by JB Lynn
“I’m here because I heard my friend needs help,” I assured him, relieved to see some of the tension leave his expression.
“Thank you. I don’t deserve you.”
“No, you don’t,” I quipped with a smile. “But there’s something you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“I didn’t come alone.”
He glanced around.
“Armani’s here too,” I told him.
“Where?”
“She’s in another section. I had to meet both you and my dad at the same time, and since I couldn’t do two things at once, she’s talking to him. Hopefully she’ll be able to charm some answers out of him.”
Zeke grabbed my arm. “Archie’s here?”
I nodded.
“That’s perfect! We have to go find him. Which way?”
“Why is it perfect?” I asked suspiciously since that’s far from the reaction most people give when they find out Archie Lee is in the vicinity.
“He can help. Which way?”
“Armani said something about the coral display,” I admitted.
“Let’s go!” Zeke grabbed my hand and began to pull me in that direction.
I resisted. “I don’t think involving him is a good idea.”
“It’s our best option.” Towing me behind him like I was a disabled car, Zeke cut through the crowds with relentless efficiency.
“One,” I argued as he yanked me around a corner, “I’m really not comfortable having different areas of my life intersect. And two, Archie Lee is not to be trusted.”
“But we need his help.”
“With what?”
Zeke stopped short, causing me to collide into him. Our bodies smashed into each other and we swayed unsteadily. He looked down into my eyes. “I need Archie to help me steal something.”
“Are you nuts?” I hissed, jerking away from him. “He commits a crime and he’ll lose his status in Witness Protection.” While my father is no saint, he knew stuff about people who were way worse than him.
“Seems to me he’s broken the law before,” Zeke murmured.
I couldn’t argue with him there, but there was no way I was going to have my dad mixed up in whatever this mess was.
“Why don’t we let him decide,” Zeke suggested, reaching for my hand again.
“Why don’t you go to hell.” I shoved him away, causing him to stumble.
The aquarium guests around us muttered their disapproval and gave us a wide berth.
Raising his hands in surrender, Zeke turned in a slow circle, smiling at everyone. “Lover’s quarrel. Nothing to see here.”
I glared at him, but didn’t dare argue for fear it would draw more attention to us.
“Can’t bring you two anywhere,” Armani huffed, whizzing up to us on her motorized scooter.
“He didn’t show, did he?” I asked the question as an accusation. Adding this instance to the list of times my father hadn’t followed through on plans.
“Technically, you’re the one who didn’t show, Chica,” she admonished gently. “Here he comes now.” She jerked her thumb behind her, pointing out the occupant of another scooter.
Normally, my dad looks like Santa Claus with an ample belly and a white beard, but ever since he’d shaved it off, he just sort of looks like a down on his luck slob.
He rolled up to us, his gaze hooded, as though he didn’t want me to see what he was thinking. “Hey there, Maggie May.”
“Dad.” My nod and the syllable were curt.
Armani caught my eye and raised her eyebrows, letting me know she thought I should feel guilty for having thought he wouldn’t show up.
Shaking my head I looked away, watching a school of bright yellow fish swimming in the nearby tank. I had other reasons to be upset with my father, including the fact that he’d broken my mother out of the mental hospital and that he was possibly hiding a sibling from me, but I wasn’t about to get into all that.
“Hey, Mr. Lee,” Zeke interjected, placing a hand on my shoulder for support. Or maybe it was there to keep me from running away from the conversation.
My father’s eyes jumped from Zeke’s hand to my face, a knowing grin lifting the corners of his mouth.
I didn’t bother to disillusion him.
“So I heard you met Thurston,” Dad said.
I nodded.
“Who’s that?” Zeke asked.
“Apparently, my father has an identical twin brother,” I replied dryly. “I just never knew about him.”
Zeke squeezed my shoulder sympathetically. “When was this?”
“I chaperoned Katie’s school trip and Dad’s doppelganger showed up. I guess that means I have an Uncle Thurston.” I tried to make the explanation light, but I couldn’t keep the accusation out of my tone.
Armani gave me a warning look.
I knew I shouldn’t antagonize my dad, but I had a childish urge to hurt him.
I shrugged at her and returned my attention to the yellow fish.
“Cool. They say twins run in families.” Zeke patted my shoulder for emphasis.
I considered breaking his fingers. Instead I just shrugged him off me.
“So maybe we can all go somewhere and talk,” he suggested, not easily discouraged.
“Not until you kiss me hello, sexy,” Armani pouted.
Grinning, Zeke strolled over and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then he gave her pitiful puppy dog eyes. “Forgive me?”
“This time,” she countered. “But only because you’re so damn cute.”
He winked at her cheekily, before looking back at me. “Now can we go?”
I could feel my dad and Armani watching me, waiting for my reaction.
“Fine,” I surrendered. “Let’s go.”
I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I was pretty sure no good would come of it.
