Deadly Dealings (Hardy Brothers Security Book 13) (16 page)

“If I find out that Twilight is still on these streets in twenty-four hours I’m going to come back,” Peter warned. “I won’t be nearly as charming then as I am now.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not moving Twilight?” Gunderson asked, shifting uncomfortably.

Peter ignored the question. “In addition to the Twilight cessation, I also want the missing girls turned over to my care. I have no idea what you’re doing to them, but I want them. I also want the location of the bodies. I know all of the women you’ve taken aren’t still alive. I want the bodies returned to their families so they can get proper final resting places.”

“Aren’t you just a regular … humanitarian,” Gunderson sneered.

“In addition to my other requirements, I want you to deliver the man who drugged Mr. Hardy’s wife,” Peter said. “He has a debt to pay.”

“Gunderson’s placid façade slipped. “You want me to turn over a man to you so you can kill him?”

“I didn’t say I was going to kill him,” Peter replied. “I said I wanted him. What I’m going to do with him is really none of your concern.”

“I’m not doing any of this,” Gunderson spat.

“That is certainly your decision,” Peter said, refusing to let Gunderson get under his skin. “You have twenty-four hours to make your final decision. Then I will be making my final decision.” Peter turned to James. “Are you ready to go?”

James nodded mutely, impressed. Peter was cold and calculating. He was also a force to be reckoned with.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Peter said, shifting so he was looking back at Gunderson. “Your little girlfriend, I believe her name is Winona, is also a problem. I want her friends – the ones slipping drugs in drinks at bars – turned over to me as well. If Winona ever contacts my daughter again, I will be requiring her … presence … as well.”

Gunderson’s face drained of color. “I … .”

“Don’t speak,” Peter said, wagging his finger. “Think about your options. A smart man would take what I’ve offered and run with it. I don’t think you’re a smart man, though. Either way, I’ll be seeing you soon.”

Peter turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving a speechless Gunderson to marvel at his magical abilities. Gunderson may have fancied himself a regular Houdini, but Peter was the real magician.

James had to swallow his smile as he followed Peter out of the house. He was officially in awe.

“I’m telling you, it was a sight to behold,” James said a few hours later, handing Grady a pizza box. “It was as if I was in a movie and Peter was Clint Eastwood.”

“Did he tell him to get out of town before sundown?” Grady asked, enjoying James’ enthusiasm despite the surreal nature of the conversation.

“Pretty much. It was amazing.”

“It sounds like James has a man crush,” Mandy teased, sidling up to her husband and poking him in the side. “Am I going to lose you to Peter? Is this my lot in life?”

James wrinkled his nose as he gazed down at his wife’s adorable face. “You’re joking, but I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said. “I’m not into dudes, but if I didn’t have you, I might make an exception.”

Mandy giggled. “I guess it’s good you have me then.”

“I guess so,” James said, lowering his mouth to hers so they could share a sweet kiss. “I’m betting Peter doesn’t have your talented tongue. You’ve got that going for you.”

“Ugh, I’m going to puke,” Grady complained.

“Me, too,” Sophie said, making a face. “Stop talking about my foster father’s tongue. You’re making my skin crawl.”

“I think it sounds cool,” Emma said. “I wish I could’ve seen it. When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about Clint Eastwood coming to my house and … well … I kind of hoped he would kill my father.”

“We all wish that would’ve happened, sweetie,” Finn said, slinging an arm over his fiancée’s shoulders. “I wish the Terminator would’ve been there.”

Since Emma’s father was a notorious child molester who didn’t leave his own children untouched, everyone spent a few moments picking a favorite movie bad guy to deliver retribution before turning to the conversation at hand.

“How was your day with your bodyguard, wife?” James asked, turning his attention to Mandy in an attempt to alleviate the sudden pall that had settled over the room. “He didn’t romance you, did he?”

“Ned was a gentleman,” Mandy said, smiling ruefully. “We did talk about art and he taught me a neat trick for doing tree branches. I’m going to try it tomorrow.”

“That’s good,” James said. “Since painting is so sexy I was worried he would try to get you naked.”

“Painting is only sexy when we do it together.”

“It’s sexy when I watch you do it, too,” James countered.

“You think everything she does is sexy,” Grady said. “You once told me that you got turned on watching her type in the courtroom.”

“I
secretly
told you that,” James snapped. “Secretly.”

Mandy arched a challenging eyebrow. “Watching me type turns you on?”

