In the Worst Way (Mercy Watts Mysteries Book 5) (16 page)

Thwack.

I took a branch to the chest, tumbling off Sly’s back and landing in a mess of muddy leaves. Sly whinnied as he cantered away down the hill. His haunches weren’t down. He was under control. Out of the Frying Pan. Not such a weird name after all.
 

“You did that on purpose!”
 

Sly stopped about a hundred yards away, took a huge dump, whinnied, and took off.
 

“Well, that’s just great.” I’d lost a flip-flop. My rear felt like I’d landed on concrete and my horse was smarter than me. Not surprising but still. I hobbled through the woods, cursing his name and hoping he got bloat.
 

After walking for a half hour, I came to a clearing with seven batting cages and four full-sized baseball fields. The one closest to me had a game in full swing, but Jamie needn’t have worried about the cheering. There was none. Not a chirp from the stands. I went over to watch from beside bleachers at first base. There were parents sitting there. Two guys. One did appear to have eaten a watermelon. On the other bleachers were Cherie and Anthony, the pair I’d seen in the gas station. They were the Lions and their pitcher, Taylor, was on the mound. He struck out the batter, but there was nothing than a polite hand tapping. The teams switched places and Oliver put his arm around Taylor’s shoulders, giving him some cheerful feedback. The dark-haired boy nodded and worked his glove before running into the dugout.
 

Oliver spotted me and came around the chain-link fence. He was smiling, but then he became truly amused. “Went for a ride?”
 

“You could say that,” I said with dignity.
 

“Sly Dog?”
 

“How’d you guess?”
 

“This isn’t my first time.”
 

“That horse is a menace,” I said.
 

“Usually they give him to experienced riders,” said Oliver.
 

I crossed my arms. “I am an experienced rider.”
 

He bit back a laugh. “Sorry. Um…what else have you been doing?”
 

“Spa stuff. Why?”
 

“You’re really shiny.”
 

My arms were reflective. “They put some stuff on me.”
 

“It’s like you’ve been lacquered,” said Oliver.
 

“They did put it on with a paintbrush.”
 

“Nice.
 

“Not really,” I said. “I have to tell you this is the quietest baseball game I’ve ever seen.”
 

Oliver frowned at the boys taking the field. “I know. It’s been like this all day. I’m hoping it’s the drive down that’s worn everyone out.”
 

“Does this normally happen?”

“No. Never. They’re usually wired with excitement.”
 

“The parents aren’t exactly bundles of joy then.”
 

“They should be. Everyone’s playing well.” He nodded at the new pitcher on the mound. “Enrique’s on. Nothing but strikes.”
 

“He’s the front runner?”
 

Oliver nodded. “The kid’s got it.”
 

We watched Enrique throw three strikes in quick succession and Oliver whistled softly. “Beautiful. Fucking beautiful. Have you seen Parker? He went to the bathroom and hasn’t come back yet.”
 

“What’s he look like?” I asked.
 

“Six foot, messy blond hair. He usually sticks close to his brother, Enrique.”
 

“Oh yeah. I remember him from when the Grizzlies arrived. Sorry. Haven’t seen him.”
 

Oliver glanced around and blew out a breath. “That kid is always disappearing. I’ve got to go. See you later.”
 

I nodded and he yelled to the teams that it was the last inning before dinner. The parents and kids took it like they took all the strikes and triples. In silence. Really weird.
 

A blowing noise made me turn around and I saw Sly Dog walk out of the woods. He nickered at me all friendly. Yeah, right.
 

“Forget it, dirtbag. I’ve got feet and I’m gonna use them.” I went up the trail to the castle and Sly followed, occasionally making nice noises. He probably hoped I wouldn’t tell on him. I didn’t have to. Jamie took one look and apologized to me before taking Sly into the stables, telling him he wasn’t getting the good oats.
 

I walked back up to the castle, trying to ignore the phone vibrating like crazy in my pocket, but I saw the cousins, all four of them, searching the gardens for me and I answered just to delay the inevitable. It so wasn’t worth it.
 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” yelled Dad.
 

“Walking. Why?”
 

“Where’s Tiny?”

I ducked behind a tree when the cousins turned my way. “In the garden. I’m fifty feet away. I thought I didn’t have a babysitter this weekend.”
 

“You don’t,” said Dad.
 

“Puhlease. Aaron and Tiny are here for one reason: to watch me and I don’t get it.”
 

“Get what?” Dad’s voice got all cagey.
 

“You know a million guys who kick butt,” I said. “Why not them?

“Aaron has saved your bacon more than once.”
 

I peeked around the tree and Sorcha spotted me. Dammit. I stepped out and waved like I hadn’t been hiding and asked Dad, “What about Tiny? Are you trying to kill him off or what?”
 

There was a pause and I could hear Dad tapping his blotter with a pen.
 

“Dad?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Tiny. He’s family and he’s got a good mind. Get him in shape to work,” he said.
 

“Me?”
 

“You’re a nurse.”
 

“He doesn’t need wound care.”
 

“Then you’re not looking close enough. Get out of your head.”

Tiny jogged up and bent over with his hands on his knees. “Where you been?”
 

I held up the phone and covered the microphone with my thumb. “Talking to Dad.”
 

“He knows I lost you,” he wheezed, getting redder.
 

“I know. Thanks for that,” I said, turning my attention back to the phone. “I’ll look into that, Dad. How’s Lester?”
 

