Deadly Intuition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 2) (14 page)

“He’s a good one,” Sophie acknowledged.

“Then I guess I’ll let him live.”

Sophie giggled. “I would appreciate it.”

Once Peter was gone, Sophie returned to the couch. “So, where were we?”

Grady shook his head. She was acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She really was one of a kind. Grady took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I think we were about to watch a movie.”

“No, we weren’t.”

“Well, we are now. You lost your chance to seduce me,” Grady said. “Now it’s you, me, and whatever action movie I can find on AMC.”

Sophie ground out a raspy sigh. “Fine. Tomorrow, though, you’re going to do what I want to do.”

Grady slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close so she could settle her head on his chest. “I’m look forward to it.”

“I can’t believe I have to go back to work today,” Sophie said. She was naked, cuddled on top of Grady, and lamenting her bad luck. Their bodies were slick with perspiration, but neither one of them seemed bothered by their general stickiness.

Five days had elapsed since her accident – and almost all evidence of her near-death experience was gone from her body. Only a slight yellowing around her hairline remained to hint at the horror.

“I bet your boss would give you another day off,” Grady said, pinching her rear suggestively. “I could call him for you.”

“Don’t you have to go to work today?” Sophie asked. “We haven’t left this house in days. I’m actually surprised that your brothers haven’t sent out a search party.”

“We’ve been texting,” Grady said. “Mandy texts more than a teenage girl.”

“You’ve been texting with Mandy? That’s kind of cute. Weird, but cute.”

“She’s been asking for details,” Grady said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to organize another girl’s night out in the near future.”

“That sounds like fun,” Sophie said, rolling off of Grady. “I really like her. Your sister is a hoot, too. I even like Heidi.”

“I don’t suppose I can talk you into putting off another outing with the blonde wonder until after this is all over with, can I?”

Sophie arched an eyebrow. “Are you actually asking instead of ordering?”

“I’m trying.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely, I have no choice but to agree.”

“Don’t play with me,” Grady warned.

“I’m saving that for the shower,” Sophie said. “If you hurry up, I’ll play with you in there before work.”

Grady didn’t need a second invitation.

“YOU KNOW
I’m going to have to take you to work today,” Grady said an hour later. They were both showered and dressed – but he already missed her bed.

“I figured,” Sophie said. “You can take me straight to the county building. There’s a commission meeting today.”

“During the day?”

“They have subcommittee meetings during the day,” Sophie said. “I want to sit in on the finance committee.”

“You think the topic of the missing money will come up?”

“I’d be stunned if it didn’t.”

Grady drained the rest of the coffee from the mug he was holding and dropped it in the sink. “How about I come with you?”

Sophie frowned. “Why?”

“You know why.”

Sophie pressed her mouth shut, breathing heavily through her nose. “While I think it’s really sweet that you want to act as my personal bodyguard, I don’t need your help to do my job.”

“How are you going to get back to the newspaper without a car?”

“I could take the car Peter left for me,” Sophie suggested.

“I thought we both agreed that was a bad idea?”

“We did,” Sophie said. “It might make things easier.”

“I don’t want things to be easier,” Grady countered. “I can take you to work.”

Sophie bit her lower lip. “I can call Conrad for a ride after the meeting,” she said. “The newspaper is like five minutes from the county building. He’ll be glad to come get me.”

“Why go through all that trouble if I’m willing to go with you?”

“Grady … .”

“Sophie,” Grady growled back in mock consternation.

“What are you going to do there? This will take hours.”

“I’m going to watch and learn.”

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Well, these meetings are open to the public, right?”

“Right.”

“Then you can go to the meeting on your own,” Grady said.

“You’re just going to pretend to drop me off at the county building and then show up in the meeting room five minutes later, aren’t you?”

Grady shrugged. “I have a great interest my community and the problems facing it. I’m deep.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Fine,” Sophie said, blowing out a sigh. “Not touchy-feely stuff, though. I have a reputation as a cold badass to maintain.”

Grady smiled. “Me, too.”

GRADY
had never been to a county commission meeting before. He’d never been to any kind of government meeting, now that he thought about it. He’d let Sophie maintain her dignity and go to the assembly room alone.

When he joined the crowd – which seemed large for an afternoon sub-committee meeting – he purposely settled one row behind Sophie. He wanted to watch her do her thing – and get a gander at the crowd and public officials – without drawing too much attention to himself.

Once the meeting started, Grady was intrigued. That feeling lasted for exactly five minutes, and then he was bored out of his mind. The next two hours were excruciating.
Who could possibly care about all of this stuff?

When the meeting finally came to an end, Grady was positive his ass had fallen asleep and he was incapable of walking. Sophie was moving toward the commissioners with purpose, her hips swaying, and her long hair bobbing along her back.

