Crazy in Love (27 page)

Jake chuckled.
“‘Fill out the bottom line.’ I don’t even know what that means.”

“
Me neither. But Mercy and I talked, and we’re going to start a catering business on the side!”
Flynn giggled in excitement, and Jake loved every second of it.

“
That’s great, Flynn. Wow. Mercy’s gonna love that.”

“
We’ve been scheming over it all night. She’ll get an extra commission on top of her salary, and an opportunity to get out in the community and make her something of a local celebrity. We’re talking local media opportunities and everything. It’ll be great. I’m also thinking about doing wedding planning, because that gazebo in the rose garden? I mean, who wouldn’t want to get married there, right?” Her eyes widened a bit. “I mean, when the time was right and the couple has been dating for more than fifteen minutes.”

Jake reached over and patted her hand.
“It’s okay. I know it wasn’t a hint.”

She gave a sigh of relief and reached for the bread.
“And then, the best idea of all...” She nibbled her lip,
seeming about ready to burst with excitement. “A private detective agency.”

Jake went still with surprise.
“Wow. Really?”

“
I know, it seems odd, right? But here’s the thing. We use the offices we’ve already got, the cases are totally on contract, and you can bartend whenever you’re not on a case. I mean, all you have to do is get a license, and then we’re in business.”

Jake played with the stem of his wineglass.
“Was asking me about this a part of the plan?”

“
Well… but… I mean…” she stammered. “You used to be a cop. And when we worked together on this Gordon Chase thing, it was really fun, so I thought, ‘Hey, there’s almost no overhead, why not?”’ She looked at him, and he could tell by her expression that she was reading his pretty clearly. “So… why not?”

Jake straightened his fork on the napkin.
“Well, for one, this time wasn’t all fun. You got shot at.”

“
I’m sure that was a fluke,” she said. “I mean, how often does your average person get shot at, right? Maybe once in a lifetime. So my once is already out of the way.”

“
And, two, I haven’t said I wanted to come back as the bartender,” he said. “You’re kind of presuming a lot.”

She put her bread down on her plate.
“Well, yeah, but you’ll need a regular job, right? Dad says it takes a while to build up any business, but something like this is really word-of-mouth based, and so it could be a year or two before—”

“
Have you been hanging out with my sisters? I can get a job on my own, Flynn. I don’t need you to fix my life.”

Flynn stared at him for a long time.
“That’s not what I was trying to do. I was just trying to figure out how to dig the Arms out of the pit.”

Of course she was. Jake reached for her hand.
“I’m sorry. I’m being an ass about it. I know your intentions are good, and I’m not saying we can’t talk about it, I just don’t want to be committed to something until I’ve had time to think about it.”

Flynn
’s hand went stiff under his, and he could tell by her face that there was something else she hadn’t told him.

“
Flynn?” he said. “What’d you do?”

She reached for her ice water and took a big gulp, then set the glass on the table.
“I got our first client.”

Jake sat back in his seat, trying to take that in.
“But I don’t have a license yet.”

“
Oh,” she said. “Yeah. But that’s just a little itty-bitty fine, right?”

“
Flynn, have you committed me to solving a case without consulting me first?”

“
Us.
I committed
us.
And it’s not like I went out looking for business. It just landed in my lap, like kismet. Like it was meant to be. It’s a lot of money and I need things to be profitable or my dad will yank me out of here in six months and…” She paused, then straightened her posture. “Yes. I made the commitment. And if you don’t want to do it, that’s okay. I can do it myself.”

“
You know,” Jake said, “I think you just might be the type of person who gets shot at more than once in
a
lifetime. It’s just a feeling.”

Flynn put her hand on her forehead, as if warding off a headache.
“I’m just going to spit this out because you’re
already pissed off and I might as well get it over with.” She lowered her hand. “The client is Gordon Chase.”

Jake stared at her, feeling like the floor had just fallen out from under him.
“You want me to help Gordon Chase?”

“
He was at the cottage when I got in this afternoon. You must have just missed him. But anyway, it turns out that Annabelle and Rhonda stole his money, too, except they took all of it and now he’s totally screwed.”
Jake opened his mouth to speak, and Flynn raised her hand. “Which is karmically proper and totally deserved. But it’s three million dollars, Tucker, and if we get it back for him, he’s going to give us ten percent. That’s three hundred thousand dollars. That’s a lot of dollars.”

