“It’s weird, right?”
“What’s weird?” Grady asked, distracted.
“Would you visit the guy who shot your son the day after it happened?”
“If I had questions about the death, like this guy clearly does, I probably would do the same thing,” Grady answered. “It’s his son. He wants to understand why this horrible thing happened to his family. He can’t wrap his head around it, so he came to the one person he thinks might have answers.”
“We don’t have answers, though,” Mandy pointed out. “We don’t know why the kid did it. We just know he did.”
“I know you’re worried about James, but you don’t need to be,” Grady said, dragging his eyes away from the computer and focusing on his sister-in-law. “He’s okay. He did what he had to do to keep you safe. He’s never going to regret that.”
Mandy wasn’t so sure. “I know he would do anything to keep me safe, but I’m not sure that Nate Graham was going to kill me. He seemed to be goading James. That’s how it felt to me, at least.”
“What do you mean?” Grady was intrigued. “I wasn’t there so I only heard about the interaction secondhand. The way it was described to me, the kid had a gun and was raising it in your direction.”
“He was raising it and I happened to be in front of him,” she said. “I was afraid he was going to hurt me but now … .” Mandy broke off, licking her lips. “I don’t know what to think now. I almost think that he did it to force James to shoot him.”
“Because he didn’t want to go to prison?”
“He mentioned prison rape in a roundabout way,” Mandy supplied. “I think he was more frightened of prison than dying.”
“He was a young kid. I don’t blame him.” Grady turned back to the computer. “Are you worried about James? Is that why you’re his shadow today?”
“Did he tell you about that?” Mandy asked, legitimately curious and confused. “I know he’s been agitated because I insisted on going with him, but I honestly can’t figure out when he had time to call or text you.”
“Not him,” Grady replied. “Sophie told me. She also told me about your dirty assistant game and I was looking forward to leaving the office early because I didn’t want to risk seeing you guys dusting the desk.”
“Ha, ha.” Mandy flicked Grady’s ear. “I just want him to relax a little. He’s tense, even though he won’t admit it.”
“He’ll be okay, Mandy,” Grady said. “He loves you more than anything and as long as you’re together he’ll be fine.”
“I just wish it didn’t happen,” Mandy lamented. “He deserves better than having his hero badge tarnished because the bad guy was essentially a kid.”
Grady snorted. “His hero badge?”
“It’s a thing … that I just made up.”
“Oh, you guys are so cute you make me want to puke sometimes,” Grady said, shaking his head. “I’m surprised you didn’t make him a hero crown or something.”
“Oh, fun.” Mandy clapped her hands. “A crown would be much better. I’m going to make him stop at the crafts store on the way home so I can get some gems to glue to his crown.”
“Yay, a new filthy game for the two of you to play,” Grady said, shaking his head. “You’re a sick, sick woman.”
“I’m going to be a sick, sick queen to his bossy king tonight,” Mandy said. “I … .” She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence because the bell over the front door rang, signifying a customer’s entry. When she lifted her eyes to the door, she found an angry man, fists clenched at his sides as he sucked in huge mouthfuls of air, staring at her. “Um … Grady?”
“I’ll be right with you,” Grady said without glancing up, shifting the computer to Mandy’s lap. “Read through that and tell me if you find anything.”
Mandy took the computer, but her eyes remained on the red-faced man in the entryway. “Grady … .”
Grady finally recognized the shift in Mandy’s demeanor and swiveled toward the door, hopping to his feet when he sensed danger. He didn’t waste more than two seconds ascertaining the situation. “Go into James’ office right now.”
Mandy considered arguing but wisely changed her mind when she saw the man storm in Grady’s direction. She didn’t knock on James’ door, instead throwing it open and scurrying inside.
James didn’t look happy to see her. “What are you doing?”
“Something bad is about to happen,” Mandy announced, pointing. “I think he’s going to try and kill Grady.”
James’ face flooded with color when his gaze drifted toward the lobby. “What the … ? Now what?”
7
Seven
“Marty, what are you doing here?”
Graham looked confused when he focused on the new visitor. James ignored his reaction and prodded Mandy closer to the wall as he eased through the doorframe. Grady remained rooted to his spot, his hands clenched at his sides in case the new face opted to attack. James hoped for a peaceful outcome, though, so he decided to talk to the man rather than attack right out of the gate.
“Can I help you?”
“This is Marty Landers,” Graham supplied nervously. He didn’t move to stop James, or join the other man, but he was clearly worried about the situation coming to blows. “He’s Dakota Landers’ father.”
James pursed his lips as he studied Landers, his weighted gaze long and considering. “Is there something you want?” he asked finally. He wasn’t keen on making the man’s grief worse but he wasn’t going to put up with nonsense either.
“I’m here to talk to you,” Landers barked, his face red. “I want to know why you killed my son.”
“As far as I know, I didn’t kill your son,” James replied evenly. “I killed Nathan Graham, at least that’s what Mr. Graham just informed me. Do you have information that says otherwise?”
“What? You don’t know the name of the teenager you brutally killed?” Landers challenged. He was clearly trying to goad James.
