Page 14 of Deadly Forever

5

Five

“I can’t believeyou insisted on coming here with me,” James groused the next morning, shaking his head as he stared at Mandy over the hood of his Explorer. They were parked in front of Sophie’s newspaper office, the summer sun beating down on them, and James couldn’t help but be irked with Mandy’s stubborn attitude. “I’m fully capable of placing ads by myself.”

Mandy’s snort was derisive, which only propelled James’ agitation to new heights. “You’re not placing ads.”

“I am so,” James protested. “I place ads every week. We have running ads, in fact. That’s how we get half of our new business.”

“I know you place ads,” Mandy said, flipping her long blond hair over her shoulder. “That’s not what you’re doing today, though. You usually handle all of your ad stuff over the phone. According to Sophie, the ad representatives don’t like that because they prefer drooling over you in person.”

Despite his sense of unease, James couldn’t help but smile. “I’m very popular with the ladies. You should know that. I’ve been popular with you since you were fourteen.”

“Yes, well, I was a young girl with stars in her eyes,” Mandy said. “I saw you without a shirt on and even then it was impressive. I lost my head and never got it back.”

“But I’m more impressive now, right?”

Mandy grinned. “Everything you do is impressive.”

“That’s very sweet, wife,” James said, pressing his hand to the small of Mandy’s back as he ushered her toward the front door. “That still doesn’t explain why you insisted on coming with me to place ads today.”

When James announced over breakfast that he planned on stopping at the newspaper office before heading to work, Mandy merely smiled and enthusiastically offered to go with him. He didn’t understand why she would possibly want to accompany him, but she insisted. As usual, she got her way.

“You’re not placing ads,” Mandy argued. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, now that I’ve insisted on coming with you, I have no doubt that you’re going to make a big show about placing ads. In fact, you’ll probably make me sit through some really boring show while the woman selling the ad flirts with you and gives me dirty looks.”

“If you want to get in a chick fight over my virtue, I’m all for it,” James teased.

“I’ll consider it for later,” Mandy said breezily. “After we’re done with the ad, though, you’re going to stop and see Sophie.”

James stilled, an uncomfortable ball forming in the pit of his stomach. “Why do you think that?”

“Because you want to know what she’s managed to track down about the kids at the mall yesterday,” Mandy answered, not missing a beat. “You can pretend all you want, but I know you’re going to be looking into this shooting. Don’t bother denying it.”

James planted his hands on his narrow hips as he regarded his wife. “So … you’re babysitting me?”

Mandy shook her head. “I’m loving you.”

James’ expression softened. “You always love me. There’s no reason to babysit me while you’re doing it, though.”

“I want to know as badly as you do,” Mandy said, changing tactics. “I want to know why they did it. I want to know why they chose to die because no adult would’ve considered attempting what those kids did. It wasn’t feasible that they would get inside and back out without getting caught. We both know that.”

“But … .” James tugged a frustrated hand through his hair. “This isn’t our case, Mandy. I have no authority to investigate it.”

Mandy barked out a sharp laugh. “That’s never stopped you before.”

“I guess not,” James conceded. “I just … how did you know?”

“Because I know you,” Mandy said, extending her hand. “I know you won’t easily accept taking a life … especially now that you know it was a teenager. You have to know the hows and whys to put it behind you.”

James stared at her hand a moment, dumbfounded. “I don’t know how I managed to find the other half of my soul, but that’s what you are. You know me better than I know myself sometimes.” He took her hand and pulled her to him, pushing her flaxen hair away from her face so he could stare into the fathomless depths of her eyes. “I love you more than anything, Mandy. I didn’t even realize I was planning on going over things with Sophie until you called me on it.”

“Yes, well, I’m a magical woman,” Mandy said, her eyes flashing as James pressed a firm kiss to her mouth.

“You’re my magical woman,” James said, hugging her close before releasing her. “Thank you for understanding about this, though. I just … have to know.”

“We both have to know,” Mandy said. “I was there, too.”

James led Mandy inside the newspaper building and forced a bright smile when he recognized the woman sitting behind the desk. She was a comical sort; blond hair coming from a bottle perched high on her head and enough makeup to make a television evangelical cringe. The smile she graced him with was welcoming and flirty. The second she saw Mandy that changed.