Hardy Brothers Security: Deadly Proposal Part 16

James pressed his lips together. "What if I call up there and get clearance?"

"That's not an option, sir."

"So, what are my options?" James asked.

"You can stay down here and behave yourself, or you can sit in the security office in handcuffs," the guard sneered. "It's your choice."

James couldn't help but wonder if wiping the sneer off the guard's face with a fist would be worth an arrest. He didn't get a chance to consider it further, because a familiar face was cutting through the crowd.

"He can go up, Chet," Clint said, stepping between the two men. "He's Mandy Avery's boyfriend."

Chet looked James up and down dubiously. "This is the guy who shot out the front door?"

"He is," Clint said. "He's also the guy who found me in time for the paramedics to get to me before I died."

Chet's scowl faded. "Well ... ."

"He's also the guy who was in the parking lot when Mandy almost died," Clint said. "This is her first day back. She's had a hard recovery. I think he's just worried."

Chet sighed. "He's not allowed up there. I was told not to let anyone up there unsupervised."

"Then I'll go with him," Clint said. "I'll be his chaperone."

James didn't like the term, but he wasn't about to argue. If Clint could get him to Mandy, he was willing to let him be whatever he wanted to be.

Chet blew out a sigh. "Fine. If there's any fallout from this, though, it's on you."

"Okay," Clint said, pressing the elevator b.u.t.ton and waiting. "I'll make sure the judge is aware that I'm the one who made the decision."

Once James and Clint were in the elevator heading toward the sixth floor, James let his shoulders relax. "Thanks."

"I know you're upset," Clint said. "I would be, too. It's scary how much trouble she finds herself in."

James frowned, Clint's words striking a chord. "She does find trouble."

"Don't you ever worry that she's not worth it?" Clint asked. "I mean, I would always think she was worth it. A guy like you, though, you could have anyone. Don't you want someone who isn't so much work?"

James ran a hand through his hair, irritation flaring. "I'm fairly happy with her," he replied, reminding himself that Clint was helping him. "She may be work, but she's worth the work."

Clint sighed, the sound heavy and sad. "You two are going to be together forever, aren't you?"

"I certainly hope so," James said, keeping his voice firm. "I can't imagine living life without her."

"But you could have anyone," Clint tried again.

James knew the security guard had been harboring a crush on his magnificent blonde since before he entered the picture, but his words grated. It was obvious Clint was trying to feel James out, maybe push him to leave Mandy so he could pick up the pieces. James didn't like anyone moving in on his territory even if it was the thin and gangly security guard.

"Why would I want anyone else?" James asked, trying a different tactic.

"Because you could have anyone, a model even," Clint said. "Mandy is pretty, but she's not a model."

"You should tell her that," James said. "I think she'd love to hear it."

Clint's face colored. "I don't think you understand," he said. "I think she's the most beautiful woman ever. I just thought that someone like you would like someone more ... ."

"Buxom?"

"What's buxom?"

James shook his head. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said. "I'm perfectly happy with my blonde angel. I don't want anyone else. I'm never going to want anyone else."

Clint led James out of the elevator and onto the sixth floor. "I know. I guess ... I guess I just don't want to believe she's happy with you. She always seems so happy it makes me crazy. Her face lights up when she sees you. Heck, she smiles when someone mentions your name."

James looked Clint up and down, waiting for him to continue.

"You probably don't know this, but I've always had a crush on her," Clint continued.

James fought the urge to smile. "I never would have guessed."

"I've hidden it," Clint said. "I just guess I want to be the one she smiles at."

James patted him on the back. "Maybe it's time to move on, man. I'm not going to let her go, even for a guy like you."

Clint's hangdog expression was almost more than James could take. "I guess I've lost her to the better man."

James had to swallow his upper lip with his lower one to keep from laughing. When he got control of himself, he glanced down the hall. "Where is she?"

"They're in the courtroom," Clint said. "The judge wanted everyone in there when he arraigned the suspects."

"And the suspects are?"

"Some crazy family members who are on opposite sides of a murder," Clint said. "I don't think the judge will care if you sit in the courtroom. Just stay in the back and be quiet until everything is over with."

"I've got it," James said, starting down the hall. "I just want to be able to see her."

"Me, too."

James didn't look back. As much as he wanted to believe Clint was just a pathetic loser in love with his girlfriend, there was something about the security guard that still piqued his interest. He wasn't ruling him out as a suspect at least not yet.

James was quiet when he entered the courtroom, his eye catching Mandy's at her desk before he took a seat. Mandy's frown was evident, but she quickly hid it as she turned back to her work. James knew he was going to catch an earful later, but he was used to that.

