Amanda's Return

by June Kramin

  “Is it too early for my dessert?”

  “My goodness you have a one-track mind.”

  “And you don’t?” He gave her a kiss and got up. “That Milo makes one hell of a hoagie.”

  “So you had company last night?”

  “He came back out when he heard me digging in the fridge. He really protects his kitchen.”

  “I’ve always loved him. He’s too nice of a man to be doing what he does.”

  “FYI, he didn’t buy the cat story.”

  Mandy grinned. “I didn’t suppose he did.”

  “You want to shower with me?”

  “We’ll never get out of here if I do. I’m good from last night.”

  “I said shower, not sex.”

  “I know, jackass.” She laughed. “That, too. I’m fine. I’m ready for coffee. Meet you downstairs.”

  Mandy was on her second helping of eggs Benedict when Hunt joined her downstairs. “Good morning, Milo.” He poured a cup of coffee before joining Mandy at the table.

  “Good morning yourself. You sleep as good as your wife here?”

  “Better, I think. You’ve spoiled me. I think next time I’m craving a late snack, I’m waking your ass up.”

  “I’d rather that than my kitchen turned upside down.”

  “Hunt actually isn’t bad in the kitchen, Milo. You’d be impressed.”

  “Doubt it.” He placed a plate in front of Hunt. “Should I start another batch?”

  “This will do. I’m still good from that bus-sized sandwich last night.”

  “Lucky for me your wife has an appetite.”

  “You never have to worry about that.”

  The light mood left when Eddie walked through the door. Milo stiffened up. “Good morning, Eddie. Coffee?”

  “Sure.”

  “You eat yet?”

  “Hell, no. That’s half the reason I showed up.”

  “I’ll get right on it.”

  Eddie took a seat across from the two of them. “No good morning?”

  Mandy finally spoke. “Good morning. So you’re hungry. I’m dying to know the other reason you showed up.”

  “Why do I look like I just disturbed the party?”

  “Because I don’t know why you’re here. You agreed to let me handle things.”

  “I did. I’m not doing anything, just following up. I am allowed to do that, right?”

  “There’s nothing to tell you. I’ve dealt with Gunner. That was enough for yesterday.”

  “Heard Axle tried to get at you.”

  “We handled it.”

  “It would have also been helpful if you let me know you killed off Angelo. You’re lucky I caught on and have a great poker face.”

  “I told you that was my plan.” Mandy didn’t let his intrusion affect her appetite. She ignored him as best she could. At least until he dropped two leather wallets onto the table. She picked up the badges and put them in her robe.

  “You want to explain those?” Eddie asked.

  Mandy lowered her voice, concerned about Milo overhearing. “What the hell are you doing digging in our car?”

  “You can screw yourself senseless all over this house, but you pull any shit like this on me, and I’ll have your ass mounted on my wall.”

  Hunt slid his chair back. “You son of a bitch. You’re watching us?”

  Mandy took his hand. “Don’t, Hunt. We need to pick our battles here. I should have suspected as much.” She turned back to Eddie and lowered her voice. “I don’t think we should do this here.”

  “Milo knows,” Hunt said.

  “He what?” both Mandy and Eddie shouted.

  “Doesn’t he? I just kind of thought he did.”

  Mandy gave Hunt’s hand a squeeze, and he shut up. Something was wrong. Time to deflect. “I’ll ask again. What were you doing searching our car?”

  Eddie lowered his voice. “More importantly, why do you have them?”

  Mandy leaned back. “You knew I went to talk to an old friend at the agency. I didn’t think I had any friends left, but I had to try.”

  “And?”

  “And I was right. They are staying out of it. They don’t care if you guys shoot each other to hell.”

  “So why the badges?”

  “Change of heart, I guess. I’m not working for them, Eddie. I’m working for Angelo. As soon as this is done I’m through with all of you. Again.”

