Game On (6 page)

Nikki's heart skipped a beat. Maybe Bethany was right. Maybe Cassie did suspect. “Oh, really? So, you've been trained by the Army in hand-to-hand combat? I didn't realize that.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “I just meant—”

“I know what you meant. And you are very wrong. You can't take care of yourself. It's way too dangerous for you to have hitchhiked here.”

“I didn't hitchhike. Do you think I'm that stupid?”

“No, but you're like most kids—you think bad things can't happen to you. But they can.” Nikki unlocked her door and motioned with a sweep of her arm in a dramatic fashion. “Welcome to my new apartment, my dear niece.”

Cassie smiled as she skipped past her. “I knew you were glad to see me.”

“Always.” Nikki picked up her home phone off the end table. “Call your mother. Now.”

“I'm really tired. I'll do it later.”

“You will call her right after you tell me how you got here.”

Cassie walked through the apartment, opening doors and peeking in the rooms. “You should have more faith in me. I didn't do anything dangerous. There's no bed in the spare room. Where am I supposed to sleep?”

Nikki ignored her question. “I'll be the judge of that. How did you get here?”

“My friend's brother is a truck driver. I asked him for a ride. No big deal.”

“That wasn't the best of ideas. He may have had other ideas in mind.”

“No way. He's an old dude. As old as you.”

“Thanks for calling me old.”

“You know what I meant.” She flopped down on the sofa. “I answered your question. Now answer mine.”

“What?”

“Where am I supposed to sleep?”

“The same place all uninvited guests sleep.” Nikki pointed at the sofa.

“No problem. That's still more comfortable than that crummy truck. You can't imagine how bumpy the ride was.”

“Serves you right.”

“I'm hungry.”

“We'll eat after you call your mother.” Nikki pointed at the phone.

Cassie rolled her eyes but picked up the phone. “OK, but I'm starving.”

“You call her while I stick a frozen pizza in the oven.”

“Extra cheese.”

“I know.” Nikki walked back into the living room after she loaded the pizza.

Cassie was lying on the sofa with the phone to her ear. “I know, Mom. I said I was sorry. I just got so mad—no, don't put Dad…hi, Dad.”

Cassie's expression said her father's end of the conversation wasn't good. With another roll of her eyes, she handed the phone to Nikki and headed off to the kitchen.

“Hi, Ray.”

“I'll pay for a bus ticket. Put her on the bus tomorrow morning.”

“No need. I'll drive her home. I have a job in DC, so it's on my way.”

“What kind of a job?”

“Client privilege, remember?”

“That's for attorneys and doctors, not for private investigators, Nikki.” A pause. “I can only think of one person we know in Washington, DC. Do you really think that's wise?”

Ray was way too smart. No wonder he'd become a doctor.

“It's a long, complicated story, and besides, I gave my word.”

Cassie walked back in.

“I can't really talk about it now. But I know what I'm doing. Want to say goodbye to your daughter?” She handed the device to Cassie as the girl vehemently shook her head no.

Cassie made a face as she took the phone. She followed Nikki into the kitchen. After Cassie hung up, she took a deep, appreciative sniff. “Pizza smells great. I'm starving. The guy wouldn't stop for any reason, and all he had in the truck to eat was some stale donuts.”

“Were.”

“Were what?”

“Were some stale donuts. All he had in the truck were some stale donuts. Good English is important. And it serves you right for pulling a stunt like that. You deserved nothing better than stale donuts.”

Nikki plopped a few pieces onto each of their plates. The extra cheese oozed. It did smell wonderful. It had been a long time since she'd eaten.

They moved into the living room.

Once Cassie was settled in, she looked at Nikki. “Do you have a pool?”

“It doesn't matter. We're leaving in the morning.”

“Where are we going?”

“Where do you think?”

Cassie glared at her. “I came all this way to have some fun. With my favorite auntie. Not to go straight back home.”

“If you think I'll reward you for bad behavior, you are very wrong, little miss. But if you promise to be good for the rest of the school year, we can talk to your parents about summer vacation.”

