Deadly Christmas (15 page)

“You’re both the reason I never want to get old,” Maverick shot back.

“I’m ready for my Christmas break,” James groaned, slumping on the couch.

“Hey, at least you have an end in sight,” Finn said. “I have one day to make sure Emma has the best Christmas of her life.”

“Don’t worry about it,” James said. “Something tells me that Mandy is going to help you get the job done.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so,” James said. “My wife can do anything she sets her mind to. And shopping? She could do that in her sleep.”

“Do you think she’ll wear underwear while she’s shopping?” Maverick asked.

“That’s it, I’m going to kill him.”

“Try not to leave blood on the rug,” Finn said.

“Okay, we’re going to tackle this in an orderly fashion,” Mandy instructed, relishing the power she wielded as Jake and Finn dejectedly followed her into the mall. “We’re hitting the main floor first and then circling around the second floor.

“There will be no wandering off,” Mandy ordered. “There will be no shopping for yourselves. We are here to make Emma and Ally’s Christmas dreams come true. Keep your eyes on the prize.”

“You’re like a tiny, little drill sergeant,” Jake grumbled.

“I think she’s more like a horrible coach from one of those sports movies who barks out orders and kills the spirit of his team until they find a way to thrive without him,” Finn said.

“Do you want my help or not?”

“We want your help,” Finn said, resigned.

“Good. Let’s head to Macy’s first.”

Jake looked horrified at the suggestion. “But … .”

“Come on, boys,” Mandy ordered. “I have an idea for both of you in there.”

Jake and Finn reluctantly followed, keeping close to Mandy in case trouble found her – like it always did.

“Why are we in the home section?” Jake asked, looking around. “I don’t think Ally would appreciate it if I bought her a set of pots and pans.”

“Every single time I think you don’t have a sense of humor you prove me wrong,” Mandy said.

“I’m being serious. What are we doing here?”

“This way,” Mandy said, beckoning. She led the uncomfortable men to the bedding department and immediately headed toward the far wall. She studied a few of the stacked sheet sets, double-checking sizes, and then tossed a purple set toward Finn and a black set toward Jake. “Those are satin sheets. They are both practical and sexy. When you’re planning a romantic evening, those things are very shiny and make a woman feel like she’s about to win the lottery.”

Jake studied the sheets for a moment, surprised. “I … these are kind of cool. What made you think of these?”

“Ally has always wanted a set of satin sheets,” Mandy replied. “When we were teenagers, she told me a specific fantasy about black satin sheets. Those are going to be a hit.”

“What about Emma?” Finn didn’t look convinced.

“Satin sheets are a luxury and they seem … decadent,” Mandy explained. “I’m sure Emma never had anything like them. I promise she’s going to love them. I picked the purple for her because they’re going to match the paint in your bedroom.”

“Okay,” Finn said, shoving the sheets under his arm. “You might have convinced me. What else have you got?”

Mandy led the two men around the corner and stopped in the middle of the decorations department. She studied a handful of baskets and grabbed two, both large, before handing one to Jake and the other to Finn.

“What are these for?”

“You’re building love baskets, gentlemen,” Mandy explained. “You’re going to put the sheets, some Victoria’s Secret lotion, a few candles and … um … a few other things that we need to stop into Spencer Gifts to get.”

“Oh, man, you’re going to make us get sex stuff, aren’t you?” Finn was horrified. “James is not going to like it if you go sex shopping with us.”

“Buying a few warming massage oils and flavored whipped creams is not sex shopping,” Mandy shot back. “Get your mind out of the gutter. You’re going, and you’re going to like it.”

“This could be the worst day of my life,” Jake said.

“If you don’t keep up, it’s going to get even worse,” Mandy threatened.

“Do you think she’s that bossy with James?” Jake asked, falling into step beside Finn.

“I think she’s probably just bossy enough to drive him crazy … in more ways than one,” Finn replied. “It’s going to be a really long day, isn’t it?”

“Come on!”

“I AM
mortified to be in here,” Jake admitted, lowering his eyes so the woman staring at him from the other side of the whipped cream display didn’t get any ideas.

“You’ll live,” Mandy replied, scanning the massage oil shelf. Spencer Gifts was their last stop. She thought Finn and Jake were acting like babies in Victoria’s Secret as they picked out lingerie. They were ten times worse in Spencer Gifts. It was starting to get annoying. “Okay, Emma can’t have anything fruit flavored because it makes her sick to her stomach. She loves chocolate, though.” Mandy handed Finn a canister of the chocolate flavored whipped cream and then added a matching massage oil bottle to his basket.

