradise
Executed in Paradise
Hurricane in Paradise
Lottery in Paradise
Ambushed in Paradise
Christmas in Paradise
Blownup in Paradise
Psycho in Paradise
> Overdose in Paradise
Initiation in Paradise
Jealous in Paradise
Wronged in Paradise
Vanished in Paradise
Fraud in Paradise
Naive in Paradise
Bodies in Paradise
Accused in Paradise
Deborah’s books are available on Amazon
amazon.com/Deborah-Brown/e/B0059MAIKQ
About the Author
Deborah Brown is an Amazon bestselling author of the Paradise series. She lives on the Gulf of Mexico, with her ungrateful animals, where Mother Nature takes out her bad attitude in the form of hurricanes.
For a free short story, sign up for my newsletter. It will also keep you up-to-date with new releases and special promotions. www.deborahbrownbooks.com
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You can contact her at [email protected]
Deborah’s books are available on Amazon:
amazon.com/Deborah-Brown/e/B0059MAIKQ
Hired Killer (Biscayne Bay Book 1) Page 21