Maggie Lee (Book 11): The Hitwoman Hires a Manny

by Lynn, JB

  Griswald buckled his seat belt. “I hope there wasn’t anything important in there.”

  I shrugged as I started the car. “There probably is, but it won’t be the first time I lost track of something important.”

  “Feeling overwhelmed?” the agent asked sympathetically.

  I glanced at him sideways as I backed out of the driveway. “Are you asking because I yelled at one of your agents?”

  He chuckled. “No. I’ve seen you do crazier things.”

  For a moment I thought of the time my ex-boyfriend Paul had threatened to kill me in a seafood restaurant and how the man sitting in my car had helped to save my life. Feeling a tad bit guilty, I apologized. “I didn’t mean to be flippant.”

  He waved off my apology. “I was asking if you’re feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of bringing Katie home.”

  “A little,” I admitted softly.

  He nodded, but didn’t offer the usual, ‘you’ll do great’ platitudes that I’d gotten accustomed to people shoring me up with.

  When the silence stretched another beat, I confessed, “A lot. I’m feeling a lot overwhelmed.”

  “Understandable,” he murmured.

  “It scares the shit out of me,” I felt compelled to elaborate, suddenly getting the distinct impression that Marshal Griswald was probably an excellent interrogator.

  “And well it should,” he agreed calmly.

  “Especially with Rivgali out,” I blurted.

  He turned his head sharply so that he could stare at me. “How do you know about that?”

  “A little birdie told me.”

  “Mulligan?”

  I shook my head, trying not to give away that it startled me that he knew, or at least had guessed, that I had a relationship with Patrick. “A reporter told me.”

  Griswald turned back away, staring out the windshield. “So you know.”

  “I don’t know much,” I admitted, hoping that I could reverse his less-is-more questioning technique on him.

  “Rivgali is a dangerous man,” Griswald warned.

  “And yet he’s been released from prison.”

  “That’s because no one could make a case against him for the majority of his crimes.” Griswald’s voice, strained by barely masked anger, was difficult to hear over the hum of the engine and the roar of tires against the road.

  I got the unsettling feeling that whatever this was with Rivgali was personal for the usually unflappable marshal. I worried about what that could mean for Templeton.

  “It’ll only be a matter of time until he slips up,” Griswald continued.

  For a second I thought he’d meant Templeton, but then I realized he was going on about the ex-con.

  My cursory research of Rivgali hadn’t revealed a connection to Griswald or the marshals, so I decided to play dumb. “Might be helpful to know something more than the fact that he’s a career criminal with a penchant for arson.”

  “That’s not enough?”

  I squeezed the steering wheel. “It doesn’t explain why you and Brownie are looking for him.”

  “Browley,” he chuckled.

  “It’s obvious you don’t trust him,” I countered.

  He considered that for a moment before answering slowly, “It’s not that I don’t trust him…I just don’t like him.”

  “Why not?”

  A long pause stretched between us and I didn’t think he’d answer.

  “Because he’s here to make sure I don’t kill Rivgali.”

  I completely forgot to watch the road while driving as I turned to look at the marshal. “Kill him?”

  He pointed forward, indicating that I should return my attention there.

  I did what he wanted, barely keeping the car from sliding off the road.

  “Arnold Rivgali killed a potential witness I knew,” Griswald said quietly. “Because of that, a lot of bad men walked free to wreak a lot more havoc. If I’d gotten there an hour earlier…” He trailed off, his self-recrimination hanging in the air.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “Time blurs the pain,” I muttered. “It doesn’t erase it.”

  “No,” Griswald agreed. “No, it doesn’t.”

  “Are you going to kill him?” I asked curiously. Lawrence Griswald had never struck me as the rule-breaking type. I’d assumed that was one of the things he had in common with Aunt Susan.

  Instead of answering my question, he pledged, “I won’t let him hurt you.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about,” I admitted.

  “Is that why you’ve got a Delveccio at the house?”

  I glanced at him for a brief moment before returning my attention to the road, wondering if he’d somehow recognized Angel as a member of the mob family, or if Aunt Susan or the man himself had used his last name as part of an introduction. “He’s going to be Katie’s manny.”

  I winced internally at how lame that explanation sounded even though it was the truth.

  “Manny?” Griswald sounded confused. “Is that like a butler?”

  “No, like a nanny…except with an ‘m’.”

  He turned an incredulous gaze on me. “Are you pulling my leg?”

  I shook my head. “Don’t look at me. It was your girlfriend’s idea to hire him.”