“Ally loves coconut,” Mandy said, tossing two items in Jake’s direction. “I want … what do I want?”

“Since when are we shopping for you?” Finn asked, annoyed.

“Since I spent the entire afternoon saving your Christmas,” Mandy said, grabbing a canister of red velvet cake whipped cream. “Please tell me they have this in a massage oil. James loves red velvet cake.”

Finn exchanged an irritated look with Jake. They were both thinking the same thing: Mandy had officially gone power mad.

“Hey,” Jake said, shifting his gaze to the front of the store. “Isn’t that … what’s his name … the dude who owns the jewelry store,” he said. “That’s his son, isn’t it?”

“You mean Art the Happy Groper?” Mandy asked, peering around Jake’s shoulder.

“He didn’t grope anyone,” Jake argued.

“He wanted to grab Ally’s melons and give them a good squeeze.”

“Do not make me gag you,” Jake warned, causing Mandy to grin.

“That guy right there?” Mandy asked, pointing.

Finn nodded. “That’s him. That’s … um … Ryan. Ryan Carmichael.”

“And he runs the Detroit store?” Mandy pressed. “Given Art and Ava’s general disdain for the area, how did that happen?”

“That’s actually a good question,” Jake said.

“All of my questions are good.”

Finn snorted. “James once told me that you asked if any sharks could live in chlorinated water so you could put one in your pool.”

Mandy wrinkled her nose, irked. “That was something I asked him when we were drunk in the hot tub one night. I wasn’t serious.”

“I’m sure you weren’t,” Finn said, patting the top of her head. “What is he doing?”

Ryan perused the flavored condom packages with a studied eye, oblivious to anyone watching him.

“Maybe he’s got a big date,” Mandy suggested. “He looks like the kind of guy who pays for it. Maybe he needs those condoms so he doesn’t get a disease. Herpes is not a gift you want to get during the Christmas season.”

The trio watched as Ryan carried his assembled goodies to the checkout counter, whipping a huge wad of cash out of his pocket to pay for the items.

“Does a manager at a jewelry store usually carry that much cash?” Mandy asked.

“I would say no,” Jake said. “Even if you had that much money, why would you carry it around in a wad like that?”

“Maybe it’s the money that was stolen from the customers’ purses and wallets in the store,” Mandy suggested. “It looks like a hodgepodge of bills. I’ve never seen that guy before. He wasn’t in the store the day of the robbery.”

Jake narrowed his eyes, his gaze bouncing between Mandy and Ryan. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I would recognize him.”

“Does he have the same build as the robber?”

Mandy tilted her head to the side, considering. “Yeah. I mean … I can’t be a hundred percent sure he’s the guilty party, but it definitely could be him.”

“We have no proof,” Finn cautioned.

“Let’s see if we can find some,” Jake suggested. “Come on. Does everyone have what they need?”

“I just need to grab one more thing of massage oil,” Mandy said, darting back around Jake. “James is going to have a lot of rubbing in his future.”

“You two are so sick I can’t even … there are no words,” Finn said.

“Hey, we’re going to have a holly jolly Christmas whether you prudes like it or not.”

“YOUR
wife is officially a monster,” Finn said, letting himself into James’ home office and studying the mountain of gifts on his desk. They were all wrapped, and James was leaning back in his chair resting from his afternoon exertion. “Seriously?”

“Yeah … I might have a sickness,” James admitted.

Finn arched a challenging eyebrow. “Might?”

“She’s just so cute,” James said. “Did you buy anything I need to wrap for her?”

Finn scowled. “No. She was on point and barking out orders like a militant little drill sergeant. It was terrifying.”

James smirked. “Did she help you get everything you needed?”

“I hate to admit it because she made me go to embarrassing places to buy … stuff … but she had some great ideas,” Finn conceded. “She started with satin sheets and ended with flavored massage oils and whipped cream. She got some for the two of you, by the way. It’s red velvet flavored.”

James leaned forward. “Yum.”

“You’re as sick as she is,” Finn said.

“Speaking of sick, um … I’m not sure if I should tell you this or not, but I found it funny so I’m taking a leap of faith here,” James said, flipping his laptop screen up. “Come over here.”

“You’re not going to show me some nasty sexual thing with Mandy, are you?”

