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Chapter Thirty-one
Blake and the girls had been super about allowing her and Popsicle a few minutes alone. They needed this time to reunite, to hug and explain. Charli had no idea how her grandfather had found her, and why he was even here in Fort Lauderdale.
On the other hand, she did know that Blake had to be bursting at the seams to interview him. She’d overheard his officer reporting that John Madison had witnessed Agent Dale’s murder. Therefore, the old guy had a lot of explaining to do.
She knelt in front of him, making sure of his comfort in the easy chair she’d coaxed him into. “Calm down, Gramps.” Her hands gently massaged his sore old knees while wishing she had some of his favorite Bud Rub cream to relieve the pain.
“He’s dead, Charli. I liked him a lot and that murderous bastard killed him like he didn’t matter at all.”
What? He? All this stress is too much for him.He’s losing it.
Not sure what the hell he rambled on about, Charli studied his expression, his still-wet eyes, and her heart ached for his misery. The only time she’d seen him looking his years and hurting this badly was after his wife had passed, and it had broken her heart.
She leaned in and hugged him again. Then she held his pale, whiskery cheeks in her hands and murmured, “Tell me everything, sweetheart.”
“I keep seeing his battered face. He’s dead, because of me.”
Scared now, Charli hardened her tone. She needed to get to the bottom of his rambling. “I think you must be mixed up, Grandpa. He killed Agent Dale, Melissa Dale. She was a woman.”
“Yeah, that too. You know kiddo; the devil’s got a special place in hell for vermin like him.” His eyes searched her face to make sure she’d heard his teachings, just like he used to do when she was a kid and he had a point to make that he wanted her to understand. His eyes would shoot fireballs that froze her, like they were right now.
“Got it, Grandpa.” Totally messed up, not sure if it was her who’d made the mistake or the old darling had lost it completely, she stopped him. “Look, Gramps, I love you more than puppies or teddy bears, but you’re not making any sense. Let me get you a cup of tea—”
“And some Tylenol if you have any and make it extra-strength.”
Searching to see if her pill-hating grandpa was messing with her, and seeing his request as legitimate, she nodded. “Take a minute to clear your thoughts. I’ll be right back.”
She headed for the kitchen where the girls were huddled with Blake. “Do any of you have any Tylenol? Grandpa’s breaking down old barriers and wants drugs. Never thought I’d see the day. He used to consider them the hard stuff compared to the occasional baby aspirin he’d allow himself.”
Kayla spoke up. “I have some in my room. Is it safe to go and get them?”
“I’ll come with you.” Angie held out her hand, and acting like a bodyguard, she checked the hallway before allowing Kayla to leave the room.Smart-ass kid!Charli grinned and turned to see Blake grinning too.
Charli studied the man she’d recently been kissing and saw a guy with a handsome face, a gorgeous, muscular, lean body that turned women to mush and sexy green eyes that were now hooded. There was no time to find out why; her priorities had to be her family. “He needs a cup of tea, Blake. Can you make it strong and sweet? I think you need to hear what he has to say. He’s making no sense to me.”
Blake grabbed a mug from a stand of six, popped a teabag inside and filled it with boiling water from the special tap he’d had installed at the sink. After adding the sugar, he placed some chocolate cookies he’d stashed away on a plate and followed Charli to where John waited.
John, slumped in the chair with his feet up on the footrest, had removed his shoes, and he lay there asleep. Charli hated to disturb him, but they needed to hear his story.
“Gramps, wake up. Here’s some tea.” He pried his eyes open and shook his head as if clearing away ugly hovering visions that popped into his conscious memory.
“Oh, Charli. It’s a sad, sad world, baby. A sad world.”
“I know, Gramps, but like you always told me, there’s a half-full side in the glass, right? It helps. Like now. Look around, both of us are alive and safe.”
John sat up in his chair, straightened his spine and let his eyes wander from her to the man who had crouched on the opposite side of his chair. A strange look came into his eyes, and he leaned back and smiled. “Yes. You’re right, kiddo. There’s still a half-full glass. Now, where’s those hard drugs?”
As if she’d waited in the wings, Kayla appeared with the bottle of Tylenol, her inquisitive expression obvious. Rather than ask any questions, she took the hand John Madison extended in thanks and squeezed. Both their expressions lit up and Charli saw the man who had the gift make one more adoring fan.