She was too sexy for her own good, Grady decided. She had no idea the effect she had on people. That was one of the reasons he liked her. That was one of the reasons he was starting to lose himself in her.

Grady shook off the feeling and got to his feet. He decided to wait for Sophie out in the hallway. He leaned against a wall, powering up his phone so he could check his messages and email. He had no idea how long Sophie would be, but he wasn’t in a hurry. He glanced up occasionally, a steady stream of people leaving the room, until he finally caught sight of her on the other side of the door. He couldn’t see who she was talking to, but she didn’t look happy.

“Mr. Madison, I’m sure you understand my position on this,” she said. “I’m not purposely going after Sheriff Morgan. I’m investigating missing money, not a person.”

Grady remained where he was standing, dialing his ears into Sophie’s conversation. Mr. Madison had to be John Madison – the sheriff’s right-hand man.

“You’re purposely making this a big deal when it’s not a big deal,” Madison replied. “You know it. The money hasn’t been stolen. It’s just been shuffled to another department. You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill.”

“Great,” Sophie said. “Find me that department.”

“I don’t know what department it is,” Madison said. “We’re just asking for time to figure it out.”

“Mr. Madison, six-hundred-thousand dollars is not pocket change,” Sophie argued. “That’s a big chunk of money, especially in a county that is having financial problems. I’m not trying to create problems. I’m trying to cover a story. That’s my job.”

“I’m not saying that no malfeasance happened here,” Madison said, his words piquing Grady’s interest. “I’m saying that someone was clearly negligent. I’m sure someone will pay for this mistake.”

“I don’t want anyone to pay,” Sophie said. “I want to uncover the truth and move on.”

“Then why don’t you give this some time? I’m sure there are other stories you could be focusing on.”

“I have to do what my editor wants me to do,” Sophie said. “I have to follow rules, too.”

“I guess you do.”

“Just for my own edification, though,” Sophie said. “What kind of malfeasance were you talking about?”

“Excuse me.”

“You said that you thought some malfeasance happened,” Sophie prodded. “What did you mean?”

Madison sighed. “Off the record?”

“Off the record,” Sophie agreed.

“It’s become apparent that Sheriff Morgan might have a few accounting issues,” Madison said. “I’m not saying he stole the money, I don’t want you to think that. I would never say that. You better not print that.”

“Okay. What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that perhaps the money was accidentally lost and we’re trying really hard to find it before someone’s reputation is ruined forever,” Madison said. “One mistake should not ruin anyone.”

“I see.”

“That was off the record.”

“I remember.”

“I guess I’ll see you around,” Madison said. “I’m glad to see you’re back on your feet. That accident sounds like it was terrible.”

“It was,” Sophie said.

When Grady was sure Madison was gone, he moved into the doorway. Sophie didn’t look surprised to see him.

“Did you hear all of that?”

Grady nodded.

“What do you think?”

“I think that Madison just told you that the sheriff is inept and lost the money and now they’re all scrambling to find it,” Grady said. “If they can find it – and find it soon – he wants you to magically forget that it ever went missing.”

“That’s what I heard, too,” Sophie said. “I just can’t believe he would tell me that, even off the record.”

“If he tells you something off the record, you can’t print it, right?”

“Right.”

“It seems to me he did that on purpose.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that he wants you to look one way while he’s doing something in the opposite direction,” Grady said.

“You think he’s trying to mislead me?”

“Maybe.”

“Or maybe he really is trying to make me pity the sheriff,” Sophie said. “It wouldn’t be the first time a politician has taken that approach.”

Grady shrugged. “I don’t know. I need to think about it.”

“You mean you want to talk to your brothers about it,” Sophie corrected.

“Fine. I want to talk with my brothers. I figured I could drop you at the newspaper, go and touch base with them, and be back in plenty of time to pick you up.”

“And then what?”

“Then I’ll take you to dinner and then, well, I’ll probably just take you,” Grady replied, smirking.

“You’re such a smooth talker,” Sophie said, moving toward the elevator. “I can’t believe women aren’t just swooning every which way when you’re in the room.”

Grady followed her, looking around to make sure someone wasn’t looking before he reached out and pinched her rear. “I’ll make you swoon if you want me to.”

“I think you’re awfully sure of yourself,” she said, shooting him a death glare before climbing onto the elevator. Grady followed her, plastering his body against hers the second the elevator doors shut. He swallowed her protests with his mouth.

When the elevator dinged on the first floor, Sophie was still smoothing down her shirt and checking to make sure her skirt hadn’t ridden up anywhere. Grady’s face was smug and satisfied.

“You better buy me a really good dinner,” Sophie said. “I’m talking lobster.”

“You got it, sugar.”

“Well, well, well, look who finally decided to crawl out of bed.”