“I like watching you in court,” James clarified. “Those pencil skirts and your serious face make me think naughty thoughts. Sue me.”

“How about I dress up for you later instead?”

James grinned. “Will you wear the skirt with garters, but sans underwear?”

Mandy nodded.

“Everyone eat and compare notes quickly,” James ordered. “My wife needs to type something very important later.”

“You’re so sick,” Grady muttered.

Once everyone was settled around the table the conversation turned to more important – and serious – matters.

“What did you find, Jake?”

“I found that the college kids working at these haunted houses are annoying,” Jake replied, furrowing his brow. “The men weren’t willing to talk … about anything. They accused me of being a narc. Me! Can you believe that?”

“I can’t fathom it, Whipped Jake,” Grady said, grinning as he bit into a slice of pizza.

Ally shot him a dark look. “Don’t go there, Grady.”

“How is the painting?” Sophie asked, her eyes twinkling. “Is it hanging or hidden in the basement?”

“It’s hanging,” Ally replied. “I happen to love it.”

“I can’t believe you hung that painting,” Grady chortled. “You really are whipped.”

“Do you want me to tell you about all the sex I had with your sister last night?” Jake threatened.

“No!” James vehemently shook his head. “I think you look great in the painting.”

“That’s what I thought,” Jake said, puffing out his chest. “Where was I?”

“College students suck,” Ally supplied, patting his thigh under the table.

“Thank you, angel,” Jake said, returning to his recap. “Anyway, after I decided the male kids were never going to help me, I flirted with a couple of the girls to get answers.”

Mandy glanced at her best friend, worry clouding her features. “Should you be saying that in front of Ally?”

“It’s fine,” Ally said, waving off her concern. “He’s allowed to flirt for information.”

“That’s a fun precedent,” James said. “Baby, am I allowed to flirt for information?”

“Do what you want,” Mandy replied.

James looked dubious.

“Do what you want as long as you want to sleep alone,” Mandy clarified.

James smirked. “That’s what I thought. Continue with your story, Jake. You can leave out the flirting reenactments.”

Jake rolled his eyes but plowed on. “Some of the girls did think that a blond guy with blue eyes sounded familiar, but a lot of them are day laborers. They show up when they want money but don’t have specific schedules. They all said it would be possible for someone to grab a woman during a show without anyone seeing because those places are dark and someone might assume it’s part of a show because they’re never aware of what everyone else is doing.”

“I guess that makes sense,” James said. “Still … that’s odd to me. What about you, Finn?”

“I talked to two of the missing girls’ roommates,” Finn said. “Both of the women were at parties on the nights they disappeared. The roommates said they saw them one minute, they left for one reason or another, and when they came back the women were gone.

“They told me they assumed they left with someone, but when they didn’t show back up the next day they got worried and called police,” he continued. “No one saw specific men with the women. No one has heard anything since. It’s as if they just fell off the face of the Earth.”

“That’s terrible,” Emma said.

“It is,” Finn agreed. “What about you, Grady?”

Grady told everyone about his meeting with Morgan, wrapping up with the agreement to share information and keep in touch. “He’s going to raid Gunderson’s house tomorrow,” he said. “If Peter plans on going back, you might want to warn him off for a day, sugar.”

“I’ll call him as soon as I’m done eating,” Sophie said. “I don’t think he would be stupid enough to return there, but it can’t hurt to warn him.”

“Other than watching Peter go all Clint Eastwood on the greasy drug dealer, what else did you see?” Jake asked James.

“It was … interesting,” James said. “Gunderson is a bad liar. I think he honestly thought he was going to be able to dictate terms to Peter. When that didn’t happen, he fell off the rails pretty quickly.”

“Meaning?”

“Peter was … icy,” James said. “He knew exactly how to approach the situation and he unnerved Gunderson from the very beginning.”

“Your man crush is showing,” Mandy teased.

James squeezed her knee under the table. “He told Gunderson he either had to stop selling Twilight or be wiped off the map.”

“Wow,” Emma said, exhaling heavily. “Do you think he would really do that?”

“You’ve only seen the warm and fuzzy side of Peter,” Sophie said. “Trust me. He would do that and more if he deems it necessary. What else did he do?”

“He told Gunderson he wanted the women returned and the location of any of the bodies of the women who died,” James said. “He also demanded that Mandy’s assailant be turned over to him.”

“What did Gunderson say to that?”