  “He explained it as a sort of ‘get out of jail free’ card,” Hunt added. “They aren’t helping, won’t claim any interference one way or another.”

  “I didn’t want the badge, Eddie. You know that. You have anything better to do than watch us? Can’t you get someone on the street yourself and use your time more wisely? You’re the big, bad fucking mob, and you needed—” She stopped talking as Milo walked over with a plate for Eddie.

  “Thanks, Milo,” Eddie said.

  Milo asked Hunt. “Anything more for you?”

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  He nodded and went back to the stove. Two more men wandered out of their bedrooms.

  “Oh good, Beavis and Butthead are up,” Hunt mumbled.

  “You two, eat fast and go relieve John and Greg.”

  “Of course, boss.”

  “Give us a few minutes alone, would you?”

  “Sure, boss.”

  After they walked away, Mandy continued. “You forced me here, Eddie. I told you to let me do this my way.”

  “If your way has any funny ideas about putting me behind bars, you best think it all the way through.”

  Mandy stood. “Don’t flatter yourself. The jail is probably rat-infested. I wouldn’t want to put such poor company with them.” She walked away, but Hunt stayed back.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “She’s not lying. I was there. She didn’t ask for the badge, Eddie,” Hunt said. “We’ve talked this to death. She swears up and down she doesn’t want that life again.”

  “And we both know she’s full of shit.”

  Hunt let out a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid so. That’s my problem to deal with later. You have nothing to worry about as far as her here. None of this is about you unless you make it that way.”

  “You’re no one to be telling me anything.”

  “You’re right. Don’t listen to a thing I have to say. Mandy is dead set on getting to the bottom of this because she wants to go home and leave you guys behind her forever. First and foremost, she wants to help Angelo. As far as the FBI goes, she’s not involved with you in any way. But if she finds out you have something to do with the killings…” Hunt stood. He didn’t need to finish his sentence.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “I’m not. This isn’t my business. I’m nobody, remember? I’m playing along for my wife. I don’t trust any of you as far as I can throw you. The sooner we are out of here, the better. I’d appreciate a little discretion on your part when we are alone.”

  “No one watches you here except when you come and go. It was just a good hunch.” Eddie grinned in a way that made Hunt want to slap it off of him.

  “I have to go get dressed. People to maim today and all.” He took a step to walk away then paused. “Thanks for the meal again, Milo.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “So, Milo, exactly how much were you paying attention over there?”

  Milo walked over and placed a plate on the table and hollered for the men to come eat. “You know me, Eddie. I keep my nose out of what ain’t my business. I haven’t been the cook around here for thirty-some years by sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” He lowered her voice. “That Mandy can scream like a cat in heat when she wants, though.”

  Eddie laughed. “That’s what Gerard used to say.” He took a sip of coffee. “This is kind of fun watching her dig her own grave.”

  “Yeah. I don’t know what’s keeping her here. You think she’d take Angelo and split.”

  “She was always a strange breed. I never did
see what Vince saw in her. I’m tired of putting up with her shit already. If I wasn’t so curious to see what she thinks she’s going to do, I’d get rid of her now.”

  “Now where’s the sport in that, Eddie? You always did enjoy a good show.”

  “There is that.” The other two guards joined them at the table, and Milo walked back to the stove. “Oh, Milo?”

  “Yeah, boss?”

  “How do you like the looks of the place next to the suit shop on 9th?”

  “Been there a few times. Great atmosphere. Why?”

  “All yours when this gig is up.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. It’s recently come available. We’re prettying the place up for you.”

  “Hot waitresses on order?”

  “Of course.”

  “About time.”

  Eddie chuckled.

  Hunt joined Mandy in the bedroom. She was getting dressed for the day with an extra slam to everything and a stomp in her step.

  “Don’t let him get to you, baby.”

  “How can I not? I have half a mind to blow him away myself and say screw it to everything.”

  “So. Who’s stopping you?”

