The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) (9 page)

Chapter 24

The Whatever & More

Tony’s
lean, over six-foot frame loomed closer and I inched away. I had passed the substantial glass armoire containing vases and statues. My back hit the bottom of the curved railing of the main staircase. “Huh...?”

I should have bumped into the ladies by now.

I glanced around. Not a soul. How could they abandon me? It was just us two until I thought I heard a giggle from up above.
Tony’s
hands gripped the rail on each side of me. I was trapped. But my crew was above us enjoying all this.

Leaning in
real
close, his lips now hovering dangerously close to mine, he whispered. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

He was within a hair’s breath of me. If I answered, we’d be kissing. That was the furthest thing from my mind.

Really.

So I did the alternative and mumbled. “Umm,
mmm
.”

Then the front door burst wide open.

“Whose SUV is out.... What the hell?”

Damn.

Tony turned. “Now, Clay, I didn’t touch one hair.”

Clay’s hands balled into fists. “Lucky for you...”

Tony straightened his tie. “Perfect. You’re both here.”

Clay didn’t expect that greeting. “What do you mean?”

Now I was confused too. “And how is this perfect?”

“I don’t have to bother repeating myself, send an email to be misread, or make any unnecessary phone calls.”

Clay eyed him cynically. “Okay, so far I’m following.”

“Me too,” I added, wondering what else was coming.

Tony then did something unexpected. He sighed loudly then he sat down on the lower step of the curved staircase.

“You both remember my mother?” he asked, sulking.

Clay and I both eyed each other.
Oh, yeah.

“How could we forget?” I said.

Tony rubbed his eyes. “This is complicated.”

Clay rested his foot on the lower step directly separating Tony from me. A not-so-subtle message to our visitor.

I swear, males and their territory
.

“I’m listening,” said Clay, sharply. I didn’t blame him. Tony caused so much chaos and threatened me numerous times in the past, which Tony eventually clarified. Still, Clay and I harbored a lot of distrust for this guy, including his crazy mother. They were an unpredictable duo for sure.

“After losing that money, she had a nervous breakdown. I’m sure you both noticed how edgy she was.”

“Oh, we noticed, all right,” I said, remembering vividly.

“And?” Clay asked, a man of few words at the moment.

“We arranged for a
rest
for her, somewhere quiet.”

“As in where?” I asked, now curious.

Tony sighed once more. “A sanatorium.”

“She did seem a little touchy at the end,” said Clay.

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here now,” I said.

“I have a slight problem,” said Tony. “...She escaped.”

Chapter 25

Keeping Track Of More Than Money

Clay and I turned to eye each other again.
Where to?

“So what do you expect us to do about it?” Clay asked.

“I want to hire the two of you to find her for me.”

“You’re joking, right?” I asked incredulously.

“I’ll pay you both double your going rate, plus bonus.”

Clay and I both glanced at each other once again.

Us work for Tony? Why us? Why now? Suspicious...

We were already being paid by Alicia and Chris Worth for babysitting their volatile homestead. Now Tony wanted to do the same to hunt down his volatile mother. Clay and I had joked about us living ‘
the lush life’
and this extra cash, dicey by who was offering it, was too good to be true.

Why not get paid by Tony for keeping an eye on Tony?

I gave Tony a leery eye. “But you lost all your money.”

He looked up, shrugged. “It was my mother’s money.”

“And...?” Clay asked skeptically.

“I’ve had some good days at the track lately. I’m flush.”

I still wasn’t swayed. “What sanatorium? The name?”

Tony fished inside his breast pocket, came up empty then stood to reach into his rear pocket. A gun flashed off his back hip. It was attached to his belt.

“Hey, you said you weren’t carrying!” I challenged.

Tony looked at me and winked. “I lied.”

I noticed Clay had his hand inside his own jacket.

His mantra was mine. Trust no one...

Tony finally pulled out his wallet and retrieved a slip of paper from it. “Name, number, and address. Go check.”