“Gunderson was trying to negotiate while lying about his involvement,” James replied. “It was interesting to watch. He kept acting like he knew what was going on, but then denying his involvement with the next breath.”

“What did Peter do?”

“He basically told him to shut up and listen,” James said. “I’m not joking, and I know this makes me sound like a total fanboy, but I was in awe. I want to be Peter when I grow up.”

“You’re so cute with your little crush,” Mandy teased.

“Mandy should do a painting of you and Peter for your office,” Grady suggested. “Peter can wear a hat like Clint Eastwood and you can stare at him adoringly – like Whipped Jake.”

“I will beat you,” Jake warned.

Grady winked at him. “Shouldn’t you be worshipping my sister?”

“I do that every night,” Jake shot back.

“Okay, stop grossing me out,” James said, holding up his hand. “I can only take so much.”

“Let’s go back to talking about James’ man crush on Peter,” Jake suggested. “I like that conversation much more than the one about the painting.”

“Stop hating on the painting,” Ally ordered.

“Was that all?” Grady asked, focusing on James.

“He also ordered Gunderson to make sure Winona stayed away from Sophie and turn over the guys dosing drinks at the bar,” James said.

Sophie straightened, surprised. “He did? How did he even know about that?”

James shrugged. “I assumed you told him.”

Sophie shook her head, her dark waves brushing against her shoulders. “I would never tell him something like that. He would freak.”

“I have no idea how he found out,” James said, turning his palms up.

“Let’s talk about Whipped Jake,” Grady suggested.

Sophie turned her suspicious eyes to Grady. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world, sugar.”

“Those are fighting words at this table,” James warned. “Although, I think you’re about to have your own fight so I’m going to let it go.”

“Thanks so much,” Grady deadpanned, his eyes widening to comical proportions.

“Did you tell Peter what happened at the bar that night, Grady?”

Grady licked his lips, unsure how to answer. “Um ... .”

“Why?” Sophie was incensed. “Did you want to upset him?”

“No,” Grady protested. “I was already upset. It was the night you took Sven and Gregario out as your backup when you met Winona. Peter and I had a long talk about … things.”

“What things?”

“You know very well what things,” Grady snapped. “I was upset.”

“So you told on me?”

“No,” Grady said. “I explained to him why I was frustrated and … I don’t know … he’s a good listener. I honestly didn’t realize what I was doing.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t realize it was going to be such a big deal,” Grady replied. “I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

Sophie sighed as she rubbed her forehead. “I don’t understand why he didn’t ask me about it.”

“He probably knew it would be a sore subject,” James offered. “Mandy and I don’t talk about her wandering off in Hell House for the same reason.”

“I didn’t mean to wander off,” Mandy grumbled.

“See,” James said, reaching over and rubbing her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have brought that up. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, Mandy, remember when he had sex with you and then walked away in the middle of the night?” Ally asked. “Whenever he tries to be a douche and bring up you walking away at the haunted house, just remind him of that.”

“Thank you, Ally,” James snapped.

“You’re welcome.” Ally smiled brightly.

“I’m sorry, baby,” James said. “It worked out all right. I heard you scream for me and I got to you in time. I should never have brought it up again. I just know it’s going to ruin my typing fantasy later.”

When James risked a glance in Mandy’s direction there was no anger on her face. Instead, her forehead was wrinkled with confusion. “What do you mean you heard me scream for you?”

“At the haunted house,” James said. “It was faint, but I heard you scream. That’s how I knew to run to you.”

“I didn’t hear it,” Grady supplied. “He has supersonic hearing.”

“But I didn’t scream for you,” Mandy said. “I … tried. I opened my mouth, but no sound would come out. I was screaming for you in my head, but I never managed to actually do it.”

James stilled, surprised. “I heard you.”

“You couldn’t have.”

“Holy crap,” Ally said, clapping her hands excitedly. “You heard her in your head, James. You’re psychically connected now.”

James snorted. “I don’t believe in that.”

“How do you explain hearing her scream in her mind?” Ally challenged.

“I … .” James opened his mouth to answer but instead turned his thoughtful expression to his wife. “I don’t know.”

Mandy looked equally troubled. “I don’t know what to think. I was crying for you in my head and then you appeared. I managed to say your name when I saw you, but just barely. That’s how I knew I was going to be okay.”

James reached over and snagged her hand, rubbing her knuckles softly. “Maybe you screamed and didn’t realize it.”