“So?”
“So he needs a place to lay low while the heat is on,” I explained. “He needs someone he trusts to protect him. While I don’t think Haugh feels the same way about Jenny as she does about him, I do think he’d use her to get what he wants.”
“Oh.” Realization washed over Eliot’s face. “You think the secretary is going to hide him at her place.”
“No one would ever suspect her. She’s, like, this sweet little doll with nothing but air between her ears.”
“You have such a sympathetic soul.” Eliot flicked the ridge of my ear, forcing me to look at him. “Do you want me to fire Fawn?”
“No. I’m not making those decisions for you. If she’s a good worker … .”
“She’s not a great worker,” Eliot conceded. “However, people see her from the street and want to talk to her. My clientele is mostly men.”
“Then you need to do what’s best for your business. You don’t tell me how to do my job. Okay, you boss me around sometimes, but you generally stand back and let me do what I want with minimal complaint. It’s not my place to tell you what to do.”
Eliot pursed his lips as he tilted his head to the side, conflicted. “You’re more important to me than drawing foot traffic from the street.”
“And I’m not going anywhere.”
Eliot almost looked relieved by the simple words, which caused my heart to roll. “I had a little talk with her just now, but I think I’m going to have to put my foot down. I’ve told her before that you’re to be treated with respect, but it’s as if she’s deaf when I say stuff like that.”
“She sees me as competition.”
“You don’t have any competition.”
“I say that all of the time.” I squeezed his hand, smiling to offer him support. “It’s okay. Whatever you decide is fine. I’ve decided to be easygoing on this matter.” That was mostly true. I’d also realized that fighting with Fawn gave her ammunition. If I really wanted to irritate her I had to pretend she wasn’t in the room. That would make her look like the bad guy when she lashed out. Eliot wouldn’t be able to take it over the long haul, and I would ultimately get my way.
“I’m going to talk to her.” Eliot was firm. “If she doesn’t come around … .”
He didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence, which was probably a good thing because I’m not sure he knew where he was going with the sentiment. My phone rang, and I answered it right away. “Tell me good news.”
“I found a new massage therapist and she’s hot.”
“That’s not what I was getting at,” I growled.
“Be more specific next time.” Grandpa rattled off the address I was waiting for and I jotted it down in my reporter’s notebook. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to see if I’m right.”
“That’s not dangerous, is it?”
“I’ll be hiding in my car the entire time.”
Grandpa didn’t sound convinced, but he let it go. “Well … good luck.”
“I don’t need luck. I have right and might on my side.” I grinned at my rhyming and disconnected, fixing Eliot with a placid smile. “I have to get going.”
“Not until you tell me what you have planned.” Eliot switched our hand positions so he held my wrist, making sure I didn’t bolt before relating what I was about to do. “How much trouble are you about to find?”
“I’m not going to find any trouble,” I replied. “I’m going to park on Jenny Finch’s street and watch her house for signs that she has a guest. As soon as I get confirmation, I’m calling the state police.”
“How does that help you?”
“I’ll be the one and only reporter on scene for the story.”
Eliot ran his tongue over his teeth as he considered. “Do you promise not to break into her house?”
“Would I do that?”
Eliot arched an eyebrow.
“Fine.” I blew out a weary sigh. “I have no intention of breaking into her house. I’m not an idiot. I know that Haugh is probably there … and he’s dangerous. He probably killed Cara.”
“See, you said the words, but I’m not sure you believe them.”
“That’s because I’m not sure I see a killer when I look at Haugh. He’s definitely slimy and untrustworthy, but I don’t think he has the balls to kill someone. Hiring someone to kill Cara is another story, though. I do think he’d do that.”
“So you’ll just sit in the car and watch?”
I nodded. “I promise I won’t do anything stupid.” I really meant it.
“You’re also going to give me that address and text me every half hour,” Eliot insisted. “I want my bases covered. If you see something hinky, call the cops and then me. Do you understand?”
“You’re so bossy,” I grumbled, holding up the address so Eliot could copy it into his phone. “Are you happy?”
“No, but I think that’s the best I’m going to be able to do.” He grabbed the front of my shirt and hauled me up to my toes so he could plant a kiss on my lips. “Be good. I’m only giving you a few hours before I join you.”
I widened my eyes, surprised. “Don’t you trust me?”
“With my heart, which is why I’m not leaving you alone to potentially break it,” Eliot replied. “I love you. You’re not stupid. That doesn’t mean you don’t occasionally lose your head and do stupid things. I’ll be out there to help as soon as I’m done for the day. I’ll even bring sandwiches.”
Oh, well, that didn’t sound terrible. “Don’t draw attention to yourself when you come. We’ll only have one shot at this.”
“I’ve been doing stuff like this longer than you have,” Eliot pointed out.
“Yes, but I’m better at it.”
Eliot merely shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re cute, because most people wouldn’t put up with insults like that from their girlfriends.”
“I thank my lucky stars for it every single day. Now … get to it. Make sure you yell at Fawn really loud. Get me a good sandwich, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Eliot mock saluted.