He moved to the bench at the back of the courtroom, pulling up short when he found Sophie sitting there. "What are you doing here?"

"I was here when it happened," Sophie said. "Don't worry, she was perfectly safe. The security guard grabbed her first, in fact. I think the judge warned him to do just that in case of an emergency."

James leaned back on the bench, watching as the judge verbally lambasted a portly man in khaki pants and a striped s.h.i.+rt. "Who is that?"

"That is Walter Tipton, Sr.," Sophie said, never ceasing her note taking. "He's already got a case pending in Roseville district court. Now he's facing a possible felony count for striking a sheriff's deputy. He's also the suspect's father."

"Ah. And those other people?"

"Various members of his family and the victim's family. Oh, and that guy over there nursing his nose and blubbering like a baby? He's the suspect's best friend. He was sleeping with his now-dead wife."

"Sounds like a cla.s.sy family," James mused.

"They're totally hilarious," Sophie agreed. "This actually was a good case for Mandy to have right out of the gate."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because the worst has already happened, James," Sophie said. "There was a disruption in the courthouse, and Mandy was not only protected like she's the mayor of Gold Town, she had a good time."

James pursed his lips, watching Mandy work with unreadable eyes. "She had a good time?"

"It was really funny."

"And she ... she wasn't hurt?"

"She wasn't hurt."

Once every individual was arraigned and taken into custody, the courtroom cleared. James moved toward Mandy without delay. The look on her face told him he was in a heck of a lot of trouble.

"How did you get up here?"

"Clint brought me. He wanted to know if I could be tempted away from you by a model, by the way. I think he's hoping I'll dump you so he can swoop in and dry your tears with his p.e.n.i.s."

Mandy paused, frowning. "What?"

He'd hoped to distract her. It had worked. "So, blondie, how was your first day back?"

"Exciting," Mandy said. "Why are you here?"

James sighed. She wasn't going to let it go. "I might have panicked when I saw the news coverage."

"Might?"

"Okay, I panicked."

Mandy slouched to her side, resting her chin on her shoulder. "I'm not going to yell at you."

"You're not?"

"No," Mandy said. "The worst thing that could have happened today happened, and you survived. More importantly, I survived, and there's not a scratch on me. This should help you ... relax."

"I'm not going to relax until we catch this guy," James said. "Although, I do feel better about things."

"Good."

James held out his hand. "Do you want to come home with me and help me feel better about things together? If not, I think Clint would be willing to let you console him."

Mandy shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "You're incorrigible."

"I just want to take you home," James said. "Look at the bright side, we're going to get to do this all over again tomorrow."

"I just need to drop the files off in my office and grab my stuff," Mandy said. "Let's go."

James moved up behind her, putting his hand on her hip when he was sure no one was looking. "You're still not wearing panties, right? What? I need a visual."

Sixteen.

Grady had been staring at the schematics in front of him for so long his eyes were starting to cross. He was sitting on the living room floor in Sophie's house, waiting for her to come home from work, and studying the three-dimensional rendering in front of him.

The sheriff's department had been thorough. While the device recovered from the undercarriage of Mandy's car had been mostly destroyed, the tech team had sifted through the debris and managed to come up with a fairly complex design.

It was thought provoking, but incomplete. He was missing something.

Grady lifted his head when he heard the front door open, waiting until Sophie's dark head breached the archway between the kitchen and the living room before greeting her. "Hey, sugar. How was your day?"

Sophie dropped her purse on top of the counter before stripping her coat off and discarding it on the armchair at the edge of the room. Grady narrowed his eyes. He adored the woman, but she never put anything away. They needed to hire a maid or someone to follow Sophie around with the sole intention of picking up after her.

"You mean you didn't hear?"

"I didn't hear what?" Grady asked, lifting his head so he could accept her proffered kiss as she bent down to say h.e.l.lo.

"Haven't you talked to James?" Sophie asked, sinking down onto the floor next to him.

"Why would I talk to James?" Grady asked, s.h.i.+fting his schematics so Sophie could stretch her legs out. "I'm working on the bomb angle. We're not taking on any other cases until this one is solved."

"Mandy went back to work today," Sophie reminded him.

"So?"

"There was a disruption in Judge MacIntosh's courtroom," Sophie said. "A big fight broke out, and a bunch of people were arrested."

"Is Mandy okay?"

"She's fine," Sophie said. "The security guard grabbed her and got her out before anyone else although I don't think she's figured that out yet."

"How do you know that?"

"I was there."