“I’ve known him since I was a kid,” Mandy replied. “We grew up in the same town.”
Heather faltered. “Well, isn’t that special?”
“He is special,” Mandy agreed. “I’ve known Grady since I was a kid, too. I know them both very well.”
“Well … bully for you.”
Mandy rolled her tongue in her mouth, fighting the urge to be vindictive. She lost. “You’re the one out of your league if you think Grady Hardy could ever be tempted by a serpent like yourself.”
“A serpent?”
“I’m guessing rattler,” Sophie said.
“I was going for boa constrictor,” Mandy countered. “She looks like she has to swallow anything whole to keep it with her.”
“Good choice,” Sophie said.
“Is something going on here?”
Mandy shifted her gaze to the door between the courtroom and the hallway that led to the back offices, her eyes landing on a worried-looking Judge MacIntosh.
“Just some good-old-fashioned female … conversation,” Mandy said.
“Ms. Lane,” MacIntosh said, stepping into the room. “It’s good to see you.”
“You, too.”
“He’s just being polite,” Heather said. “He hates you just as much as the rest of the court staff does … this clerk notwithstanding.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t speak for me, Ms. Harrington,” MacIntosh said. “Besides, that is not even remotely the truth.”
Heather faltered.
“I happen to think that Ms. Lane is one of the jewels of our county,” the judge said. “She performs a very important service. The public has a right to know, and she does a very good job of informing them.”
“She’s a bottom feeder.”
“Shut up,” Mandy snapped.
Judge MacIntosh took an involuntary step back, surprised at Mandy’s vehemence.
“You shut up,” Heather snarled. “You sit there and pretend you’re something special. You parade your husband around and make people believe that you’re some sort of county socialite now, when we all know you’re living off his money. I have no idea how you convinced that man to marry you, but we all know some coercion was involved.
“You are a court clerk,” she continued. “You are not rich. You’re a … you’re nothing. Just because your husband has money and standing, that doesn’t mean you do. He’s going to realize what you are and leave you. I just can’t wait to see it happen.”
“That will be enough of that,” MacIntosh said.
Heather was affronted. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t know anything about Mandy – or her husband, for that matter.”
“And you do?”
“I know that she’s a good worker,” MacIntosh said. “I know that she’s loyal, and I know she’s incredibly smart. I’ve also gotten to know her husband over the past year. He’s stalwart and true. He’s strong, and smart, and he’s made a name for himself in this county.
“You have no idea how he feels about his wife, and I’m not certain why you feel the need to pretend you do,” he continued. “I can say, with unequivocal certainty, that he loves his wife absolutely. I have never seen a man love a woman so completely.”
Heather’s face colored.
“There is something going on here that I clearly don’t understand,” MacIntosh said. “Everyone should just stop whatever they’re doing. That’s everyone! An outburst like this will not be tolerated again.”
“Well, then you should talk to them,” Heather sniffed.
“Ms. Harrington, I don’t care who your father is,” MacIntosh said. “I get that you think you’re untouchable because of him. That’s not how things work in my courtroom, though. Something tells me they’re not the ones in the wrong here. I think it’s you.
“Don’t bother arguing,” MacIntosh said, raising his hand to stifle her. “I’m not a fool. I know what you’re doing. I’ve heard rumors about your machinations from other people in this courthouse. I just want you to know, in this courtroom, you’re not above anything. Don’t ever pull anything like this again.”
Fifteen
Jake glanced down at his phone, the incoming text message catching his attention as he drove. It was Ally. She was wondering where he was.
Jake frowned. He’d officially been lying to Ally for four days. Sure, he hadn’t told her an overt falsehood, but he certainly hadn’t been telling her the truth. He felt guilty – and dirty. He wanted this to be over.
Jake pulled into the parking lot of Hardy Brothers Security and killed the engine of his truck. He picked up the phone and read the message again, considering his options.
She wanted to know what time he was going to be over. He was already an hour late for the dinner he’d promised to be on time for. There was no anger in her words, no recrimination, and yet Jake felt … filthy.
He hated what he was doing. He hated the men at the warehouse. He hated the betrayal.
He didn’t know what to do.
Without realizing what he was doing, Jake started typing. He told her he couldn’t make it, that work was calling him away, and he apologized and promised to make it up to her. He pressed the “send” button and waited.
After five minutes, he gave up on waiting for a response and trudged into the office. He was surprised to find James sitting behind his desk. “What are you doing here?”
“Just finishing up a few things,” James said. “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t know where else to go.”
James looked Jake up and down, not liking the slouch of his friend’s shoulders, and the grime covering his skin and clothes. “How was work?”
“Great. You’ll be happy to know that I was invited to a prostitute party tonight.”
“A what?”
“They dropped a hundred bucks and bought two prostitutes to give everyone blow jobs.”
James scowled. “You’re done.”