“You meant that in a sarcastic manner, but it totally turns me on.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for later.”
JENNY FINCH lived in an older Royal Oak neighborhood, one that featured 1940s houses and mature trees shading the sidewalks. I was actually happy to see that she didn’t live in one of those subdivisions where all of the houses look alike, because surveillance in those neighborhoods is difficult. The way Jenny’s street was laid out, I could park a block and a half down and enjoy the shadows of an overhanging tree. I’d attract attention only if someone were directly on top of me.
I filled up my gas tank before parking. Given the heat, I’d have to keep the car running for the air conditioning. I had no interest in sweating without getting a big reward at the end of the stretch – like ice cream – so people would be more inclined to look inside a car with the engine was running. I had to chance it.
I spent two hours listening to radio personalities argue about stupid things – like whether or not the Red Wings would play better in their new arena and if the University of Michigan or Michigan State University would have the better football team this fall – before noticing a red car pulling into Jenny’s driveway. I leaned forward to get a better look, anticipation coursing through me when I recognized Jenny in the driver’s seat of the four-door sedan.
I killed my engine, pocketing the keys and my cell phone before winding my way down the sidewalk. I was careful to keep in the shade across the street, hoping to stay out of Jenny’s sight line as I watched her exit her car. Her garage was detached, so she fobbed her car to lock it before manually pulling down the garage door and walking toward her house.
She didn’t look happy, her eyes downcast and her stride slow. She scuffed her shoes against the walkway as she headed toward her front door. I watched as she unlocked it and stepped inside, and then I continued to watch for a few minutes as
I debated what to do.
I had a feeling Haugh was taking refuge inside. He wouldn’t have any qualms about using Jenny in that manner. Given her naïve nature, I didn’t believe Jenny would have any qualms about letting him hide with her, because it meant spending more time with him. What Jenny didn’t understand was that Haugh was a user by nature. He wouldn’t reward her for her loyalty. He’d merely wait until it was safe to flee and then scurry away when she wasn’t looking.
He was a toad amongst men, which I can’t tolerate. The truly sad thing was that Jenny had no idea how much trouble she’d be in when the police got wise to what she was doing. They wouldn’t care that she was young and naïve, that she was manipulated by a stronger personality. She would suffer a harsh fate.
For now I could do nothing but wait and watch … alone. I was really starting to wish I’d brought Eliot with me. At least he’d provide eye candy … and wandering hands … and the occasional kiss. Wait, what was I thinking about again?
“What are you doing?”
I jerked when a figure moved in to my left, scowling when I realized Grandpa was joining the surveillance mission. “What are you doing here?” I swiveled quickly, frowning when I got a full glimpse of his outfit. “Seriously?”
Grandpa ignored my tone, instead smoothing the front of his bright yellow shirt, making sure the bottom was tucked into his red shorts. He had a blue lightweight sweater strung around his shoulders and black dress shoes with matching socks tugged halfway up his extremely white calves. He looked like a deranged Superman.
“Are you supposed to stand this close when you’re spying on someone?”
“I wanted to see if she was alone when she walked to the house,” I replied, shaking my head. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“I went golfing this afternoon. I was just getting home when you called.”
That didn’t really answer my question. “Why would you wear that outfit to a golf course?”
Grandpa was unruffled. “I look good in this outfit.” He flashed a warm smile. “I can guarantee people will spend less time looking at me than they will at you.”
I didn’t bother to hide my doubt. “Um … I’m dressed in capris and a T-shirt. I fit right in.”
“Your T-shirt has a green monster on it and says ‘Trust me, you will.’ That’s not even proper grammar.”
“It’s Star Wars.”
“So?”
This conversation was getting me absolutely nowhere. “Okay. Your outfit is great. My outfit sucks. I get it.”
“You’re smarter than you look.” Grandpa patted the top of my head as if I was a small child and I’d brought him a beer from the refrigerator without prompting.
“Yes, well, I learned everything I need to survive in this wacky world from you. Not that I’m not happy to see you, by the way, but what are you doing here?”
“I’m your wingman.”
“I don’t need a wingman.”
“Yes, you do.” Grandpa crossed his arms over his chest, resting them on his large belly. “Why are we standing here instead of looking through the windows?”
The question caught me off guard. “We can’t look through the windows. We’ll be arrested as peeping toms.”
“Not if we find the bad guy.”
He had a point. “We still can’t do it,” I said after a beat, my mind flashing on Eliot’s face when I considered how he’d react. “We could get in trouble.”
“I’m your backup,” Grandpa reminded me. “The whole reason to have backup is so that nothing bad happens. If we work together, we’ll find out if your guy is in there right away. If we do things your way we’ll waste an entire evening … and who wants that?”
I was starting to think it was Opposite Day, because Grandpa actually made sense. “What do you suggest?”
“I’ll go to the front door and distract her,” Grandpa replied. “I’ll tell her I’m trying to get information for my good friend Max. While she’s focused on me, you can go to the back of the house and look through the windows. You simply need to confirm there’s another person inside of the house.”
“What if Haugh sees me?”
“Then you can run. He’ll be inside. You should have plenty of time to get out of the backyard before he can make a move.”