“No, you gross bastard,” James snapped. “I got an alert on my computer from the office about an hour ago. Since it was empty, I was worried someone broke in. Apparently the person wandering around didn’t realize we have cameras everywhere.”

Finn stilled. “Emma?”

“Yes,” James said.

“She wouldn’t steal anything,” Finn said, immediately making excuses. “She wouldn’t get into the files or anything.”

James held his hand up to quiet his brother. “I’m not accusing her of that,” he said. “While I’m not a hundred percent sure what she was looking for, I do have an idea. Do you want to see?”

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because it’s kind of funny,” James said. “Come watch.”

Finn warily walked behind the desk and James played the video in question. The footage clearly showed Emma walking into James’ office. She was rubbing her stomach and looking around – including getting on the floor and searching under the couch.

“What do you think, baby? Did Daddy hide my presents in here?”

“Holy crap,” Finn said. “She’s trying to figure out what I got her for Christmas.”

“It gets cuter … and a little sadder,” James said.

Finn kept his eyes glued to the computer screen.

“I know this is wrong, baby,” Emma said. “I’m not trying to teach you that this is the right thing to do. I need to make sure that I have enough presents for Daddy for Christmas.”

“Oh, man.”

“Wait,” James instructed.

“This is our only Christmas with just the two of us,” Emma said, pulling James’ chair away from his desk. “I need to build enough memories to last a lifetime here. Once you join us, things will be different.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’re going to have a great time with you,” she continued. “I just … I need him to know how much I love him. So, the lesson here is that snooping is wrong – unless you really need to know something. Then it’s okay.”

James switched the computer off. “She didn’t find anything.”

“That’s because everything I bought her is out in the truck,” Finn said. “Ally said she would wrap it for me so I can pick it up Christmas Eve. I … what should I do?”

“I don’t think you need to do anything,” James said. “I just thought you should know she’s as desperate to make this the perfect Christmas for you as you are for her. In the end, it’s not about the presents. It’s about … your hearts.”

“That’s pretty interesting coming from the guy who is literally sitting behind a mountain of presents.”

James rubbed the back of his neck. “This really is sick.”

“You could always put some of it away and give it to her for Valentine’s Day,” Finn suggested.

“Screw that,” James said. “I’m spoiling my baby on Christmas and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“You two are even starting to sound alike,” Finn said. “It’s creepy.”

James shrugged. “I can live with that.”

“What are you doing?” Mandy asked, popping into James’ office and scanning the room.

It was Friday afternoon, and after spending the morning in bed, the duo finally welcomed the first day of their Christmas break with a nice breakfast and some heavy groping on the couch. After two hours of doing nothing but each other, they agreed to separate so James could get some work done and Mandy could … do whatever she was trying to do now.

“What are you doing, wife?” James asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

“I missed you and wanted to see what you were doing.”

James rolled his eyes. “You just saw me an hour ago downstairs,” he reminded her. “In fact, you saw a heck of a lot of me because I was naked and on top of you.”

“Maybe I missed that,” Mandy suggested.

“Maybe you’re snooping,” James countered. “Your gifts are already wrapped and locked in that safe.”

“How did you manage to get my gifts wrapped without me noticing?”

James could tell Mandy was annoyed because he managed to outsmart her. “While you were out shopping Jake and Finn into comas, I was here wrapping … a fricking lot … of Christmas presents.”

“Is my big one here?”

“No,” James said. “I’m not getting it from the office until Christmas Eve. You’re fresh out of luck, honey.”

Mandy jutted her lower lip out. “Can I just see the wrapped presents?”

“Absolutely not.”

“How about you let me open one early?”

“No.” James loved how desperate Mandy looked. She was adorable.

“Puh-leez?”

James was on the verge of giving in when his phone dinged with an incoming text. “I have to take this, baby.”

“Saved by the bell,” Mandy grumbled.

“I’m sorry,” James said. “Finn ran a background check on Ryan Carmichael when he got back to the office last night. We want to be sure that he’s not responsible for the attempted robbery on the store.

“If he is the guilty party, no amount of security is going to be able to stop him because he has keys to everything,” he continued. “If he isn’t the guilty party … well … we can take him off the list.”

“I’m not saying he’s guilty,” Mandy said. “I just think it’s weird someone would carry cash like that around.”

“And that’s why we’re running a background check on him.”

“What happens if you find something?”

