Hardy Brothers Security: Deadly Proposal Part 27

"We're planning a visit down," Louis said. "In a few weeks, when things are settled, we'll head your way. We want to meet Emma as well. I guess we're going to have to meet this Jake, too."

"I always had a feeling about James and Mandy," Rose said, checking her meatb.a.l.l.s in the oven.

"You did not," Grady said.

"I did, too. He always had a way of looking out for her," Rose said. "He didn't have those kinds of feelings for her back then. I would have tanned his hide if he did. He was still drawn to her. I don't think he realized it. And her crush on him was downright adorable."

"Well, they're drawn to each other now," Grady said. "It's a little sickening sometimes."

Rose reached over, swatting Grady on the back of the neck with a wooden spoon. "You leave those two alone. I want a wedding, and they're my best shot right now."

"I don't think they're going to get married right away," Grady said. "James would tell me if he was considering something like that."

"A mother can dream," Rose said. "Speaking of dreaming, I pushed two of the beds together up in your old room. I'm not sure how comfortable you'll be."

Grady's eyes were gleaming when he glanced at Sophie. "We'll be fine."

"I oiled the bed springs, too," Louis said.

Grady choked on the swig of beer in his mouth. "What?"

"Oh, don't demean yourself that way, son," Louis said. "I've seen the girl, and I think like a man. I know exactly what you're going to be doing in that bedroom tonight."

"Dad," Grady hissed, inclining his head in Rose's direction. "Don't say stuff like that with Mom in the room."

"Don't be such a prude, Grady," Rose said. "I'm the one who told him to oil the springs. I'm just glad that our bedroom is at the opposite end of the house."

Sophie wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"So, what are you going to do tomorrow?" Rose asked. Sophie got the feeling she was trying to change the subject for her benefit.

"I'm going to the bank," Grady said. "I need to find out who wired that money."

"Well, the good news is that Anna Shepherd is an account manager there," Louis said. "She should be more than willing to help you."

"Who is Anna Shepherd?" Sophie was curious.

"She was Grady's prom date when he was a senior," Rose said. "Oh, don't worry, dear. She's put on a few pounds and popped out a few kids since then. She's no match for you."

"Oh," Sophie said, unsure how she should respond.

"It wouldn't matter anyway, sugar," Grady said, patting her hand. "I'll be too tired from tonight to even think about rekindling prom-night pa.s.sions."

Where was that hole when she really needed it?

Twenty-Five.

"I said no!"

James was standing next to the pool table, cue in hand, waiting for Jake to make a shot. It was Sat.u.r.day, and Jake had stopped by for an update, which had led to a few beers and a few games.

Ally had joined the party twenty minutes before, and she hadn't stopped irritating James since. He was at the end of his rope.

"It's right on the corner," Ally said. "It's literally like fifty feet away. What could possibly happen?"

"Ally, you're driving me crazy," James said. "We're close to getting somewhere on this case. Really close. Grady is up north right now. He's probably at the bank even as we speak. This is all going to be over soon."

"So, why can't we go over to the beauty parlor?" Ally pressed. "I want a manicure, and Mandy's hair looks like it hasn't been cut in months. Rats could be living in there for all we know."

Mandy ran a hand down her hair self-consciously.

"Baby, don't listen to her. You look beautiful," James said. "Ally, get out."

"No."

James pointed to the door with his cue. "Get. Out."

"Nu-uh," Ally said, contorting her face for emphasis.

James shook his head, moving around the table so he could line up a shot. Just as he drew back his elbow, Ally grabbed the stick so his shot was flubbed. James' face was furious when he straightened up. "Do you want me to kill you?"

"Just think, if we were at the beauty parlor, you would have made that shot," Ally said.

James glanced over at Jake for backup. "Tell her it's a bad idea. Maybe she'll listen to you."

"It's not really my place," Jake said. "Although, honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. We could walk them over there and then they can text us when they're done and we'll pick them up."

James sighed, glancing over at Mandy, who was sitting on the couch gnawing on her fingernails. She did look a little crazy. "What do you want?"

Mandy looked surprised by the question. "Are you really asking me?"

"I'm really asking you," James said. "You've been cooped up here for days, and you've only complained about it a hundred times. That must be some sort of new record."

