by Lynn, JB
“Thanks.” I wanted to ask him if Delveccio had a job for me but didn’t dare. “They’ve been cooped up in the house since…” I trailed off.
“Since ninjas swooped in and took out an elite team of killers?” Gino teased.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous it sounded even though my family had been in grave danger. “Yeah, since then.” Then, I frowned. “Griswald kind of freaked out when I convinced him he was the target and not my dad. Gave everyone a stern lecture about safety before he left.”
“You’re worried about him?” Gino asked.
“I’m worried about everyone,” I admitted tiredly.
Before I knew what he was doing, Gino stepped closer and pulled me into a hug.
I stayed stiff in his arms for a second, then melted into the embrace, grateful for the support.
“It’s going to be okay, Maggie,” he murmured against my ear. “It’s all going to be okay.”
I wished I could believe him.
2
When I was a kid, I played tag with my sisters. Now, I played tag with my nieces, Aunt Leslie, a dog, a cat, a pig, and a donkey.
Basically, it was chaos. But the best possible kind.
The kids shrieked with delight, the dog barked, the cat meowed, the pig oinked, the donkey brayed, and there was a lot of heavy breathing from the adults. But we all had a ball. Even Mike, although he couldn’t participate, sat in a nearby tree, cheering everyone on.
Aunt Leslie and Miss Lassalan dropped out first. They sat on the front porch, sipping lemonade from the pitcher Templeton had kindly provided. I stuck with it for longer, secretly grateful that I’d left God in his terrarium, so I didn’t have to listen to him berate me for being out of shape. Eventually, when Matilda, the pig, had oinked her surrender, I collapsed on the porch stairs, content to watch the others play.
It did my heart good to see the carefree joy on my nieces’ faces as DeeDee and Piss kept them entertained. They’d both been through so much, Katie being orphaned and ending up in a coma, and Alicia, having been stolen by her father and now struggling to fit in with our family. It was wonderful that they could just be untroubled kids for a little while.
Even Aunt Susan, who’d been scowling when she emerged from the house, had softened as she watched the girls having so much fun.
Finally, after everyone was exhausted, they joined us on the porch. Miss Lassalan poured the girls lemonade while Aunt Leslie fed the animals the selection of treats that Templeton had thoughtfully left for them.
“A word, Margaret?” Susan requested quietly.
As much as I hated leaving the sweaty, smiling girls, I got to my feet and walked with my aunt as she strolled along the driveway.
Once we were out of earshot, she confided, “I’m worried about Lawrence.”
I nodded. I was concerned about Griswald, too.
“He was so upset when he left,” she continued.
I stayed silent, not knowing what to say. Her husband was in danger, multiple attempts had been made on his life, and there were no platitudes that could comfort her.
She stopped and wrapped her arms around herself. “He’s not returning my calls, Margaret.”
I rubbed her arm reassuringly. “I’m sure he’s just busy working.”
“You think so?” Her voice cracked with worry.
I nodded.
“This is all your father’s fault,” she said angrily.
I tensed. I was usually the last person to defend my dad, but now I had the urge to do so. “Not this time.”
She glared at me. “It’s always your father’s fault.”
I shrugged. “Usually it is, but Archie was shot because someone is after your husband, not the other way around.”
She gave me an icy stare.
“Don’t get me wrong,” I said. “I’m as surprised as anyone, but just this once, my father isn’t the cause of trouble.”
She considered that for a long moment.
“Maybe it’s because of Griswald’s father,” I suggested lightly, figuring it didn’t hurt to do a little fishing. My dad had said he’d given Griswald the location of something that would exonerate his father. “What do you know about him?”
Susan snapped, “His father is dead.”
I raised my hands in silent surrender, realizing I’d made a tactical mistake trying to get the information from Susan.
She looked away, eyes brimming. “It’s not like him to not be in contact.” She dashed away a spilled tear. She’s not usually a crier and my heart almost broke at the action.
Remembering how much comfort I’d found in Gino’s arms, I hugged her tightly. “You’ve got to trust he knows what he’s doing. When this is all over, he’ll come back to you.”
She hugged me back. “I hope so. I really hope so.”
Extricating herself from me, she began to walk back toward the house alone, smoothing her clothes of non-existent wrinkles.
Part of me wanted to go after her, but I knew there was nothing I could do to help. Besides, I had a meeting with Delveccio I had to get to.
I retrieved God from his enclosure, told Templeton I was going out, and headed toward the mobster’s home.
“Griswald isn’t returning Susan’s calls,” I told the lizard, who was resting on the dashboard.
“That can’t be good,” he muttered.
“I think I’ve got to talk to Archie to find out what he had on Griswald’s father.”
“That may complicate things even more,” God warned. “Maybe you should find out what your favorite mobster has to say, first.”
I nodded, knowing that he was right.
Gino was waiting outside when I arrived. He looked somber. “This way.” He ushered me around the house and in through the back door to the kitchen.
Delveccio, wearing a bloodied butcher’s apron, was inserting slices of garlic into a leg of lamb. “You made it.”