Jake stared down at his fork, the tines seeming to move in the flickering candlelight.
“I can do the math.”

“
I’ll be able to replace the money that Annabelle stole, and get Mercy’s catering launched, and the wedding planning.” She sat back, staring at her hands as she played with them limply on the table. “It will almost guarantee my success, which means I won’t get yanked out of here after six months. This case is my security, Tucker. Do you understand that?”

He raised his eyes to hers and nodded.
“Yeah. I understand.”

She smiled lightly.
“Thank you. We have a breakfast meeting at nine o’clock tomorrow.”

Jake laughed and shook his head, although he wasn
’t at all amused. “No, we don’t. I didn’t say I’d do it. I said I understood. Those are different things, Flynn.”

“
Fine. Then
I
have a breakfast meeting with him tomorrow.”

Jake tried to relax his jaw and speak calmly.
“Cancel it, Flynn.”

“
You can’t tell me what to do,” she said.

“
Oh, but you can run my whole life? You can make me help Gordon Chase, go to breakfast with him and act like he didn’t get exactly what he deserved?”

She took a deep breath. He was angry; she looked totally pissed off. He
’d never seen an evening take such a sharp turn so fast. It was amazing neither of them had whiplash.

“
Look, I didn’t just come back here for you. I need this to work, Tucker. I need it.” She shook her head and took a deep breath. “All I’m asking is for breakfast. That’s all. We don’t have to make a decision now, just go and hear him out.”

“
What you’re asking is for a lot more than breakfast,” Jake said. “A hell of a lot more, and you know it. I don’t mind letting the whole thing go, but I’m not gonna help the asshole get his money back. No. I’m not going.”

“
Fine. You don’t have to go. But I’m going.”

“
Of course you are.”

They stared at each other, the room dead silent. Her eyes filled with tears and she sniffled.

Jake sighed.
“Flynn—”

“
I’m not hungry,” she said, pushing away from the table. “Tell Mercy I’m sorry I wasted her nice dinner.”

“
Flynn.” Jake got up to follow her, but she only moved faster, and he stopped. She obviously didn’t want him to come after her, so he wouldn’t. He could respect her wishes. He could see things from her point of view. He could…

“
Goddamnit,” he muttered. He walked back to the
table and picked up his wineglass, staring into it for a while before looking back up at the door Flynn had gone through. He downed the wine, then slumped down into the seat and refilled his glass. He knew she wasn’t coming back, but figured it wouldn’t kill him to wait.

Just in case.

Sixteen

F
lynn sat in the Nazi love seat and stared at the cows. She hoped Esther appreciated her bringing the creepy things back. Flynn had no idea, she’d gotten all of five minutes’ sleep the night before and Esther had shown up for none of it. Every slight noise had her rushing out to the front door, sure that Tucker would be there to either apologize or accept her apology. She didn’t much care which. It wasn’t until the sun rose that she finally gave up hope, and by then it was too late to sleep, so she’d just run a bubble bath and sulked until she ran out of time.

She glanced at the wall clock. Eight forty-five. If Tucker didn
’t show up within the next fifteen minutes to stop her, she was going to that breakfast with Gordon Chase. She could find a way to make it up to Tucker, but that three hundred thousand wasn’t going to be knocking on her door again. The hard part was convincing herself that it wasn’t the worst sort of betrayal for her to take
money from a man Tucker despised with every fiber of his being.

Although it was. And she knew it.

There was a knock at the door, shaking her from the grip of her own thoughts. She glanced at the clock and her heart sailed; eight fifty-one. Guys like Chase were never early. It had to be Tucker. Suddenly her choice seemed so clear. After all, there were other ways to make money.

There was only one Tucker.

She hopped up off the love seat and ran to the door, wording her apology in her head as she pulled the door open.

Then she saw Chase
’s
tink
ing
smile and wanted to throw up.

“
I’m a little early,” Chase said. “Are you and Jake ready?”

“
No,” Flynn said. “Tucker isn’t here, and I’ve come to a decision—”

Chase stepped inside and looked around.
“He’s not? Wow. I was really hoping I could take the two of you out. You’re both so familiar with Annabelle and Rhonda...”