Grady fixed Finn with a dubious look. He’d been back at Hardy Brothers Security for less than a minute, and he was already longing for his reporter, her winsome smile, and her really comfortable bed. Her magic thighs, pouty mouth, and roaming hands were just an added bonus. “Sophie was seriously injured. She needed someone to take care of her.”

“And I bet that was a real hardship for you, wasn’t it?” Finn teased. “All that cuddling and rubbing must have just driven you crazy.”

James was sitting behind his desk, his attention partially focused on his laptop, as he listened to his brothers’ banter. “Is she feeling better?”

“She went to work today,” Grady said. “I went to the county commission meeting with her, just to be on the safe side.”

“They meet during the day?”

“The sub-committees do,” Grady said. “God, don’t you know anything?”

James smirked. “I see she’s been giving you an education,” he said. “I’m guessing she’s been doing it in and out of bed, too.”

“You’re a funny guy,” Grady said.

“I try.”

“I want to thank Mandy for the bag of stuff, by the way,” Grady said. “Keeping Sophie’s mind off work wasn’t easy. She’s kind of focused – actually, she borders on obsessive sometimes. The magazines and movies were a big hit.”

James raised an eyebrow. “She liked the movies? I told Mandy they were stupid.”

“She loved the movies,” Grady said. “They made her all … sexy and stuff.”

“Did you like the movies?”

“I just told you they made her all sexy,” Grady replied. “I now love those movies.”

James rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “She must have figured that out on her own. Figures. She’s always a step ahead of me on things like that. It pisses me off.”

“She’s always a step ahead of you regardless,” Grady shot back.

“Maybe I don’t mind the view from behind her,” James suggested.

“I can see that.”

“So, if you’re ending your hibernation, does that mean you think she’s safe?” Finn asked.

Grady shook his head. “No. Actually, I stopped by because something happened at the commission meeting.”

“What?” James asked.

Grady told his brothers about Sophie’s conversation with John Madison.

“Well, that’s interesting,” James said. “He’s either trying to distract her or tip her off. Which one do you think it is?”

“I wish I knew,” Grady admitted. “There’s something weird about that guy, though.”

“So, basically, we have too many suspects and not enough information,” Finn said.

“Or too much information,” Grady said. “Have you guys made any headway on that big packet of paper?”

“I stopped looking,” James said. “It gives me a headache.”

Grady looked at Finn.

“I stopped looking, too.”

“Well, great.”

“I’ve been bribing Mandy to keep looking,” James said. “I’m about out of shark movies.”

“Try
Lake Placid
,” Finn suggested. “It’s not sharks, but giant crocodiles are just as entertaining. Plus, Betty White is hilariously foul-mouthed in it. She steals the whole movie.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

“I’m going to run up to the apartment and grab the packet,” Grady said. “I figure Sophie is going to want to start looking through it again.”

“Good,” James said. “I’d like to reclaim my girlfriend.”

Grady paused, guilt rushing through him. “I’m sorry I left this for you guys to do.”

James waved him off. “It’s fine. I think Mandy likes it. She’s multifaceted weird.”

“She’s actually pretty amazing,” Grady said, getting to his feet. “She’s been really great with Sophie. I don’t think Sophie’s ever had any real friends. She’s kind of closed off.”

“Mandy’s not the only one who’s pretty amazing, is she?” Finn said.

“No, she’s not.”

Finn and James exchanged a look. Grady knew what it meant and, while he would have cared two weeks ago, he couldn’t bring himself to chafe under their scrutiny today. “I’m going to go and get those files,” he said. “I have to pick Sophie up after work, and then I promised her a nice dinner. She wants lobster.”

James balked. “I would steer her away from seafood. I don’t think you’re ready to sleep on the floor next to a puking woman for two nights.”

Grady had a feeling he was right. “Maybe I’ll try to talk her into Italian.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

Grady was halfway through the door to the lobby when he paused. “Hey, what’s the deal with the nail polish?”

“What?”

“Mandy put three bottles of nail polish in the bag she put together for Sophie,” Grady said. “Sophie seemed to know what it meant, but she wouldn’t tell me.”

Color was creeping up James’ neck. “I have no idea.”

Grady smirked. “Okay. I’m going to let it go.”

“Good.”

He was almost to the stairs when he heard Finn. “Dude, what’s the deal with the nail polish?”

“Don’t you have something to do?” James grumbled.

“ARE YOU
sure you don’t want to come with me?”

It was the next night, and Sophie was sitting cross-legged on her living room floor, the stack of reclaimed documents spread out around her. Grady had just gotten a call from James for a job – one he didn’t want to take – and he was leaving to do surveillance for a few hours.

“I’m fine here,” Sophie said, gesturing to the piles of paper. “I’ll obviously be busy.”

“I know,” Grady said. “I just don’t like the idea of leaving you alone.”