“Sorry,” I murmured, stepping closer. “I’d promised Katie I’d play with her.”
“Never apologize for taking care of a child,” the mobster said.
I eyed the raw meat, thinking I’d killed Gary the Gun with a piece just like it in order to take care of Katie.
“Garlic will cure whatever ails you,” Delveccio said, noticing how closely I was watching him.
“I thought that was chicken soup,” God quipped from my bra.
“I hear you need protection,” the mobster said, wiping his hands on the apron. He glanced over at Gino, who instead of making himself scarce like he normally did when I talked to his boss, was lingering in the corner.
“Sorry?” I said carefully.
“A team was sent to massacre your family. You need protection.”
I shot Gino a look, not pleased he’d told Delveccio about that. He met my gaze steadily, his expression revealing nothing.
“It could have turned out badly,” Delveccio warned.
I cleared my throat nervously. “I don’t think they’re after everyone, just Griswald, and he’s moved out.”
“I could eliminate that problem,” the mobster offered.
“No,” I said sharply.
Delveccio studied my face for a long moment. “You’re saying no?”
I gulped. Saying no to a mob boss wasn’t wise. Still, I couldn’t let him send Patrick Mulligan or some other assassin after my uncle. I shook my head. “I don’t want Griswald eliminated.”
Delveccio cocked his head to the side. “Do you realize no one ever says no to me?”
I fought the urge to flinch. “I—”
He held up a hand to silence me. “I like that you’re loyal to those who matter to you. You have more balls than most men I know.”
“So you won’t kill him?” I asked hopefully.
He chuckled as he put the lamb into the oven. “I like you, but I wouldn’t take out a U.S. Marshal for you. Do you have any idea what kind of heat they could rain down on me?”
I held my breath, confused, not understand
ing where this conversation was headed.
“I wasn’t offering to eliminate Griswald, I was saying I could ensure Griswald’s safety. That would eliminate the threat to your family.”
“Oh,” I said softly.
“Oh,” he mocked. “But it’ll cost you.”
“A deal with the devil always does,” God complained.
3
“I can’t believe you told him,” I complained to Gino as he escorted me back to my car.
“Not here, Maggie,” he replied through gritted teeth.
“He didn’t need to know,” I insisted.
“Not now.”
Aggravated, I didn’t even look at him as I got into my car and drove away.
“He was just doing his job,” God pointed out mildly. “He works for Delveccio, not you.”
“But—”
“And did you notice what Delveccio didn’t say?”
“All I heard him saying is that the family needs protection and he’s willing to provide it at a price, which means he’ll have me doing who knows what.” I pounded the steering wheel in frustration.
“He didn’t mention the ninjas.”
“What?”
“The ninjas,” the lizard said patiently. “He didn’t mention the ninjas. One would think that would have come up in conversation if he’d known about them.”
I considered that for a long moment. “Gino didn’t tell him about the ninjas?”
“Apparently not.”
“Why?”
“Hard to say,” the lizard replied carefully. “But I suspect he kept it to himself to protect you.”
“Huh,” I murmured.
“Huh,” God mocked.
“What do you think it means?”
“I think it means that he’s sweet on you.”
I would have made fun of him for the “sweet on you” bit, but was distracted by a car horn honking at me even though I was stopped at a red light. I automatically did what any other self-respecting Jersey girl would do. I flipped the other driver the bird. The driver honked again.
I glared in the rearview mirror at the offensive jerk and realized he was smiling at me. “Zeke,” I muttered under my breath.
“The day gets more and more complicated,” God said before making a swan-dive into my bra.
In the mirror, my old friend pointed to the side, indicating he wanted me to pull off the road. I gave him a thumbs-up and as soon as the light turned green, I pulled into the first parking lot I found. He slid to a stop behind me and emerged from his car before I’d even put mine into park.
I opened my door and climbed out, knowing full well this wasn’t going to be a social visit.
He kissed my cheek and teased, “I kind of miss your blue look.”
Grinning, I shook my head. I hadn’t enjoyed being dyed blue, but I couldn’t blame him for teasing me about it.
“You’re doing okay?” he asked, putting a hand on my shoulder as though he was expecting me to collapse at any moment.
I casually knocked his hand away. “Considering everything, yeah. Was it you who sent the ninjas?”
“I don’t have that kind of pull.” He leaned his back against my car and surveyed the passing traffic. “I’m not the only one who keeps an eye on you.”
I mimicked his position. “I guess I owe Ms. Whitehat my thanks for saving my family from those gunmen.”
“Understatement of the year,” God muttered.
“No doubt you owe her something,” Zeke agreed bitterly.
I glanced over at my old friend. I’d thought he’d been close to getting out from under the mysterious organization’s hold on him, but now he seemed to be as embroiled as ever with it.
“They were after Griswald?” I asked, even though I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.
Zeke’s confirmation was a curt nod. “She wants to see you.”
“Now?”
He glanced over at me. “Has she ever summoned you when it wasn’t a now expectation?”