“Now you wait just a minute,” Mandy spat, taking a step forward.
James extended an arm to keep her behind him, making sure she was safe even as her temper flared. “Baby, please don’t make things worse.”
Mandy was hurt by the insinuation. “But … .”
“Mandy, stay in my office,” James ordered, stepping over the threshold. He wanted Landers to understand that he meant business, and should he attack Grady because he was closest, things wouldn’t end well. “What do you want, Mr. Landers?”
Landers looked caught as he licked his lips. “I want to know why you killed my son.”
“He’s not the one who shot Dakota, Marty,” Graham supplied. “I talked to the sheriff’s department people. They told me that Mr. Hardy is the one who killed … who ended … who was there when Nate died.” Graham appeared to be searching for the right phrase because he didn’t want to offend anyone. “The police shot Dakota.”
“Yeah, but he was there,” Landers argued, jerking his head in James’ direction. “He was there and he’s got a very … unseemly … reputation. I want to know why he was there. I’m certain that he had something to do with Dakota’s death and I want to know what.”
James quirked an eyebrow but otherwise remained still. Mandy was a different story.
“Unseemly?” Mandy’s voice was shrill as she stormed through the doorframe. “What is that supposed to mean?”
James’ small blonde was in front of Landers, within touching distance, before he could think to stop her. He was beyond frustrated when he took a step in her direction. “Don’t touch her,” he warned, his voice low and full of warning.
Landers jolted at the look on James’ face but refused to back down. “Why would I want to touch her? Is that what happened? Did Dakota touch your precious wife? Is that why he had to die?”
“Your son died because he took a gun to a mall and stole a bunch of things,” Mandy barked, annoyed. “He died because he was a criminal. James didn’t kill him. He didn’t
have anything to do with what happened at the mall.”
“Then why was he there?” Landers challenged. “Why did the sheriff’s department take him with them when they moved on those boys?”
“Because they had four gunman and thousands of shoppers,” Grady interjected, taking Landers by surprise when he entered the conversational fray. “They needed people with tactical training. That’s why they took us. We were already on scene – and have a working relationship with the sheriff – so he sent us in.”
“And why were you on the scene?” Landers asked.
“Because my wife, sister, and two future sisters-in-law were in a wedding dress shop in the mall,” James gritted out. He hated how close Mandy was to Landers. He wanted her in his arms – or at least ten steps back from where she stood now – and he could barely focus given her proximity to potential danger. “We went in to get our family.”
“And you killed mine in the process,” Landers spat, frustrated. “My son is dead. Do you understand that?”
“I do,” James confirmed. “I didn’t kill him, though.”
“But … you were there!”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I would’ve killed him to get to my wife or save an innocent shopper,” James clarified. “I don’t want you to think otherwise because it’s completely untrue. The simple fact is, though, I was nowhere near your son. If you have issues with what happened at the mall yesterday, then perhaps you should take it up with the sheriff.”
“I’ve tried that,” Landers said. “He won’t give me the answers I want. He won’t tell me why.”
“That’s probably because he doesn’t know why,” James said. “Your son is the one who ran into a mall with a gun. Your son stole things and thought he could somehow make a getaway. You knew your son better than the sheriff did. You need to search your heart for the hows and whys.”
Landers rubbed his cheek, his eyes bouncing between faces. Finally his gaze landed on Mandy and James’ heart rolled when he saw the hate reflected in that stare.
“You’re the woman who killed Lance Pritchard, aren’t you?” Landers barked, spittle forming at the corners of his mouth. “You killed him. I remember. You were all over the news. Did you like that? Did you have something to do with my son being killed?”
James was at his wit’s end when he took two large steps and grabbed Mandy’s arm, tugging her behind him as he stared down Landers. The two men were chest to chest when James was finished positioning himself, and neither looked ready to back down.
“My wife has nothing to do with this,” James hissed. “Don’t touch her … or threaten her … or even address her in anything other than a respectful tone.”
“Why?” Landers challenged. “What will you do? Will you kill me like you did my son? Like she killed Pritchard? Are you a bloodthirsty couple? Is that your thing?”
James risked a glance at Mandy and saw the cloudy expression on her face. Lance Pritchard died months before and it was an uphill climb for her to overcome the horror associated with ending his life. She had no choice when it happened, but she was still haunted by her actions that day.
“Is that our thing?” James was ready to beat Landers within an inch of his life. The only thing stopping him was Mandy’s presence and the knowledge that this was a grieving man. “My wife had to deliver a baby that night. She had a knife to her throat the entire time. Then she tried to sacrifice herself to save the mother and little boy because she wanted to give them time to run from a rapist and murderer. Don’t you dare say one word about her!” James roared the last sentence so loudly that Landers had no choice but to take a step back.
“I’m … sorry,” Landers said after a beat, his face crumbling. “I … that was wrong of me to say.”
“You’re right,” James snapped. “Don’t even look at her! Look at me.”
Landers snapped his attention to James and licked his lips. “This is not how I planned on approaching you. I … just wanted answers. I didn’t mean to attack you.”