James pursed his lips. “Then I guess Art and I have an uncomfortable conversation in our future,” he said. “I can’t lie to him. He’s my client.”

“Can you smack his wife for me next time you’re there?”

James grinned. “I love you, wife.”

“Handle your work, because once today is done with, I want your undivided attention,” Mandy said, shuffling toward the door. “That means no clothes, constant takeout, and new and interesting massage oils are in your future.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I am going out to my studio to wrap all of your gifts,” Mandy replied. “Ally was supposed to help me because … well … I’m horrible at it … but I’ve decided that it doesn’t matter. You probably love me enough to put up with my horrible wrapping skills.”

“I love you enough for anything,” James said. “How long do you need?”

“Is that your way of asking how many gifts I have to wrap for you?”

“It wasn’t, but it is now,” James said.

“Um … I’m going to need at least an hour,” Mandy said. “Before your head gets too big, though, I don’t need that time because I bought you so many presents. I need that time because I’m inept.”

“You are literally my favorite person in the world,” James said. “Do you know that?”

Mandy winked as she slid through the door. “Right back at you.”

“I’m coming out to that guesthouse in exactly one hour,” James warned. “Be ready … and be naked.”

“You say the sweetest things!”

FINN’S
background check on Ryan Carmichael brought up more questions than answers, causing James and Finn to chat over Skype as they studied the report.

“He’s got a record that – while not serious – should be enough to knock him out of the running to be a jewelry store manager,” Finn said. “Drunk driving and shoplifting aren’t big in the grand scheme of things, but they’re usually nonstarters in this line of work because of the amounts of money involved.”

“Art is in charge, though,” James pointed out. “There are no state or federal laws that say a jewelry store manager’s record has to be clean. Art clearly knows about it. It’s his son, though. What are you going to do?”

“I think this is the answer to the obvious question, though,” Finn said.

“Which is?”

“How did Ryan get stuck in the Detroit area when Art and Ava clearly hate it?”

“I never thought about that,” James said, rubbing his chin as he glanced out of his office window. He could see directly into Mandy’s studio, and while he wasn’t sure what she was wrapping, the way she was staring down the wrapping paper was almost comical. “I don’t think Ryan was at the party the other night.”

“That would seem odd to me,” Finn said. “That’s his father and stepmother.”

“Ava is pretty far from his stepmother,” James argued. “From Ava’s point of view, Ryan is probably stopping her from inheriting everything once Art dies.”

“And from Ryan’s point of view, Ava is probably an interloper,” Finn said. “If I had to guess, I would say odds are that they hate each other. The question is: Why would Ryan steal from his own father’s store?”

“Maybe he needs money,” James suggested.

“We only did a cursory background check,” Finn conceded. “I’ll set up the computer to do an intensive search. It could take a full day, though, which is going to get us close to Christmas.”

“Run it,” James instructed. “We don’t necessarily have to do anything about it until after Christmas. I’m not uprooting my Christmas to take Ryan in – even if I think he’s guilty. He’s not smart enough to be able to disappear.”

“Okay,” Finn said.

“Did you talk to Emma?”

“I pretended I didn’t know,” Finn replied. “She doesn’t need to be embarrassed.”

“I agree,” James said. “I didn’t tell anyone but you.”

“Does that include Mandy?”

“Mandy wouldn’t say anything when it comes to something like this, but I didn’t see any reason to tell her,” James explained. “It doesn’t affect our marriage or lives. This is your thing.”

“Thank you.”

“Just try to concentrate on having a good Christmas,” James said. “You can’t force the perfect Christmas, but I’m betting if you’re willing to take a breath and let Christmas come to you, you can slide into one.”

“You’re a good brother,” Finn said. “I’m not sure I tell you often enough.”

“You’re a good brother, too,” James replied.

The Hardys eyed each other sheepishly.

“I love you, man,” Finn barked out, taking on a mocking tone.

“I love you, too,” James called back, smirking. His attention shifted to the monitor on his office wall – and the unexpected vehicle pulling into the driveway. “On that note … I have to go. Someone is here.”

“Is it a delivery man bringing Mandy a new pile of stuff?”

“I have no idea who it is,” James said. “Run the search and see what you come up with. I’ll be in touch later.”

“You got it.”

JAMES
hopped down the stairs, landing on the hardwood floor of the front hallway as he moved toward the door. No one had knocked yet, but it was coming.

As if on cue, a hand tentatively banged against the door three times.

James was stunned to find Ryan Carmichael standing on the other side. “I … what are you doing here?”