He trailed off, looking so sad and betrayed that Flynn almost felt bad for him, but then she realized that he was probably mourning the loss of his three million more than the loss of Rhonda Bacon.

“Look, Gordon,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’ve thought it over and we just can’t do it. You really should take this to the police.”

“
I can’t take it to the police,” he said quickly. Flynn crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at
him.
He broke within seconds.

“
Okay, see, the thing is…” He sighed. “How do I say
this? I’d rather not bring these particular funds to the attention of the police, if you know what I mean.”

Flynn
’s stomach turned. “Oh, God, Gordon. It’s stolen money? Are you kidding me?”

He put one hand on her shoulder.
“Not stolen. Just not necessarily obtained exactly
legally
. Look, I really need your help. I’ll double your commission. Six hundred thousand dollars. You don’t have to commit now, just let me take you out for breakfast and we’ll talk. Just talk.”

Six.

Hundred.

Thousand.

Dollars.

Flynn sighed. He looked so pathetic, she was so broke, and it was just breakfast. A breakfast that could be the difference between her being here for six months and being here forever.

With Tucker.

She closed her eyes, clenched her teeth, and said,
“Okay.”

“
Wonderful!” Chase grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, thank you.”

She held up one finger.
“It’s just breakfast. I’m not committing to anything.”

“
Of course, of course,” he said as he held the door open for her. He walked her to the street, where his town car was parked. She reached for the passenger side door, then noticed it was filled with bags.

“
Are you going somewhere?”

Chase reached for the back door handle.
“Yes, I have to catch a flight this afternoon.”

She watched him, a niggle of suspicion sprouting in
her gut as he guided her into the backseat. “And what’s the matter with your trunk?”

He grinned and shrugged.
“It’s… full.”

He shut the door and she watched as he shuffled around to the driver
’s side. He put the key in the ignition and started it up. Flynn reached for the door handle and pulled.

Nothing.

“Um,” she said as Chase pulled out into the street. “These back doors don’t open from the inside?”

Chase shot her a guilty look over his shoulder.
“Child safety feature.”

“
You don’t have kids.”

Chase shrugged and turned down Main Street.
“Nope.”

Should have listened to Tucker. Should have listened to Tucker. Should have listened to Tucker.
She had a brainstorm, and reached into her purse, riffling through it but coming up empty.

“
They’re right here,” Chase said, holding up her cell phone and her Mace key chain.

Stunned, Flynn looked back in her bag.
“How did you do that?”

“
I’m a thief and a liar,” he said. “I have skills.”

Skills,
she thought as she watched the lovely country pass by her window.
Uh-huh.

“
You gonna tell me where we’re going at least?” she asked finally.

He met her eyes in the rearview. For what it was worth, she could tell he was at least mildly conflicted.
“There are some men in this world who can be poor,
Flynn,” he said as they pulled onto the highway. “I don’t happen to be one of them.”

***

“Damnit,” Jake said and snapped his cell phone shut. Flynn wasn’t answering at home, and her cell was going to voice mail. He’d left a few messages, but didn’t tell her exactly what he was doing. He figured, after what he’d put her through the night before, it was the sort of
thing
better said in person. He leaned forward in the backseat of the Suburban and tapped Gerard Levy on the shoulder.

“
About how much longer before we get there?” he asked.

Gerard glanced at his watch.
“Forty minutes, maybe.”

“
And you’re sure they’re both there, right?”

“
We can’t be sure of anything. We activated the Lo-Jack on a car we think they might have stolen. I’ve got a good feeling about it, but who the hell knows?” Gerard eyed Jake suspiciously. “Look, Jake, I called you out of courtesy. My ass could very easily get burned for bringing you along.”

“
If it’s any comfort,” Jake said, “I’m a private detective now. It’s for an official case.”

Gerard huffed.
“Who’s the client?”

Jake shook his head.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Gerard chuckled.
“Okay, I know I’ve said this before, but I’m saying it again. SWAT goes first in case they’re armed, then once they’ve secured the place, I go in. When I give you the okay, you get fifteen minutes with them to get your information, and you’re gone like you were never there, you get me?”

Jake nodded, flipped his phone open again, and started to dial.

“I got you.”

He put the phone to his ear and sat back again.

Hi. You’ve reached Flynn Daly. I’m sorry I’m not here to take your call
—

“
Damnit,” Jake said, and snapped the cell phone shut.