“Well, since I’m going to be locked in the house all night, I don’t see what the problem is,” Sophie said. “No offense, but I don’t think we’ll get a lot of work done if we’re in a car together, alone in the dark, with nothing to do but each other for five hours.”

“Okay,” Grady said, reluctantly agreeing. “Finn should be able to relieve me at midnight. I won’t be gone for more than a few hours.”

Sophie knitted her eyebrows together as she regarded him. “You know, I did manage to live a whole twenty-five years on my own before I met you.”

“I know.”

“I know how to take care of myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you being so … weird?”

“I didn’t realize that worrying about someone was acting weird,” Grady said. “I thought it was normal.”

“I’ve never thought of you as normal,” Sophie said.

“Is that a compliment?”

“I’ve slept with you,” Sophie said, smiling flirtatiously. “It’s definitely a compliment.”

Grady growled playfully, dropping to his knees so he could crawl over to her without messing up her stacks. He bit her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth. She plunged her hands in his hair, pulling him closer so she could kiss him to her heart’s content.

After a few seconds, Grady pulled away. “We could do this in the car.”

“Wouldn’t that get in the way of your job?”

“Who cares?”

“Your brother cares,” Sophie reminded him. “Deep down, you care, too.”

Grady kissed her again, this time it was short and sweet. “Be a good girl while I’m gone.”

“I’ll try to refrain from getting a paper cut.”

“If you’re naked when I come back,” Grady said. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”

“Actually,” Sophie said, focusing on the piece of paper in her hand. “I thought I would dress up like a naughty school girl and let you spank me with a ruler.”

Grady groaned. “You are evil.”

“I’ll be naughty when you get back.”

“I’m going,” Grady said. “Now I have something to look forward to.”

“You certainly do.”

GRADY
had only been gone about a half hour when something caught Sophie’s attention.

“This isn’t right,” she murmured.

She’d seen this document before. She knew she had. This one was different, though. She just couldn’t remember how. Sophie stretched her legs out in front of her, leaning back to rest on the angled armchair behind her.

The document in question was a minor one. It was correspondence between the sheriff’s department and animal control. It was only three paragraphs. The head of the animal shelter was questioning the sheriff’s department about promised funds. Since the animal shelter operated under the auspices of the sheriff’s department, the correspondence itself wasn’t suspicious. It was the discussion about funds that piqued her interest – especially the final paragraph.

I understand that the vast majority of funds allocated from the county are already earmarked. Sheriff Morgan made a verbal promise that the animal shelter would be able to expand their operations with at least $60,000 of that money during the fiscal year. We would like to make sure those funds will be distributed to us as promised.

This wasn’t the same document she’d seen previously. The problem was, she couldn’t specifically remember what was different.

Sophie rolled her neck, staring up at her ceiling. “Think.”

Sophie pushed up from the floor. She thought better when she was moving. Pumping blood cleared her brain.
What did she remember?

Okay, she remembered seeing a similar document. She remembered seeing that exact monetary number someplace else.
Where?

The animal shelter was a thorny situation. The county supplied the funds for a portion of the operational budget. Pet adoptions, technicians, vaccinations, etc. The sheriff’s department funded animal control –the dogcatcher, to the great unwashed – and there were at least three employees under that umbrella. The area had a high coyote population – and dangerous dogs were always a concern.

“I’m missing something.”

Sophie realized she was talking to herself. She had to get her other files, which were, unfortunately, located back at the newspaper’s office. She still didn’t have a car of her own.

There was always the car Peter had dropped off, Sophie reminded herself.

She’d left it parked in the garage. Grady hadn’t been happy when the car arrived, convinced it was hot. Sophie didn’t think that was the case. Peter Marconi was many things – not all of them on the up-and-up, she could admit that – but he was not the kind of man who would put her at risk by giving her a stolen car to drive around the county with.

It would just be a quick trip, she told herself. She could drive to the newspaper and back in less than an hour. Grady wasn’t due to return for at least three hours. He would never know.

Sophie slipped on her shoes, not bothering to change out of her comfortable track pants and tank top. She shrugged into a hoodie and grabbed the keys to the car from the counter. She was almost out the door before she decided to play it safe.

She jogged back to the kitchen counter, pulling a notebook out of the drawer and scrawling a quick note to leave for Grady. It was just in case. She would beat him back. He never had to know. She could throw the note away when she got back.

He had a key to let himself back into the house. He’d probably never see the note. Sophie didn’t want to imagine the fallout if he did. It was just a precaution. She was a big girl. She could pick up two files without a babysitter. She was being stupid.

Sophie squared her shoulders. She wasn’t going to let Grady Hardy – not her infatuation with him, or the growing emotion surrounding every stray thought he invaded – change her.

“I’ll be right back.” The room was empty, so no one heard her promise.

If she’d ever watched even one of Mandy’s beloved horror movies, she would have realized how stupid that proclamation really was.