“Circling the drain.”
 

My body went cold. Lester. Poor old Lester. This could be my fault. If The Klinefeld Group found out I was investigating them…

“Can I come home?” I asked.
 

“Hell, no. We’re at a critical juncture,” said Dad.
 

“Yeah, Lester’s dying.”
 

Tiny’s head jerked up and I wiped away a tear.
 

“Mercy, my girl, there’s nothing you can do. Nothing. His family is with him and he’s not even conscious. The Feds are going to make a move on the Costillas in the next couple of days. I want you well out of the way.”

“But…”

“But nothing. You’re staying with John and Leslie. They know what to do,” said Dad.
 

“How do they know?” I asked.
 

“Enough. Now go have dinner and get your feet buffed.”
 

I groaned. “I already did.”
 

“Find something to occupy yourself.”
 

“I will, but you probably won’t like it.”
 

“Mercy!”
 

I hung up on him. It felt great, but Tiny froze in fear. I looked him over. He seemed fine to me. What wound was I supposed to fix?

“Did you just hang up on your dad?” he asked.
 

“Had to be done.”

“You’re gonna get me fired, girl.”

I took his arm. “Never. You’re fine.”
 

The Troublesome Trio walked up, glaring at me.
 

“Where did you go?” asked Sorcha.
 

“Where’s your shoe?” asked Bridget.
 

“There’s blood on your shirt,” said Jilly.
 

I’ll be damned. There was blood on my shirt. Sly Dog really nailed me with that branch. “I took a horseback ride. I needed to think.”
 

“About people killing you?” asked Bridget.

“I’m trying not to think about that,” I said.
 

Jilly hooked her arm through my free one. “Yes. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about Chuck. You still haven’t told me how he kisses.”
 

Somebody shoot me. Anybody. Calling all Costillas.
 

“It’s twenty minutes until dinner,” said Sorcha. “And they’re doing gourmet s’mores by the fire pit after. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about Chuck and the wedding.”
 

Tiny laughed and I began to understand the builder of Cairngorms Castle. Tossing myself off the parapet was starting to sound like a viable option.
 

Chapter Nine

“CAN’T I JUST have a salad?” I asked Leslie as he seated us in the grand dining room.
 

Leslie smiled, pulling out all the charm in his beautifully tailored navy suit. He was so elegant and stylish, you couldn’t stop staring at him. “What do you think?”
 

“Yes,” I said, hopefully.
 

“No. I have my orders.”
 

“What about me?” asked Tiny.
 

“Aaron has prepared a special menu just for you,” said Leslie.
 

“Can I have that?” I asked. Tiny’s food was bound to be lettuce heavy.
 

“No,” said Leslie. “Your menu is Northern Italian.”
 

“So lots of rice and cheese.”
 

“Correct.” Leslie turned as the MVP Grizzly parents came in, dressed like they were attending a business lunch. “Excuse me.”
 

Leslie sat them near us and Robin applied a thick coat of lip gloss and immediately started texting, getting her many disapproving looks.
 

Her husband, Tim, who did look like he swallowed a watermelon, reached over and pushed down the phone. “Stop worrying. Parker’s fine.”
 

“Enrique doesn’t know where he is. Why doesn’t he answer?”
 

Tim hid a smile, telling me he knew where his son was, but wasn’t telling the mom. Good dad. “He’s having fun. Lighten up.” He raised his glass and they toasted each other and the team. “To everything working out the way it’s meant to.”

Then Nicole and the rest of the Vipers came in. Nicole wore a jersey wrap dress, but her hair hadn’t changed a bit. It was pretty in a helmet kind of way. Maybe she used Aqua Net. That’s what my mom used to achieve her enormous hair in high school. She kept a bottle in her bathroom for the sake of nostalgia. I tried it out once and my hair looked like yellow wire.
 

Nicole and Cory nodded to me as they walked by and sat at a table close by. Leslie left the dining room and waiters filed in, carrying trays with thick wooden bowls filled with salad. Yes!
 

“Is this balsamic dressing?” asked Sorcha.
 

“Yes, ma’am,” said Shane, our waiter.
 

“I love balsamic,” said Jilly.
 

Apparently, everyone else did, too. The Grizzlies and the Vipers smiled and the chatter increased for a few minutes until the Lions came in. It was just Cherie and Anthony, hardly an intimidating pair, but they stopped everyone cold. Unlike everyone else, Cherie and Anthony hadn’t changed for the upscale dining room and remained in their travel clothes. Anthony straightened his shirt as glanced at the jackets and ties. Cherie’s face became defiant, but she hesitated when she saw Nicole and Cory of the Vipers staring at her with malice. Cory rubbed rubbed his crew cut and grimaced before finally looking away. Nicole never took her eyes off Cherie. She dug her nails into the tablecloth so hard that one of her jewels popped off and pinged against her husband’s wineglass.

Cherie lifted her chin, took a breath and then smiled smugly at the Grizzlies. The dining room got very quiet. The Grizzlies cast puzzled glances at Cherie and the Vipers were visibly pissed, except for Bill. He took off his Cardinal’s cap and said loudly, “I heard that people get lost in the castle, but I haven’t yet. What about you all?”

Robin brightened up at the distraction and leaned toward the Viper table. “Deanna keeps ending up in the distillery.”
 

Tim snorted into his beer and patted his round belly. Robin elbowed him and shook her head, making her diamonds shimmer in the light as they bounced off her jaw.