  “Susan?”

  “Do you have another girlfriend?”

  “Of course not.” He sounded offended by the mere suggestion. “Why on earth would she do such a thing?”

  “Hire a nanny? I mean manny.”

  “Why would she…” He trailed off as though he suddenly remembered that it wouldn’t be the best idea to complain about a crime family to a civilian.

  “I was wondering,” I said slowly.

  I sensed him tense.

  “Is there any way you could put me in touch with my father?” I really wanted to ask him about Kevin Belgard.

  “That’s not how Witness Protection works,” Griswald said gently. “He can’t maintain ties to his old life.”

  I nodded my understanding, but wasn’t able to prevent a sigh of disappointment from escaping.

  “Why?” Griswald asked curiously.

  “I needed to ask him something. Something to do with our family history.” It was truth, just not the whole truth.

  “Medically?”

  I shook my head. “Historically. About my sister Darlene.” Then realizing he might think I was talking about communing with the dead, I hurried to add, “About something that happened when she was still alive.”

  Griswald didn’t respond.

  We were both silent for the rest of the ride to The Corset.

  “His car’s here,” I said as I pulled into the lot.

  Griswald peered at the dimly lit store dubiously. “It looks like they’ve closed up.”

  “They may have closed up, but they’re there.” I parked the car. “You wait here and I’ll bring them out.”

  “You’re not going in there alone,” the marshal declared.

  “And if you go in there, you might have to arrest them for lewd acts or something,” I warned.

  He considered that for a moment. He knew Loretta. He knew Templeton. He knew I wasn’t exaggerating.

  “Every time,” he groaned. “Every time I have to do something involving your family it gets complicated.”

  I could almost see exasperation coming out of his ears. “I’ll pop in, make sure they’re decent, and wave you in.”

  “Rivgali could be there.”

  “If he knew Templeton was here, he wouldn’t have pulled his stunt at the house. Right?”

  Griswald’s nod, so tiny, was almost imperceptible, but I saw it.

  I quickly jumped out of the car and headed toward the shop before he changed his mind.

  “You do realize that you’re worrying about these two, when you should be focused on Katie,” God groused from his hiding spot between my breasts.

  Startled, I jumped a little, having forgotte
n he was there. I looked back to see if Griswald had noticed my impromptu little hop.

  He waved, which I took as encouragement to move forward.

  “I’m a multitasker when it comes to worrying,” I whispered to the lizard.

  “You admitted you’re overwhelmed,” he countered.

  “Which ball would you suggest I drop?” I snapped. “Shut up,” I ordered before he could respond.

  I rapped against the glass door of The Corset as hard as I could. I squeezed my eyes shut fearing Loretta and/or Templeton might answer the door without covering themselves.

  When I heard the locks of the door sliding, I tilted my head downward, and opened my eyes just a slit.

  “Darling,” my sexpot aunt trilled. “What are you doing here?”

  I took it as a good sign that Loretta was at least wearing shoes, but I knew from experience, that she might not be wearing anything else, so I carefully inched my gaze upward centimeter by centimeter, all the while holding my breath.

  “Maggie?” Loretta sounded genuinely concerned. “Are you okay?”

  Since I was running out of oxygen, I increased the speed and scope of my perusal. Thankfully, all of her important bits were covered.

  I exhaled my relief and then sucked in a giant gulp of air.

  “Are you feeling ill?”

  Before I could move out of reach of her deadly clutches, she grabbed both sides of my head and yanked it downward so that she could press her lips against my forehead. This resulted in me becoming up-close-and-personal with her cleavage. It’s amazing what a push-up bra can do for a woman her age.

  “You don’t feel hot,” she declared, releasing my skull.

  “You and Templeton have to come back to the B&B” I chose my next words carefully. “There have been some developments.”

  Loretta bit her lower lip nervously. “Of course. I’ll just get my purse.” She turned around and tottered deeper into the store on the stilts she calls shoes.

  “And you’ll get Templeton?” I called after her.

  “He’s not here, dear.”

  I pivoted my head so that I could see his car. “You’re sure?”

  “Haven’t seen him all night.”

  My stomach did a sickening tumble. If Templeton wasn’t with his beloved, why was his car here? Had something happened? Had I gotten here too late?

  As that terrible thought hit me, I sprinted toward his car.

  “Sensitive skin!” God bellowed. “You’re going to crush me with these giant udders.”

  Ignoring him, I skidded to a stop beside Templeton’s car.