I shook my head. “Is something wrong, Zeke? You seem…upset.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he scowled at the passing cars. “You take too many chances, Maggie. And you trust the wrong people. Do you have any idea how close Mia came to framing you for the murder of her husband? How could you let her pull you into that?”
I swallowed hard, realizing he was angry at my poor choices. “I owed her a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
I shook my head again. “From when we were kids.”
He turned to face me, searching my expression for answers because he knew I wasn’t about to confide in him.
“She was being paid to frame me,” I blurted out. “Do you know who hired her?”
“That’s above my paygrade,” he replied flatly.
I squinted at him. “What does that mean?”
He shrugged and turned away.
“Zeke?”
“You ready to go see Whitehat now?” he asked tiredly.
“What if I refused?” I asked petulantly.
“Then you’d be in more trouble than you already are.” He grabbed my hand. “Don’t make more trouble for yourself, Maggie.”
“Good advice,” God seconded from my bra.
“Okay,” I said with a heavy sigh. “Let’s go.”
We left my car in the lot and rode in silence in his car to an Asian fusion restaurant with an Opening Soon sign in the front window. The front door was unlocked, but Zeke locked it as soon as we’d stepped inside.
The place was under construction with half-painted walls, wires hanging from the ceiling, and sawhorses scattered throughout. In the midst of the unfinished chaos sat Ms. Whitehat, her perfectly pressed ivory pantsuit a stark contrast to her messy surroundings.
“Glad you could join us, Miss Lee,” she said quietly.
As I walked toward her, Zeke disappeared toward the kitchen area.
The other woman and I stared at each other for a few long, uncomfortable seconds. I knew I owed her thanks for sending the ninjas to save my family, but I also didn’t want to inadvertently commit myself to whatever reason she’d summoned me.
“Thank you,” I said finally.
She raised her eyebrows. “You’re welcome.”
We lapsed back into silence. I forced myself to take long, slow breaths to keep the panic I was feeling at bay.
Finally, she gave me an approving smile.
I blinked, caught off-guard.
“You might want to know that Boyd and his mother are doing quite well,” she revealed.
“That’s great,” I said enthusiastically. I’d met Boyd, known then as Boy, when he’d shot Mike, the crow. Getting him away from his abusive stepfather and reuniting him with his mother, who’d been in prison, was one of the best things I’ve done with Whitehat’s organization. “I’m happy for them.”
She nodded, her gaze assessing. “You have something you want to ask me?”
I nodded slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. “Do you know who hired Mia to frame me?”
Whitehat nodded.
“Would you tell me?” I asked a tad impatiently.
“I need you to do something for me,” Whitehat replied.
I frowned, not liking that she was using the information as a bargaining chip to force me to do her will. There was someone out there who wanted me to suffer. I needed to find out who so that I could protect myself. Still, I knew from previous dealings with the always frosty Whitehat that making that plea would have no effect on her. Grudgingly, I asked, “And then you’ll tell me?”
She nodded.
“How can I help you?” I asked sarcastically.
The corners of her mouth twitched, but I couldn’t tell if she was holding back a smile or frown. “I need you to steal something for me.”
I nodded.
“Zeke will help you,” she continued.
“It’s not a body part, is it?” I asked worriedly, since the last thing I’d seen Zeke steal
was a human heart. Granted, he’d been trying to save a life, but I didn’t see myself as an organ thief.
Narrowing her eyes at me, Whitehat said a simple, “No.” She steepled her fingers beneath her chin, giving me a long, searching look.
I tried not to fidget.
“That heart went to good use,” she said.
With a shrug, I said, “If you say so.”
“I do,” she said with a cool superiority that had me straightening my spine.
We stared at each other for another long moment.
Frowning, she looked away. “I need you to steal a teddy bear.”
I’m pretty sure my mouth dropped open. “A teddy bear?”
She nodded. “It’s imperative we get it quickly, before the wrong people get their hands on it. People could die.”
“No pressure or anything,” I joked weakly.
She did not appear to be amused by my attempt at levity.
“Why don’t you just send in the ninjas to get it if it’s that important,” I suggested. “I’m not really the person who should be responsible for saving lives.”
She tilted her head slightly, studying me for a long beat. “You shouldn’t underestimate yourself, Miss Lee. Your skill set is…unusual,” she paused for a moment, “but your results are impressive. This job requires more finesse than brute force.”
“Has she seen how klutzy you are?” God whispered from my bra.
Ignoring him, I focused on the woman in the chair. “What’s so important about this bear?”
“That’s not something you need to know.”
I scowled, feeling like I was being played.
“Bring it to me and people live. Fail, and people don’t. It’s that simple.” She rose to her feet in a graceful, fluid movement. “Zeke will fill you in on the specifics and provide support.”
She began to walk toward the front door. As she passed me, she murmured, “I’m counting on you, Miss Lee.” Then, she exited the restaurant, leaving me alone in the construction mess.
“Stealing a teddy bear doesn’t sound so hard,” God said hopefully.
“Why ask me to do it?” I whispered back.