“If I’m done now, we’ve just wasted four days,” Jake said. “I can’t be done. They’re starting to trust me.”
“How … how did you get out of things tonight?”
“I told them my mother was in town.”
James quirked an eyebrow.
“I’m not sure they believed me,” Jake admitted. “The good news is, they think I hate women because of my recent divorce. They could think it’s because of that.”
“Maybe they think you’re gay?” James was trying to be helpful.
“I wish.”
James made a face. “How is Ally?”
“She just texted,” Jake said, holding up his phone. “I promised her I would be there for dinner. I’m late.”
“So, why are you here?”
“Look at me,” Jake said, gesturing to his dingy clothes. “I can’t explain this.”
“What did you do?”
“I texted that work had delayed me and that I couldn’t make it.”
“That’s not technically a lie,” James said.
“Really? Because it feels like a lie.”
“Jake, just … let it go. We’ll figure something else out.”
“I can’t,” Jake admitted. “I’m sure Wayne is involved. I can’t walk away when we’re so close.”
“What makes you think Wayne is involved?”
“He has two phones,” Jake replied.
“That could be anything.”
“Whenever the second phone dings, he makes a beeline outside,” Jake said. “That’s business. That’s a specific business. He’s acting odd. I know he’s got something to do with this.”
“It could be a woman.”
“Not unless he’s married,” Jake countered. “He’s not married.”
James sighed, running his hand through his hair. “You still don’t have concrete information.”
“The only way to get it is to stay there,” Jake said. “I’ve got to somehow prove that I’m important to his plans.”
“Any idea on how
to do that?”
“None.”
“Jake, I don’t want you risking your relationship with Ally,” James said. “This has already gone on longer than I would like.”
“I could tell her.”
“How do you think she would take it?” James asked.
“She’s going to freak.”
“Do you want to tell her? You can put the blame on me. This is my fault.”
“There’s no way of telling her without making myself look guilty,” Jake replied. “I made the decision to hide things. If I’m going to tell her, I have to admit what I’ve done wrong.”
“Do you want to tell her?”
“I don’t want to hurt her,” Jake said. “No matter what now, I’m going to hurt her.”
“How do you figure?”
“Let’s face it,” Jake said. “Mandy can’t keep quiet for much longer. I have no idea how you’ve managed to keep her lips zipped this long. It’s only a matter of time. Even if I quit now, the truth would come out.”
“Mandy’s been really good,” James said. “I thought she would crack that first night. She can’t hold out much longer. She’s going to cave – and she’s going to cave soon.”
“We’re in a spot,” Jake said. “I can’t quit, because we need information. No one else is going to be able to get close. If I disappear now, they’re going to have their walls up. Quitting isn’t an option.
“The truth is going to come out now no matter what,” he continued. “It’s better that it come from me. We have to tell her. She’s going to worry, we can’t stop that now. It’s better that she worries about the right things.”
James tilted his head, considering. “What right things?”
“She’s got to be wondering if I’m cheating on her,” Jake said. “Let’s be realistic. We all know how she thinks. We haven’t … spent quality time together … in days. I’m always coming home after she’s already asleep. I can see her mind working, and it’s breaking me.”
James sighed. “Tell her.”
“She’s going to be pissed at you, too.”
“Blame it all on me,” James said. “Do what you have to. You’re only in this position because I forced you into it. She has to forgive me. I’m her brother.”
“I don’t want to do this,” Jake said. “I can’t see another way.”
“Do it.”
MANDY let herself into Ally’s house, worry and guilt propelling her. She couldn’t take much more of this. She’d been dodging Ally’s calls for two days. When she’d listened to her voicemail tonight, Ally’s sobs had been incoherent.
Mandy knew what was going on, and she was done letting her friend suffer. She didn’t care how angry James was.
“Ally?”
Mandy followed the sound of sniffles and found Ally sitting on the living room floor, used Kleenex spread around her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jake is cheating on me,” Ally announced.
“No, he’s not.”
“He is,” Ally said. “There’s no other explanation.”
“Ally, Jake would never cheat on you,” Mandy said, sinking down onto the floor next to Ally and wrapping her arm around her friend’s shaking shoulders. “Oh, don’t cry.”
“I’m so … sad.”
“Ally … .”
“I thought he cared about me.”
“Ally, he adores you,” Mandy said, biting her lower lip.
“No, he doesn’t,” Ally said. “He’s cheating on me. You don’t cheat on people if you adore them.”
“Why do you think he’s cheating on you?” Mandy was buying time. She was going to give in and tell the truth. She had no doubt. Now she was just trying to figure out the best way to do it.
“We haven’t slept together in days.”
“He’s been busy.”
“Oh, come on,” Ally protested. “James is busy all the time. When was the last time he went twenty-four hours without touching you?”
“I’m sure he’s touched you.”
“Yeah, he came home Saturday night and carried me into bed,” Ally replied. “He smelled like smoke, and he insisted on taking a shower before he got into bed.”