Chapter Twelve
As Armani and my dad sped off like a couple of drag racers on a Saturday night, I turned to Zeke. “My dad can make his own decision about helping you, but Armani is not to be involved.”
Zeke opened his mouth to speak.
“I mean it. Armani’s involvement would be a deal-breaker.” I stalked after the speeding scooters.
“I—” Zeke began, hurrying behind me.
“I don’t care what you say,” I interrupted, “or what Whitehat threatens me with, or what’s at stake. Armani cannot be involved.”
“I completely agree,” Zeke interjected quickly.
I blinked at him, surprised. “You do?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
I looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”
“Because the woman is missing the discretion gene from her DNA make-up. She can’t be counted on to stay silent. She just says whatever comes to mind. No filter.”
“Exactly,” I said, even though that wasn’t the reason I didn’t want her involved. I’d never forgive myself if she got caught up in a criminal endeavor. Armani was a lot of things and she often drove me crazy, but she was a good person with a good heart and I’d do anything to protect her from people who weren’t.
“People like me,” I muttered to myself.
“What?” Zeke asked.
“Nothing.”
“Look,” he said, falling in step beside me. “Maybe some good will come of your dad helping out with this.”
I frowned. “Nothing good ever comes of Archie Lee’s involvement.”
“Maybe it’ll bring you closer.”
“Why would I want that?”
“Because it sucks when your parents abandon you,” he muttered, reminding me of how his own family had disowned him when he was just a teenager.
Impulsively I caught his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m just saying that as long as you two are speaking to one another, there’s always a chance for reconciliation. He loves you.”
The puff of air that escaped me was loaded with disbelief.
“
He does,” Zeke insisted. “Maybe not the way you want. Maybe not the way you need, but he does. In his own way.”
I shook my head, not daring to believe him. “You always believe the best of people, Zeke.”
“I have to,” he said, pulling his hand from mine so that he could drape his arm across my shoulders and pull me against him. “Because you always believe the worst.”
I could have told him that I based my opinions on previous experiences, but there was nothing to be gained by arguing with him.
We walked companionably, arms wrapped around each other for a couple of minutes, admiring the beautiful animals darting to and fro in the tanks.
Armani and Archie had returned their scooters and were waiting for us at the exit.
“I told your dad all about Darlene’s return and everything that’s been going on,” Armani announced.
Considering she didn’t know half of what had transpired, I knew that Dad had only gotten part of the story, but I was okay with that. “Did you tell him about the séance?”
She nodded.
Dad cleared his throat. “I’m proud of you, Maggie. It was mature of you to give Katie up like that to honor Teresa’s wishes.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat as his genuine respect caught me off-guard. All I’d ever wanted was for my parents to love and respect me. Most of the time they either didn’t know who I was, or weren’t around, so the praise made me emotional.
“Proud enough to tell me about Ian?” I managed to choke out.
Dad looked away.
I closed my eyes, trying to control the eruption of anger that threatened to burst out of me.
Sensing my sudden tension, Zeke squeezed my shoulders and provided a much needed distraction. “I’m starving. There’s a place nearby that serves the most amazing crab cakes.”
Armani’s face lit up. “Let’s go! Maggie can drive us in the RV.”
“RV?” Zeke asked.
“I bought one. Got a great deal on it. It’s awesome,” Armani explained. “It’s like a little ecosphere. You could totally live in there.”
Avoiding eye contact with everyone, I swallowed the lump in my throat and said hoarsely, “Not without getting claustrophobic. And there certainly isn’t space for two passengers.”
“You and your dad can ride in the front,” she argued. “And Zeke and I can roll around in bed in the back.”
Zeke made a strangled noise, my dad guffawed, and Armani winked.
“It’s separate beds,” I whispered to Zeke.
“You drive an RV?” My dad asked the question with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
I nodded.
“She hasn’t even crashed it yet,” Armani announced.
“Yet?” I frowned at her. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“It was a compliment, Chica. Stop looking for the negative in everything.”
Zeke nudged me with his hip. “See what I mean?”
Ignoring them, I marched across the parking lot toward the camper, not caring that I was leaving my limping friend behind.
“You do realize that putting these four personalities in the equivalent of a tin can may very well lead to spontaneous combustion, don’t you?” God suddenly asked.
“I should be so lucky,” I whispered back.
“That lizard is like your credit card,” Zeke said, hurrying after me. “You never leave home without the little guy.”
I ignored the comment and just kept walking.
“The crab cakes really are good,” Zeke said, trying to smooth things over.
I glanced over at him. “Did you forget I hate seafood or are you trying to mess with me?”
He groaned. “I forgot. We can go somewhere else.”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll just order something that doesn’t come out of the ocean.” I unlocked the RV, opened the door, and warned Piss, “We’ve got company.”
“Zeke,” she purred happily, jumping out of the vehicle to wrap herself around his ankles.
“Hey there, my girl.” He scooped her up and held her against his chest.
She rewarded him with purring that rivaled the engine of an approaching train.