  Frustrated, she dropped her arms at her side. “You know that’s not how I work, Hunt. You’d no sooner do it either.”

  “Don’t tempt me. I just had a charming five minutes with him.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing new.” He closed the gap between them and took her hands in his. “You sure you want to keep this up? We have Angelo safe; let’s split. We’ll move again and be sure they can’t find us this time.”

  “I don’t want to move, Hunt. I like being close to your parents. I’m not having Eddie chase us from our home. I don’t want to have this conversation with you every ten minutes.”

  “I’m sorry, but things are really going down funny. Have you stopped long enough to wonder what your part in all of this is? I mean really, Mandy. Bring in an outsider? This is the mob, not some office bringing in an FNG to play manager.”

  “FNG?”

  “The new guy.”

  Mandy pulled herself free. “Enough with your jokes. Don’t you think I’ve tried to make sense of that?” She started to walk away but turned back to Hunt. “What did you mean when you said Milo knew?”

  Hunt looked back to the door as if he were afraid someone was listening. He walked up to Mandy again and explained what transpired the night before. “I sort of let the comment roll away. I thought maybe he was a part of things back when you were in, and he knew you were a fed.”

  “If he knew, I never knew it. By the sounds of things, Eddie doesn’t know he knows either. Now I don’t know what the hell to think about Milo.” Her voice was at a whisper. “Do you think he could be an agent?”

  “I don’t think that’s likely. He sounded pretty in with the bunch, babe. He said he’s getting a restaurant out of the deal soon.”

  “He’s said that for years. I think Vince was jerking his chain to keep him to himself.”

  “Then what? How could he know about me if Eddie didn’t tell him?”

  “I don’t know. Just add one more thing into the mix that I don’t like about this situation.”

  “You could try talking to him.”

  “Not with Eddie here. I want to get going. We’ll have to do it later.”

  “Whose fingers are on today’s agenda?”

  “We’re going to see an old friend.”

  Hunt thought about it for a second. “An old friend behind bars?”

  Mandy stroked his chest. “Not only big and strong but brains too. That’s why I married you.”

  Pulling her towards him by the waist, Hunt planted a hard kiss on her lips. “I gave you no choice.”

  “I didn’t want another choice.”

  Chapter Thirty

  When Mandy had been in protective custody, she had moved to Rockville, Maryland. The FBI had wanted her someplace like Montana or Oregon, but she’d insisted she needed city life, and they’d finally given in. The town was big enough that she could blend in and not be noticed. She’d wanted to dye her hair blonde to change her looks but had been advised against it while she was pregnant. Not really worried that she would be hunted, she’d left it. Not bold enough for a dramatic cut, a lot of hats and large sunglasses had helped her feel safe when she was out.

  She’d enjoyed the location of her new, temporary home. There were just a few blocks for her to walk to the train station. From there it was less than an hour to get to D.C. The museums never got old. Mandy had wandered them weekly for months.

  By the time the initial trial was over and she was moved there, her pregnancy had been showing. Even if she’d wanted to take a menial job, she probably wouldn’t have been hired. She hadn’t needed the money, but she’d often grown bored.

  Mandy positioned herself on the ground at the Washington Monument with her butt flush up to it and her legs flat against the white bricks. Her hands were wrapped around her six-month pregnant belly, and her mind went to where it always did when she was trying to lose herself in thought. Hunt.

  As she rubbed her stomach, a tear ran from her eye. She harshly wiped it away and sat up with her back against the monument. She loved to stare up Washington’s most famous phallic symbol while on her back, but her belly no longer allowed her to do so. She dried her eyes on her maternity shirt. She couldn’t take the loneliness and removed her cell phone from her purse. Even though it was against the rules, Mandy called her college roommate, Shelley. Thirty minutes later, she turned at the sound of her name.

  “Amanda?”

  By the time Mandy got to her feet, Shelley was at her side. A crying gasp escaped her, and she held her friend tight.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?”