  Dimly aware of Griswald calling out to me, I paid no attention to him either. Acid churned in my gut and a terrible pressure built in my chest as I leaned closer to the car to get a better look inside.

  I didn’t always trust Templeton, but he had saved my life once and he’d been an advocate for me within my own family more than once. The idea that I’d let him down made me sick.

  Pressing my forehead against the window, I peered through the tinted glass. The driver’s seat, reclined all the way back, held Templeton. Eyes closed, deathly still.

  Too late.

  Grief and guilt enveloped me. I slammed my hand against the top of the car.

  His eyes popped open.

  Startled, I screamed.

  Templeton screamed.

  God screamed.

  I stumbled backward away from the car and collided with a body. I screamed again.

  “What’s happening?” God shouted.

  The body behind me grabbed my arm. I shook it off and whirled around.

  “What’s wrong?” Griswald asked.

  “I thought he was dead,” I gasped.

  Griswald’s face froze over, revealing nothing.

  “What’s going on?” God demanded.

  But of course Griswald didn’t know that the lizard was talking to me. All he knew was that my chest was squeaking. The marshal’s eyes narrowed and he took a step back.

  Behind me, the door to Templeton’s car groaned open.

  Griswald drew his weapon.

  “Don’t shoot.” I jumped in between the lawman and the car.

  “Who’s shooting?” God asked.

  Looking past me, Griswald slowly lowered his weapon. “You said he was dead.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at Templeton, who’d emerged from the vehicle and was holding his hands in the air, signaling his surrender. “I said I thought he was dead.”

  “You almost scared me to death banging on my car like that,” Templeton complained.

  Griswald holstered his weapon.

  “What the hell were you doing?” I asked Templeton.

  “Taking a nap. Your aunt…she’s insatiable.”

  I winced at the images that brought to mind.

  Templeton lowered his hands. “I was just getting some rest. Is that a crime?”

  “Tonight it might be,” Griswald muttered.

  “Oh there he is,” Loretta trilled as she left the store. She pointed at Templeton like I couldn’t see Templeton standing right there. “There he is.”

  “Who?” God squeaked. “Who’s there?”

  Griswald frowned at my chest. “Care to explain what’s going on?”

  “Yes,” Templeton agreed with a churlish tone. “What’s going on?”

  “Don’t you get snippy, mister.” I wagged my finger at Loretta’s fiancé. “You’re the one who caused all this.”

  “Caused what?” Loretta asked, lurching toward us on her spindly stilettos.

  “Can we discuss this at the B&B?” Griswald requested.

  “Excellent idea.” I nodded emphatically.

  “You two take one car,” Griswald ordered Loretta and Templeton. “We’ll follow you in Maggie’s car.”

  “But--” Loretta began to protest.

  “Not ‘buts’,” I warned.

  Shrugging, she swayed toward the passenger side of Templeton’s car.

  “Straight home,” I admonished Templeton before turning back toward my own car.

  Griswald fell into step beside me. “Give me your keys.”

  I glanced up at him. “Why?”

  He sighed heavily. “Does everything with this family have to be a discussion or argument?”

  “Usually.”

  The marshal shook his head. “Because if Templeton takes off, I want to be behind the wheel.”

  “Why didn’t you just say so?” I held the keys out to him.

  We climbed into my car as Templeton pulled out of his parking space.

  “Easy,” God muttered, afraid I was going to crush him with the seatbelt.

  Griswald frowned. “I’m sure I don’t want to know the answer to this question, but I’ll ask anyway. Why are you squeaking?”

  “It’s not me, it’s Godzilla.” I reached down my shirt to pluck out the lizard.

  Griswald averted his gaze.

  I put the little guy on the dashboard as Griswald shook his head, eased the car into drive, and we began the trip to the B&B.

  After a few minutes of driving in silence, Griswald finally said, “About this manny of yours.”

  “He’s Katie’s manny, not mine.”

  “What do you know about him?”

  “He was in the Navy, he’s a physical therapist, and apparently he knows how to put out fires.” I knew the answer was glib, but I didn’t want to get into the fact he was a member of one of the biggest organized crime families in the state of New Jersey.

  “Where did Susan find him?”

  “At the hospital.”

  Griswald shook his head. “What was she thinking?”

  I changed the subject. “What’s going to happen to Templeton?”

  Griswald didn’t reply.

  I wasn’t sure whether that was because he didn’t know, or if he knew I wouldn’t like the answer.