“Is the dog in there too?” my dad asked as he and Armani caught up with us.
“Not this time,” Armani answered, grabbing the handrail with her good hand.
Zeke, arms full of cat, moved to help her.
But before he could reach her side, Armani hauled herself into the camper.
“Impressive,” Zeke said.
“I know you’re talking about my ass,” Armani called from inside.
“Of course I am,” he called back, winking at me. It wasn’t like he could tell her that he was impressed with the way she dragged her bad leg inside. Clutching Piss, he climbed inside.
I closed their door and pointed at the passenger seat. “That’s yours,” I told my dad, rounding the engine to get behind the wheel.
Before climbing inside, I scooped God out of my shirt. “Don’t want you to get crushed by the seatbelt.”
“Finally,” he sighed. “Finally, you’re taking into account my sensitive skin.”
I didn’t tell him that the real reason I’d removed him from my shirt was that I didn’t want to hear him complaining about his sensitive skin. Once I’d gotten into the driver’s seat, I placed him inside a tissue box.
“You’ll have to give me directions, Zeke,” I warned as I carefully pulled out of the parking spot, trying not to chuckle at my dad’s white-knuckled grip on the armrests.
“Turn right out of the lot,” Zeke replied, “then at the second or third light you’ll make a left.”
“Which is it? The second or third?”
“I’ll know when I get there.”
I squeezed the steering wheel tighter. The man who was going to orchestrate this grand theft—that he needed help to pull off—was giving haphazard directions.
“This won’t end well,” I muttered under my breath.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” God piped up from the box.
Chapter Thirteen
“So how’s Katie?” my dad asked as I drove to the restaurant.
“Good,” I grunted.
He waited for me to elaborate, but I concentrated on my driving. If he’d wanted to know how his granddaughter was doing, he should have made choices that would have allowed him to be part of her life.
Instead he was set up, who knows where, waiting to testify against who knows who.
“She’s stronger?” he pushed.
“Yup.”
“Happy?”
There was no mistaking his irritation at my monosyllabic answers, but I made no effort to appease him. “Yup.”
“Is she like Teresa?”
I considered that for a long moment. Was she? Occasionally she reminded me of her mother at the same age, but I got the feeling she was more similar to someone else, but I couldn’t put my finger on who it was.
Thinking my silence indicated that I wasn’t going to answer him, my father let out a disgusted sigh, folded his arms over his chest, and turned to look out the side window.
“Turn here,” Zeke called from the back.
I made the turn and immediately saw a sign with a giant crab hanging from it with one set of pinchers.
“Told ya I could find it.” Zeke grinned at me in the rearview mirror.
I rolled my eyes and then focused on easing the RV into a parking spot at the edge of the restaurant’s lot.
Despite the fact I had plenty of room, my dad drew his leg up as if to avoid having it smashed as a result of my driving.
I chuckled as I threw the vehicle into park, threw off my seatbelt, and scooped the lizard out of the tissue box.
He yelled, “Geronimo!” as he dove into my bra.
Meanwhile, Zeke helped Armani out of the back, while Piss, whiskers twitching, mewled, “Bring me something back?”
Before I could answer her, Zeke said, “I’ll bring something sp
ecial back for you, sweetheart.”
“He never feeds me,” God complained from my chest.
My dad looked at me strangely.
“It’s just the lizard,” Zeke explained like it was totally normal to walk around with a reptile stuffed in your bra.
“He has a lot to say,” Armani offered.
My dad looked at them both like they were crazy.
Better them than me.
We started across the parking lot, moving slowly to accommodate Armani’s limp.
“How’s your mom?” he asked, speaking of crazy.
“Fine.”
“You have to give me more than fine.”
“When you took her out of the institution it set her back.” I didn’t bother to mask the accusation.
“But—”
“No buts,” I interrupted sharply. “You wanted to take her on an adventure and she paid the price. It’s what always happens, you do what you want and everyone else suffers the consequences.”
I hadn’t realized I’d raised my voice until I noticed Zeke and Armani were staring at me in horror.
My dad, at least, had the good sense to appear chastened by my outburst.
“You go in,” I said, since we’d reached the entrance. “I need a minute.”
Armani and my father were more than happy to accommodate the request, but Zeke hung back.
“No lectures about reconciliations,” I warned as he approached.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Just figured I’d keep you company for a minute.”
I let out a puff of air, trying to expel some of my aggravation. “I’m not exactly a sparkling conversationalist.”
Zeke shrugged. “You never are.”
“Hey.” I playfully punched his shoulder.
“You have other redeeming qualities,” he hurried to assure me.
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that you always show up whenever I need help. Hell, you show up when anyone needs it.”
“Not always a positive quality,” God interjected. “It gets you in a lot of trouble.”
Zeke raised his eyebrows at the squeaking sound, but was wise enough not to comment on the noise.
“Maybe someday I won’t show up,” I threatened.