  The friends held hands as they walked. Shelley stopped and placed her hand on Mandy’s stomach. “I still can’t believe you’re knocked up.”

  Mandy playfully pushed her hand away with a laugh. “Knock it off already. I promise I’m not concealing a basketball.”

  “Why are you here alone? Where’s the father?”

  Mandy continued to walk. “That’s a long story.”

  “So. I’m starved. Let’s talk over lunch.”

  After paying for hot dogs, Shelley offered Mandy one then grasped her free hand. “We going to do the memorial walk?” Shelley asked.

  “You mind?”

  “Of course not.”

  Mandy briefly rested her head on Shelley’s shoulder. “I miss them so much.”

  “I know. I miss you more though.” Shelley gave Mandy’s hand a squeeze. “I haven’t been back here since we spread their ashes. That was hard.”

  “It’s what they would have wanted though. They loved this place.”

  Shelley let a slight laugh escape. “Your dad would have tanned our asses if he saw us as stumbling drunk as we were while scattering them everywhere.”

  Mandy managed a smile. “It’s more fun than two urns of ashes ever had.”

  Her parents had met in DC and visited every year. The one year they chose to go to Hawaii instead, they died in a helicopter tour crash on Kauai. Mandy was devastated but couldn’t bring herself to return for the funeral. She was an only child just like her parents. There was no one she longed to see. No one that could comfort her. The ashes and settlement notification from their lawyers were delivered the following week. Mandy did the only thing she thought they would have wanted.

  After walking in silence for a few minutes, Shelley finally asked the question Mandy had been waiting for.

  “So…are you going to tell me why you dropped off the face of the earth on me?”

  “I want to explain it all, Shelley. I just don’t know where to start. Technically I shouldn’t even be here with you now.”

  “Well, why the fuck not? You’re my best friend, dammit.”

  “I’m in witness relocation.”

  “You’re what?”

  “I was hi
red out of college for the FBI. A case they threw me on went sour. It’s hard to explain. I was set up to fail and didn’t…sort of.”

  “Holy shit, Mand. You’re FBI? Holy shit.”

  “Ex-FBI, and it was short-lived. It’s going to take more time to explain than I want to waste. I just needed someone. I picked this town hoping to get brave enough to call you someday.”

  Hot dogs now finished, they walked over to the closest vendor to get a pretzel. Mandy was a bottomless pit lately, but this was their routine anyway.

  Mandy’s hands were once again on her belly when Shelley asked, “So where does the father come into all of this?”

  “When things went sour, I was told to back off the case—”

  “Only you didn’t.”

  Mandy grinned. “Was I always this way?”

  Shelley spoke through a mouthful of pretzel. “Hell, yeah. Please continue.”

  “I went after someone on my own and got caught in a small town by the local sheriff.”

  “Caught with your pants down, huh?” Mandy choked on her pretzel. Shelley patted her back. “Sorry.”

  “Brat. Anyway…one thing led to another; he ended up helping me. Of course, I had been lying to him about my reasons. Things were intense. I guess we just turned to each other. It was stupid for me to let any of it happen. What little there was between us is over. He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant.”

  “Why is it over?”

  “Screwing because we were under the stress we were doesn’t mean anything. It’s nothing to build a relationship on. And don’t even start with me about how he deserves to be told about the baby. It’s best if he never finds out.”

  “How do you know? It’s sounds to me like you’re not even giving him a chance.”

  “Shelley, I love you, but come on. Be serious for a minute. He was set in his ways. He’s the town hottie and not about to throw it away because we were stuck together for a few nights without a condom. I’m too old to be this irresponsible. I have enough money stashed aside. We’ll be okay.”

  Shelley took her hand. “Okay. I trust you. You were just always the one with her head on her shoulders. You were my rock, Mand. It killed me seeing you cry.”

  “I was just excited to see you. I’ve missed you.” Mandy’s head lowered to her chest. “I don’t know when I can see you again.”