“Really. That would be awesome. The whole summer in Florida. Everyone will be so jealous.”

“I did not say the whole summer. A week or two. I do have to work, you know.”

Cassie swallowed her last bite of pizza and then stood up. “I need more. You want some?”

Nikki shook her head. “I'm good.”

A moment later, Cassie walked back in with another plate full of pizza. She set her plate on the coffee table. Her gaze moved from Nikki and landed on the check—the check with Lucas McMann's name.

Nikki fought the urge to grab it up, but that would only cause more curiosity. Instead, she took a bite of pizza, praying Cassie wouldn't pick up the check.

But she did.

“Don't,” Nikki said. “That's private. It's from a client and—”

Cassie unfolded the check. “Wow. That's a lot of money.”

“Cassie, that is confidential. Give it to me.” She put out her hand and waited.

“I had no idea you made that kind of money from being a private investigator. Who can afford that?”

“None of your business. Give me the check.”

Cassie looked down. “Lucas McMann. That congressman from Maiden? What's he want with you?” She placed the check in Nikki's waiting hand.

“None of your business.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words. “It's private.”

“Come on, you can tell me. I won't tell anyone. What's he want you to do? Find some love child from his past?”

“Cassie! Don't be ridiculous.” Nikki rolled her own eyes for emphasis. “It's nothing like that. It's a private matter.”

Cassie picked up her plate. “What fun are you? You probably have a really juicy story.”

“It's actually something odd, but I respect his privacy. You should do the same.”

“Boring. I didn't even know you knew him.”

“He was older than me, but you know Maiden. Everyone knows everyone.”

“Isn't that the truth? Did Mom and Dad know him too?”

“Probably. They were closer in age to him. I don't know if they were friends or not. Now, don't think distracting me with work will make me forget what you've done. We need to have a serious discussion about you and your choices.”

Cassie sighed. “Boring.”

7

The evening sky was marbled with reds and oranges and a touch of purple. Lucas breathed in the peace and tranquility. He felt closest to God when he was in this plane. Flying was therapy. The heavenly kind.

After his wife's death, he'd fly and pray and question God. The answers didn't come quickly, but they did come. God had been faithful to him through it then, and He would be faithful now. Asking Nikki to help had been the right thing to do. She'd be able to figure out what was happening.

He'd kept track of her through the years. First, the Army and then the police force. After several commendations as a police officer, she'd gone out on her own. And knowing Nikki, he could just imagine why. She was a free spirit. She didn't mind following rules, but she probably found out rather quickly that there was a rigid and oftentimes political framework in law enforcement. It was always a struggle between the constituents they protected and the city hall who governed them.

After becoming a private investigator, Nikki had a few high-profile cases as well. She was good at her job. She'd be able to help him.

Coming into Maiden, he flew above his family home. Even from this distance, it still had the air of gracious Southern living. White pillars adorned the large Civil War–era house. Wrought-iron gates. The mandatory stable and tennis courts. And the swimming pool. That was one thing he'd enjoyed as a child—and so had his friends.

He'd detested the house growing up. Too big. Too formal. Too many expectations, especially from his father. But his mother still lived there, and it was now his official residence. He'd sold his house after Victoria's death and moved into the guesthouse.

After landing the plane, he hopped out. He could take the golf cart up to the house, but the exercise would do him good. It had been a stressful day. Now that Nikki had agreed to help, he was a bit more optimistic.

The quiet and the night air worked their magic as he walked towards the guesthouse. His tense muscles relaxed, but he couldn't get his mind off Nikki.

Why had he allowed his father to break them up? What would have happened if their relationship had been allowed to run its natural course? Would they have gone their separate ways when he went to college or would they have made it work? Not that it mattered—he wasn't looking for romance.

After Victoria's death, he'd recommitted himself to his work. To the plan to become President of the United States. Now even that was at risk.