***

Flynn blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim light in the small house. Chase’s shoulder was digging into her gut and she wished she’d eaten before she left just so she could boot all over his backside.

“
Bastard asshole,” she grunted, struggling against him again, but unfortunately, Chase was stronger than he looked. She had made his extracting her from the car a royal pain in the ass—she highly doubted he’d be having sex again in the near future—but in the end, he’d clocked her in the head and knocked her out, and by the time she woke up, she was over his shoulder, being hauled up a dirt path with nothing but trees and a downward view of Chase’s bastard ass to focus on.

She tried to look for some defining characteristics in the landscape, but didn
’t catch any. She knew they were somewhere in the Catskill Mountains, but they’d traveled on little side roads for so far that she’d completely lost her bearings. Even if she got away from Chase and got her cell phone—if she could get service way out here, which was unlikely—she wouldn’t know what to tell the police.

Or Tucker.

She closed her eyes and banished all thoughts of Tucker. If she thought of him, she’d get all emotional,
and she needed to maintain her pissed-offness if she was going to stand a chance against Chase.

They moved up a porch and Flynn heard the sound of a door opening.

“
Ooompth
!” she said as Chase tossed her down on the old wood floor. She started for the door, but Chase grabbed both of her arms and held her in place. She managed to get a good grunt out of him when she jabbed at
him
with the heel of her boot, but it wasn’t nearly as gratifying as the kick to the balls she’d delivered earlier.

Ah. Good times.

“Annabelle!” he called. “We’re here!”

“
Oh, you’re kidding me!” Flynn yelled. “You’re delivering me to Annabelle McCrazy?”

“
And then she gives me my McMoney, yes,” he said. “Sorry, Flynn. I like you and everything, but I don’t do poor.”

“
Where’s Jake?”

Chase whirled around, taking Flynn with him, and they both came face-to-face with Annabelle holding a gun on them.

“Crap on a cracker,” Flynn muttered.

“
Hey, Flynn!” she said, smiling brightly. “I’m so sorry about all this, but there just wasn’t any other way. I promise it’ll all be over soon, though, okay?”

Chase shoved Flynn down on the couch that sat between him and Annabelle, and pointed a finger at her.

“She’s crazy, but she’s a good shot. Don’t move.” He turned to Annabelle. “Where’s Rhonda?”

“
She’s in a car out back, waiting for you,” Annabelle said. “Where’s Jake?”

“
He didn’t make it,” Chase said. “Now give me my money.”

“
Oh, man,” Annabelle said. “I need Jake.”

“
Call him. Tell him you’ve got a gun on Flynn. He’ll be here in a shot.”

Annabelle thought on that for a moment, then shrugged.
“Yeah. I guess that’ll work, too.”

“
My money?” Chase said.

“
Rhonda has all the information.” Annabelle tossed him a set of keys. “You don’t take her, you don’t get your money. You know the drill.”

Chase gave her a look of pure loathing.
“You both are insane.”

Annabelle sm
iled at him, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Tick tock, Gordon. You’re losing interest as we speak.”

Chase muttered something under his breath, then turned and rushed out the door. Annabelle grinned and bounced over to sit on the other end of the couch from Flynn, the gun trained on her.

“Poor Rhonda,” Annabelle said. “It’s so sad, you know? And she could have done so much better. A nice haircut, a little lipstick, she really could have been something, you know?”

Something niggled at the back of Flynn
’s brain. “Could have been?”

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a tremendous boom came from outside, followed by a second, smaller explosion. Annabelle used one hand to pull back the curtains, then giggled.

“Oh, yay!” she said. “It worked!” She let the curtains fall back. “I got the plans off the Internet, and you just
never know how those things are going to go. Good
thin
g there’s nobody around for five miles or there’d be cops all over this place, and that’d be no good.” She nodded toward the window. “Wanna see?”

Flynn tucked one finger behind the curtain, her heart pounding in her chest. Outside she could see the dark outline of a car engulfed in flames at the far edge of the driveway.

“Holy shit,” she said, and pulled her shaking hand back from the curtain.

“
Cost of doing business,” Annabelle said, a sad look on her face. Then, suddenly, her expression brightened and she tapped Flynn on the knee with her free hand. “Hey, wanna make a phone call?”

***