I seized it first. Clay leaned over me to read it too.

“That town is in Upper Bucks County,” said Clay.

I turned to stare back at him. “How’d you know that?

Then Clay winked too. “I know more than you think.”

You see what I have to constantly deal with? Ah, trust...

“It’s about a forty-minute drive from here,” said Tony.

I wasn’t sure if Tony was trying to send us on a wild goose chase or not. But the ramifications of his momma on the loose in the middle of everything going on didn’t set well with me. For my protection we had to search for her.

Was she the nut who took that shot and texted me?

She was such a sweet lady in the beginning...

“Why don’t you look for her yourself?” I asked.

“I’ve been in New Hope awhile, doing just that.”

I smirked, remembering what Hazel told me. “I know.”

Both Tony and Clay looked at me and said, “How?”

I didn’t want to reveal what she’d said in front of Tony.

I grinned at them both. “I know more than you think.” I made eye contact with Clay. “Let’s do it, okay?”

Why we had enough sleuths here to open an agency!

“Are you sure?” Clay asked, surprised by my stance.

“Hey, the crew’s here, plus Mona, Scarlett, Teddy...”

“Who’s Scarlett and Teddy? And who invited Mona?”

...Uh-oh. Obviously, I had some explaining to do.

Chapter 26

Interrogation Techniques

Dictionary definition of interrogate: to question, cross-examine closely, debrief, pump, grill either formally or informally. This took place in Alicia’s office with the door closed so no one could hear our loud voices arguing.

“What do you mean you don’t know who Scarlett is?” I asked. “You’re telling me you
didn’t
invite her here?

This was not what I was hoping to hear.

“As far as Teddy and Mona being here, we need to discuss that too. Why are you so upset? I had nothing to do with any of this. It’s me that should be upset! After getting shot at and everything, I...”

“Whoa! Back up. ...Shot at?” Clay asked wide-eyed.

“Haven’t you gotten all my emails and texts?” I asked.

Clay began pacing. “No, not one! What is going on?”

So I told him in great detail. It took one solid hour.

When I finished Clay stopped pacing. “Unbelievable! I’m gone for just a few days and all this happened!”

“It’s obvious that someone has compromised our email, phones, computers and who knows what else,” I said. “And for what purpose? A stupid collectable book!”

“Must be a hell of a read,” Clay said, hugging me tight.

I pouted. “You’re lucky I always listen for and check my texts and emails diligently. Otherwise I’d be toast.”

Clay held me tight. I could feel his heart beating against mine. Then he kissed the top of my head. “Where would I get another Blondie like you. You’re irreplaceable, Sam.”

“How true.” I was just loving this cuddling thing we had going on. It was so long since we had done this.

...Okay, maybe just a few days, but I was needy.

Clay then leaned back a little to look into my eyes. He tilted my chin up to meet his lips that had killer-kiss written all over them. I wasn’t quite sure if I swooned or not, but probably did. My knees felt weak as he then tracked kisses over my eyes and down my neck, murmuring softly.

“Eyes deep as liquid pools.”

“Lips as soft as pillows.”

“A neck like a swan...”

“What?” I said, leaning away. “My neck is that long?”

Clay threw his head back, laughing. “Leave it to you to parse every word I say. You’re too literal, Sam.”

I huffed. “Well, I’m an author. I’m supposed to.”

“Take note, my pretty little scribe. I’m sorry you had to experience this without me here. But it sounds like you and your crew have handled this perfectly so far. How’s that?”

“Really?” I said, sifting his words for the punch line.

But there was none forthcoming.

Clay kissed me again.

And I melted into him again.

Then he put me at arm’s length. “We need a plan.”

“That’s what I said all along,” said a familiar voice.

We both turned to the doorway and stared at Martha.

“I admit, we did try real hard not to listen, right ladies?”

The rest of our crew filed into Alicia’s office, laughing.

Mona asked, “Ever thought of a doing a reality show?”