"A haircut, maybe a pedicure, and a wax sounds good," Mandy said.

"Wax?" James wrinkled his nose, confused.

Mandy shifted uncomfortably. Ally leaned in, whispering something in James' ear, causing him to blush.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh," Ally said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Men, I swear."

James blew out a sigh. "Fine. But we're walking you down there, and you're not taking a step outside of that place until we pick you up. Deal?"

Ally squealed excitedly. "Yay!"

"Get your coats," James said, rolling his eyes in Jake's direction. "Women."

"Oh, we're going to need your credit card," Ally said, pausing at the door. "The wax is for you, after all."

James raised his eyebrows but nodded. "Of course you do."

GRADY hadn't been inside of Barker Creek's small community bank in almost eight years. It still looked exactly the same.

"This place is ... ." Sophie glanced around, her face expressionless.

"It's a blast from the past," Grady said. "There's no doubt. The modern world fights coming here."

"Wow. This town is stuck in a time loop or something."

"It's just small," Grady said, putting his hand at the small of her back as he searched the bank. His eyes fell on a blonde woman, one he vaguely recognized, in the small office to the right of the lobby. "There's Anna."

Sophie followed his gaze. "She was your prom date?"

"She looked different," Grady said. "She was a cheerleader."

"Of course she was."

"If I had to do it over again, I would troll for dates in newspaper office," Grady said, kissing her cheek. "I had no idea what a goldmine that place could be. Let's get this over with."

Grady knocked on the open door, waiting for Anna to look up. When she did, her face broke into a wide smile. "Oh my gawd! Grady Hardy!"

Grady accepted her exuberant hug, even though he was uncomfortable when she crushed her ample bosom into his chest. "You look great, Anna."

"I just had a baby," she said. "I'm still trying to shed the baby weight."

"That's got to be tough," Sophie said, trying to ignore the way Anna was pawing at her boyfriend. "How old is the baby?"

"He's four."

"Oh."

Grady exchanged a small smile with Sophie, closing the office door behind them before settling into one of the two open chairs.

"I can't believe you're back in town," Anna said. "How long has it been?"

"I come back from time to time," Grady replied. "I haven't lived here since graduation, though."

"Yeah, all of you Hardys picked up and left town the minute you graduated," Anna said. "How is Ally?"

"She's still causing trouble."

"And your brothers?"

"They're still causing trouble, too."

"Well, that's good."

The room lapsed into silence.

"So, what can I do for you?" Anna asked, finally breaking the silence. "Are you looking for a mortgage? Maybe moving back to the area with your ... wife?" She searched Sophie's hand for a ring.

Grady's smile was easy and relaxed. "Girlfriend," he corrected. "This is Sophie."

"It's nice to meet you," Anna said. "Grady and I used to date."

"I heard," Sophie said, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. The woman was married with a kid, and yet she was still trying to mark her territory from almost a decade before.

"So, are you looking for a mortgage?"

"Actually, I need some information," Grady said. He launched into a story, one that was mostly true, glossing over a few unnecessary details, and then waited for Anna to respond.

"Wait, Amanda Avery is with James? Your brother, James?"

"Um, yeah," Grady said. "They live together."

"No way."

"Yes, way."

Anna's face was flushed with disbelief. "Amanda Avery? The mousy blonde who used to wear hoodies that were too big for her and walk around with that sketchpad all the time?"

"She looks a little different now," Grady said. "There's nothing mousy about her."

"And they're really together?"

Sophie didn't like the woman's att.i.tude. She was clearly still stuck in high school, and Sophie hated women like that. The way she was looking Grady up and down like a porterhouse steak was also adding to her overt dislike.

"They're together," Grady said. "About the account ... ."

"That's really against the rules," Anna said, biting her lower lip.

"I would consider it a personal favor."

Anna glanced around, like she was worried someone was eavesdropping. Finally, she shrugged. "Okay. Let me see what I can find."

MANDY and Ally were sitting in side-by-side chairs, their feet soaking in hot basins of water, as they gossiped. They'd gone for the waxes first, just to get them out of the way, and now they were relaxing.

"Have you seen his eyes? I just love them," Ally said.