Ryan was white on a normal day. For some reason, he looked downright invisible against the snowy backdrop today. “Can we talk?”

James pursed his lips. He had no idea how Ryan discovered they were investigating him, but this actually might be a good thing. If he could talk Ryan into admitting the truth to his father, they might be able to wrap this up before Christmas – and that was something that would benefit everyone.

“Sure,” James said, motioning toward the stairs. “My office is on the second floor. I think it would be better if we talked in private.”

Ryan nodded, ascending the steps first when James inclined his head by way of instruction. Ryan didn’t appear dangerous, but James knew better than turning his back on an enemy – any enemy.

James directed Ryan to his office, frowning as the man glanced into the bedroom he shared with Mandy.

“That’s nice,” Ryan murmured. “Is your wife here?”

“She’s not in the main house,” James replied. “You don’t have to worry about her overhearing us.”

“What does that mean?” Ryan asked. “Is there more than one house on this property?”

“There’s a guesthouse out back,” James said. “My wife is out there wrapping presents. Apparently it’s going to take her all day.” He moved to his chair and sat down, giving himself the power position as he gestured to one of the smaller chairs on the other side of the desk. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

Ryan opted to pace instead. James could practically feel the nervous energy rolling off of him.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Why did you run a background check on me?” Ryan asked.

James jolted at the question, stunned. “How did you know that?”

“I paid money to have a trap and trace set up on my name,” Ryan replied, his expression serious. “If anyone runs my background I know about it. Someone in your office ran me last night.”

“We did,” James replied, debating how to proceed. Somehow Ryan had managed to wrestle the power position from him. “We’re running an even more intensive search today. We’ve had some debate about your … status … in the store.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“My understanding is that you weren’t there the day of the robbery,” James said. “Then you were seen yesterday with a huge wad of cash. While none of the store’s inventory was taken, the robber did manage to relieve all but two of the customers of their cash and jewelry.”

“There’s no need to play coy,” Ryan said. “I know your sister and wife were the two women in the store who tasered … the robber … and caused him to flee.”

James narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re the robber, Ryan,” he said. “I want to know why, though.”

“How can you possibly think I would rob my own father?” Ryan was all wide-eyed innocence now.

“You’re a decent actor, but I don’t believe you,” James said. “You’re gutsy to come here knowing that we ran a check on you. Most other people would have taken advantage of the Christmas holiday and ran.”

“I … I’m innocent.” Ryan wasn’t done pleading his case yet.

“I don’t believe you,” James said. He pushed himself up from his chair and leaned forward. “Because it’s the holidays – and only because of that – I’m willing to let you tell your father the truth. After twenty-four hours, though, I’ll be the one explaining things to him.”

“What if I give you money?” Ryan offered, changing tactics.

“I can’t be bought.”

“Everyone can be bought.”

“I can’t,” James countered. “I don’t need your money. I have money of my own.”

“I guess I should have seen that coming given this house,” Ryan said. “I guess I don’t have any other options, do I?”

“Not really,” James replied. “I … ugh.” James jumped back, completely taken by surprise as Ryan whipped out a small, handheld device and pressed it to his arm. James knew what it was even as his brain jolted.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Ryan snarled as James lost his footing and tumbled to the ground behind his desk. “Now you know how bad it feels to be tasered. I’m going to make that bitch out back know, too.”

James couldn’t make his mouth work. His tongue was tied, and he was desperate for Ryan to realize Mandy wasn’t the one who tasered him. His mind was jumbled, though, and his body refused to work correctly.

“Now, Mr. Hardy, I’m not going to kill you,” Ryan said. “Mostly because I think more than one person knows your suspicions and I don’t want to become a murderer and incite a nationwide manhunt.

“I’m going to leave you here to ponder the stupidity of what you did, though,” Ryan said. “While you’re doing that, I’m going to go and collect your wife. I’m really looking forward to spending some time with her.”

James reached for Ryan, but he was so slow the other man had no problem dodging him despite his lack of athleticism.

“I can’t wait to explain the basics of an electrical current shooting through her body when I stick her,” Ryan said. “I know you’re going to be angry, and it’s going to take you a few hours to gather yourself, but after that I’m going to expect you to put all of your money together so you can trade it for your wife.

“I’ll call you tomorrow morning,” he continued. “I promise not to kill your wife. Unfortunately, after what she did to me, I can’t promise not to … play with her.”