The plan had some merit. Still … . “What happens if Haugh answers the door and goes after you?”
Grandpa was offended. “I’m a grown man. I can take care of myself. I fought off robbers on my own a few months ago.”
That’s not exactly how I remembered the scenario. “You chased robbers while naked. I don’t think Haugh will wait for you to drop your pants.”
“Do you know what your problem is?” Grandpa’s patience was clearly wearing thin. “You think too much. You didn’t used to be this way. You used to be the one grandchild I could always rely on to get into a boatload of trouble without worrying about how severe the punishment would be. I liked that about you.”
“Hey! I still get in trouble all of the time.”
“Prove it.”
He was trying to goad me into something I knew was wrong. The problem was, I really wanted to do it. I was already bored. Waiting another few hours sounded like pure torture.
I blew out a sigh, resigned. “Okay, but if it looks like there’s going to be trouble, punch him in the face and run.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Grandpa snapped. “I can’t believe my own granddaughter doubts me.”
“Let’s just do this.” I pointed to the front of the house. “I’ll wait until you’re across the road before I follow. Then I’ll hide behind the fence until you distract her. I’ll need at least five minutes in the backyard to look through all of the windows. Can you distract Jenny for that long?”
“Is that a serious question?”
“Right. I forgot who I was talking to. You’re the master of distraction.” Who just happens to be dressed in the world’s loudest outfit, I silently added.
“And don’t you forget it.”
30 Thirty
I kept to the shadows, watching Grandpa as he swaggered up the front steps. I wanted to make sure Jenny answered the door. I had no doubt Grandpa could handle the naïve office mouse. Haugh was another story. The odds of him showing his face given the events of the day were slim, though. Thankfully Jenny answered after the first knock. The look she gave Grandpa was one of curiosity and confusion … and then Grandpa launched into his spiel.
“I’m here to give you the opportunity to be a hero instead of a zero.”
Oh, well, that should motivate her to help him. I left Grandpa to charm Jenny and let myself into her backyard, cringing when the rusty gate creaked as it swung open. I waited a beat, but when no one appeared behind me to scream about trespassers I continued my mission.
The backyard was tiny, the flowerbeds overgrown with weeds. They were tall enough to give me a modicum of camouflage when I moved to the first window and looked inside. I had to hold a hand over my eyes to block out the sun as I studied the first room. It looked to be a dining room, a table and chairs in the center of the room and nothing else. I watched long enough to ascertain I saw no movement and then moved to the next window.
This one was bigger and I was exposed as I stood in front of it. There wasn’t much I could do about that, so I scanned quickly, my eyes moving to the closed door at the far side of the room. It took me a moment to get my bearings, and when I did I realized that the door I was looking at – although a good fifty feet away – was the one my grandfather was supposed to be standing at. It was closed, and Jenny wasn’t anywhere in sight.
I straightened, surprised. It wasn’t like Grandpa to fail at a task. If Jenny shut him out of the house he was far more likely to bang on her door in an effort to keep her attention until she opened it again than give up and walk away.
I debated the problem in front of me for what felt like far too long and then turned to flee the backyard through the gate I entered minutes before. I took a
n inadvertent step back when I saw Jenny standing there.
“Hi!” My voice was unnaturally shrill thanks to my inner turmoil and pounding heart. “What a surprise. Is this your house?”
Instead of reacting as I expected – you know, squealing and making a fuss – Jenny folded her arms across her chest and stared me down. “You’re saying you didn’t know that?”
I shrugged, a good lie evading me as I tried to figure a way out of this situation. I’d completely ruined everything. Eliot was going to be ticked when he arrived. Of course, if he arrived now and managed to charm Jenny out of calling the police that would be a big cherry on my freaking sundae of a day.
“Do you want to know what I think?” Jenny continued, her tone chilly. “I think you sent your grandfather to distract me so you could get into my backyard and look through the windows. What I don’t understand is why you’d do something like that.”
“My grandfather?” I feigned ignorance. “Why would I send my grandfather to your front door?”
“Don’t act like an idiot,” Jenny chided. “I saw you with that man this morning. You brought him to the office.”
“Oh, that man.” I’m a good actress when I have time to come up with a plan. When I’m caught off guard, though, sometimes I make Paris Hilton look like a gifted thespian. It’s not one of my better traits. “That was my grandfather. I haven’t seen him since this morning, though. Wait … are you saying he’s here?”
“Oh, don’t do that,” Jenny sneered, wrinkling her nose. “I am far too tired to put up with your nonsense. Do you have any idea what kind of day I’ve had?”
Something about her tone, the shift in her demeanor, set off my inner danger alarm. There was something very off here. Very, very off. “Where is my grandfather?”
“I thought you said that you hadn’t seen him since this morning?” Jenny challenged, taking a step toward me. I matched her pace and kept the same distance between us while moving to the left, narrowing my eyes as I looked her up and down for signs of blood … or a weapon. I didn’t see anything, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have something nasty tucked in the waistband of her pants.
[Avery Shaw 11.0] Unwritten & Underwater Page 27