“Well, you didn’t do a good job of that, Marty,” Graham said, shaking his head. “These folks aren’t the reason Nate and Dakota are dead. They were there. If you’d entered and asked your questions in a reasonable manner, Mr. Hardy would’ve answered them. That’s what he was doing for me.”
“I see that,” Landers said, rolling his neck. “I didn’t mean to do what I did. I just … I don’t know what else to do. My son is gone.”
“And I’m sorry for your loss,” James said, glancing at Mandy. Her face was unreadable. “I am willing to answer your questions, but if you raise your voice to my wife again we’re going to have issues.”
“I’m sorry,” Landers said, and for the first time since entering the office he appeared to be a rational man. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Hardy.”
James was blithe as he turned his back on the man and focused on his wife. “Baby, maybe you shouldn’t be here,” he said. “I obviously have some stuff to do, but you don’t need to stay here while I’m doing it. Let Grady take you home.”
“But … .” Mandy snapped her eyes to James, hurt flitting through the clear blue orbs. “I thought you wanted me here.”
“I do, but we’re going to split the difference,” James said. “I have some stuff to deal with here and I don’t want you stuck here for the afternoon. Grady is going to take you home and as soon as I’m done here I’m going to come to you.”
“I think that sounds like a good plan,” Grady said, relieved.
“Me, too,” James intoned. He pointed toward his office. “Mr. Landers, Mr. Graham, if you’ll take your seats, I’ll be with you shortly.”
“I really am sorry,” Landers offered lamely.
James remained focused on Mandy. “I know you are. That’s the only reason I haven’t thumped you for what you said to my wife.”
Mandy blew out a sigh as she stepped closer to James, leaning toward him as he smoothed the back of her hair. “This isn’t how I envisioned us spending our day.”
“We’ll have time together later,” James said. “The second I’m done with them I’ll come home to you.”
“Promise?”
“Forever.” James pressed a kiss to Mandy’s mouth. “Go home and paint something for me, wife. I want to know you’re safe. That’s the most important thing to me.”
Mandy wanted to argue but she knew it wasn’t the right time. That didn’t stop her from issuing an edict. “You have two hours before I come looking for you.”
“I’ll be home long before then, my baby. I promise.”
JAMES expected to find Mandy in her studio when he returned to the house. Instead he found her in the kitchen, romantic candles lit on the table and the scent of something edible wafting through the room. He was dumbfounded.
“You cooked?”
Mandy jumped at the sound of his voice, offering a rueful smile when she realized he snuck inside without her noticing. “You frightened me.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” James said, pulling her in for a hug. “This caught me off guard, though. I expected to find you in your studio. I had plans to strip you naked and order pizza.”
Mandy smirked. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“You did that the day you married me,” James said, glancing around the table. He could smell the seafood Alfredo warming in the oven and his mouth watered. “Okay, baby, I’m going to ask a question and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”
“Are you going to ask me if I’m trying to give you food poisoning?” Mandy asked, narrowing her eyes. “That’s what you always ask when I cook.”
“That’s not true,” James countered. “I generally only ask if you’re trying to give me food poisoning if you venture outside of canned pasta or microwave dinners.”
“You’re mean,” Mandy muttered, jutting out her lower lip. “You’re a mean, mean man.”
“I’m sorry.” James stroked the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “It’s just been a long day. This came a
s a total surprise.”
Mandy’s expression softened. “Do you want to talk about it?”
James studied her serious face for a moment, briefly wondering if there was a right answer to the question. “Can we eat first?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” James cupped her chin and gave her a soft kiss. “Maybe the food poisoning will make it so I don’t have to talk about my feelings after dinner, huh?” He jumped as she swatted him, chuckling at her outrage. “Just out of curiosity, what made you want to cook?”
“It wasn’t about cooking,” Mandy explained. “It was about wanting to do something nice for you. I don’t care what you say – and you don’t have to talk about it because I already know what happened in your office – but I know you’re hurting. I wanted to do something to make you feel better.”
“Just being here makes me feel better,” James said. “How do you know what happened in my office, though? Did Grady call you?”
Mandy shook her head, her blond hair brushing against her shoulders. “I can read people, too,” she said. “Granted, I’m not as good at it as you are, but I saw that Mr. Landers was more upset than angry. He let his emotions take the form of anger, but he’s really a broken man.”
“You are a smart woman, my baby,” James said. “He is definitely a broken man. They’re both broken men.”
“And they have no idea why their sons did what they did?”
“No.” James pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I don’t know what to do, Mandy. I need to know why these kids did what they did just as much as their parents need it. I simply do not understand.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking about that,” Mandy said. “Do you think that whatever is in that sealed filed will be able to help?”
James stilled, surprised. “I don’t know,” he answered after a beat. “If you have a sealed file as a juvenile, it’s generally a big deal. They seal it because they don’t want it to ruin any potential future employment for a minor.”
“I know,” Mandy said, licking her lips. “That’s why I’ve decided to ask Judge MacIntosh if he’ll look at the file for us.”
Deadly Forever (Hardy Brothers Security Book 24) Page 6