He stared at the guesthouse—his home now. There wouldn't be a speck of food in there and he was hungry. He'd sneak up to the main house and surprise his mother. He walked up to the back door. Hitting numbers on the security keypad, he smiled at the modern convenience. His mother hadn't been happy when he and his sister had insisted on it after his father's death but she had acquiesced to their wishes.

A small night-light shone from the kitchen counter. He walked to the refrigera—

“Mister, don't make another move. I don't know who you are, but I suggest you turn yourself around and skedaddle before I shoot you.”

“Mama, it's me, Lucas.”

“Oh, my goodness. Lucas.” A moment later, light flooded the kitchen. His mother stood in the doorway with a shotgun pointed at him and her silver hair askew. “I didn't realize it was you. Sorry.”

“Put that gun away, Mama.”

With a sheepish smile, she leaned it against the kitchen wall. “Well, how was I supposed to know it was you down here skulking around like some thief in the night? A single woman needs to protect herself, you know.” She smoothed her hair.

He arched a brow. “With a double-barreled 12 gauge?”

“It was good enough for my daddy and it's good enough for me.”

“You can't be walking around with that thing. You're either going to kill yourself or someone else.”

“That's the point.”

“Mama—”

“If you think I'll let some thief just walk in and do what he wants, you're sadly mistaken. And I won't argue about it. I may be old, but I can still take care of myself. It is so good to see you.” She crooked a finger and then put her arms around him. “You should have called.”

“I know. But it was a spur-of-the-moment trip.”

She stepped back. “You don't do spur-of-the-moment.”

He couldn't deny the truth of her words. “A man can change.”

She looked at him over her glasses. “Not that much. Elizabeth called here looking for you earlier. She was beside herself that you'd missed your appointment with the senator. But when you hadn't shown up by bedtime, I figured you'd gone somewhere else.”

He certainly wouldn't tell her where he'd been or who he'd seen. “What did you tell her?”

“What could I tell her? The truth. You haven't been here in months. And that I hadn't heard from you since you called last Sunday. She seemed worried.”

“I already explained to her I needed a few days to myself. She shouldn't have called here bothering you.”

“It was no bother. What's going on, Lucas?”

“Nothing, Mama. Why would you ask that?”

“Humph. The better question is why you can't look me in the eye when you say nothing's wrong.” She pointed at the marble kitchen island. “Sit down. I'll fix you some scrambled eggs. I assume that's why you were sneaking into my kitchen in the middle of the night. Looking for something to eat.”

“It's not the middle of the night, Mama.”

“It is for this old lady.”

“You don't have to cook. I'm more than capable of finding something to eat.”

She pointed once again. “Sit.”

He grinned and slid onto the stool. “I am a bit hungry.”

A few minutes later, she placed the scrambled eggs in front of him, filled with all his favorites—cheese, onions, hot peppers, mushrooms, red and green peppers. A moment later, toast and orange juice appeared.

“Looks delicious, Mama.”

She nodded and sat down. After he ate a few bites, she smiled and said, “Now tell me what's wrong.”

Should he tell her? Probably not—it would only worry her. “Delicious. The best scrambled eggs ever.”

“Don't think I don't know you're avoiding my question. Elizabeth told me you not only missed your appointment but a vote today as well. You wouldn't do that unless you had a very good reason.”

He set down his fork. “Mama, I won't insult you by telling you nothing's wrong. But I can handle it. In fact, I am handling it. I have a plan that's already in motion.”

“A plan. Well, that sounds promising. So why exactly are you here then?”

“To visit my mama, of course. And it's time for me to get my act together. Time to stop feeling sorry for myself.” He stabbed a piece of pepper. “Someone told me to start acting like a politician today.”

“Sounds like a very smart person to me.”

“To me too, Mama.” After saying good night to his mother, Lucas walked into the guesthouse. His home away from home. He looked around. It didn't feel much like home in spite of his mother's efforts. But then again, nowhere did these days. Victoria had been his home, and now she was gone. “I'm sorry, Victoria. I should have kept you safe.”