“Maybe he was just being considerate?”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Ally … .”
“And then yesterday he didn’t show up until after midnight,” Ally said. “I didn’t even bother waiting up for him. I was already in bed. He showered again before climbing in next to me. He put his arm around me, but he didn’t even kiss me.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation,” Mandy said, searching for something – anything, really – that would clear Jake without making him look like a total tool.
“There is,” Ally agreed. “He’s cheating on me.”
“He would never cheat on you,” Mandy said. “You’re his whole world.”
“Oh, whatever,” Ally said. “You’re living in La-La Land.”
“I know you’re upset.”
“Then, this morning, he promised he would be home for dinner,” Ally said. “I actually downloaded a recipe from the Internet. I was going to make him pasta.”
Mandy looked around the house, her eyes landing on the full bowl on the counter. “What happened?”
“I texted him to tell him that I was waiting for him,” Ally said. “He texted back to say he wasn’t coming, and that he would see me tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“He promised to make it up to me,” Ally said, her brown eyes filling with tears. “He’s cheating on me. He’s sleeping with another woman. He’s still pretending he’s going to make it up to me, though. I should be happy with that, right?”
Mandy closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. “He’s not cheating on you.”
“There’s no other explanation.”
“There’s one.”
Ally stilled as she fixed her eyes on the only friend she’d ever cared about. “What do you know?”
“You’re going to be mad.”
“I’m already mad.”
“You’re going to be pissed beyond reason,” Mandy corrected.
“I’m going to rip your hair out of your head if you don’t tell me what’s going on,” Ally warned.
“Jake is undercover.” The second the words left her mouth, Mandy felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
“Undercover where?”
“He’s been working at a warehouse in Detroit,” Mandy said. “He’s trying to get close to people who might know something about the trafficking across the bridge.”
“No,” Ally argued. “He works for my brothers.”
“He technically has two jobs right now.”
Ally leaned forward, her face a mask of righteous indignation and anger. “And whose idea what that?”
“I’m not sure.”
Ally furrowed her brow. “How do you know?”
“I overheard them talking.”
“Do they know you overheard them?”
“Yes.”
“That means it was James!” Ally was on her feet, pacing.
“Ally, they didn’t lie to hurt you,” Mandy said. “They lied to protect you.”
“Oh, whatever.”
“They did,” Mandy said. “That’s how they convinced me to lie.”
“Oh, you’re so on my list,” Ally railed. “You’re my best friend. You’re supposed to have my best interests at heart.”
“They didn’t want you to worry, Ally,” Mandy said. “They were scared you’d be sitting at home and obsessing about what he was doing.”
“Why was he the one who had to go?”
“Because the rest of them had been asking questions for days,” Mandy replied. “They were known to too many of the players.”
“So, they made Jake do it?”
“I think he was okay with it,” Mandy said. “They’re working to save women, Ally. He’s doing a good thing.”
“By lying to me?”
�
��I … I don’t have any excuses.”
“How long have you known?” Ally asked, swiveling to face her friend head on.
“Not long.”
“How long?”
“Since Sunday.”
Ally’s face crumpled. “You betrayed me. You, and your husband, and my brothers … you all betrayed me.”
“We were trying to keep you from worrying, Ally. I didn’t want to lie. James convinced me it was the only way.”
“Get out.”
Mandy stilled. “What?”
“Get. Out. Of. My. House.”
“No.”
“This is my house,” Ally exploded. “You have no right to be here. You lied to me.”
“I love you.”
“You don’t lie to the people you love.”
“You do if you think you’re protecting them.”
“Get out!”
“No.”
Ally’s shoulders were shaking. “I hate you.”
Mandy inhaled deeply, calming herself. “I love you.”
“I hate you.”
“I love you.”
Ally collapsed back to the carpet, burying her head between her knees. “I hate you.”
Mandy moved to her side, wrapping her arms around the woman she could now legally call sister. “I love you.”
Ally sobbed openly, and Mandy held her while she did.
“I love you,” Mandy repeated. “I’m so sorry.”
Sixteen
“Uh-oh.”
James climbed out of his truck, fixing the familiar black Focus with a worried look as Jake joined him on the driveway in front of Ally’s house.
“Mandy is here,” Jake said.
“She is.”
“Did you know she was here?”
“I thought she was home,” James said. “She’s been taking a painting class once a week. That’s why I was working late.”
“I didn’t know she was taking a class.”
“She didn’t want anyone to know right now,” James said. “She’s afraid everyone will make fun of her.”
“Well, that is the Hardy way.”
James grimaced. “If she’s here, that means Ally called her.”
“And if Ally called her, that means Ally is upset,” Jake finished.
James sighed, pressing his eyes closed. “Maybe she hasn’t told her yet.” When he opened his eyes again, he saw Jake was already at the front door.
Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) Page 11