Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
H arper sat with Mitch on the couch, while Lucas and Frankie took the loveseat, and Angie and Jack settled into the chairs. Everyone had either water or lemonade.
Angie looked like something out of a wise guys movie. His graying hair was slicked back into a low pompadour. He wore loose pleated trousers with a Hawaiian shirt, woven leather shoes, and several pieces of gold jewelry, including a religious medallion of some kind on a chain around his neck.
With a deeply serious expression, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together as he addressed Jack. “I understand you got a problem.”
Jack nodded, looking just as serious. “Yeah, man. I got a big problem, and her name is Monica.”
“This Monica have a last name?”
“Monica Roman. She lives in Torrey Pines.”
“Where’s that?” Angie asked.
“San Diego,” Harper provided.
Angie nodded. “You have any other info on her? Anything you can give me helps.”
Jack shifted to reach his phone in his back pocket. He pulled it out. “I can give you her address and phone number.”
“That’s enough for me to start with. I’ll do a deep background on her, see what I can find out. She might have aliases, who knows. Give me a couple of hours.”
Jack frowned. “You only need a couple of hours?”
Angie shrugged. “I have connections and access to a lot of databases. A few hours and I should know something. With more time, I can get more information.” He sat back, looking very confident. “Listen, you can ask Luc. I’m very good at finding people and uncovering their secrets.”
“He is,” Lucas confirmed. “Scary good.”
Angie absently turned the gold ring on his right hand. It bore some kind of seal. “I’ve done missing persons cases, cheating spouses, insurance fraud, even did a high-profile custody case that I am not at liberty to say more about than I just did. Even a few criminal investigations. Nothing like my NYPD days, but I’m good with that. Nobody’s shootin’ at me these days.”
Beside her, Mitch sat up. “A custody case?”
Angie nodded. “That’s right.”
Mitch’s expression shifted. “Maybe you and I could talk privately when you’re done with Jack.”
“You bet,” Angie said. He looked at Jack. “Let me get this Monica’s info from you and I’ll start as soon as I get unpacked.”
Lucas rose, glass in hand. “While you two do that, does anyone need a refill?”
The rest of the men said they were fine.
Harper held her glass up. “I’ll take one.”
Scout jumped to her feet from her bed by the sliding glass doors and went to stand by the main one.
“I’ll take a refill.” Frankie handed her glass to Lucas, then went toward Scout. “And I’ll let Scout out.”
“Thanks,” Lucas said. He took the glasses into the kitchen.
Harper sensed he was trying to give Jack, Mitch, and Angie some privacy. She went after him, making small-talk. “Great lemonade. Sweeter than most lemonade but not in a sugary way. I assume you made it?”
“I did. It’s my own blend. I use one orange for every two lemons.”
“Now that you say that, I can taste the orange. I’m going to have to try that.” She glanced over. Jack, Mitch, and Angie were all standing in a tight circle now, deep in conversation, phones out. “Your brother knows his stuff, huh?”
“He does. He was a highly decorated officer and detective. He was even shot once.”
“Wow.” She frowned. “Was it serious? He looks like he’s in good shape.”
Lucas got the lemonade pitcher out of the fridge. “Bullet went clean through his biceps. He got lucky. He had to do some rehab, but he didn’t have any lasting effects. Other than the trauma of being shot.”
“You must be glad he retired.”
“I am,” Lucas said.
Frankie let Scout back in, then joined them in the kitchen. “Your brother’s quite a character.” She smiled. “He seems like he could have stepped off the set of The Sopranos .”
“Maybe if he was playing the guy arresting them.”
Frankie laughed. “I like him. He’s colorful.”
“That he is,” Lucas said. He refilled their glasses, then returned the pitcher to the fridge. “I know he didn’t come here to work, but I bet you he’s eating this up. Getting to work for a guy like Jackson Marsh? And maybe even Mitch? He’ll be full of himself. More than he already is.”
Frankie nudged her shoulder against his. “Yes, but then you can remind him that you’re the reason he got those jobs.”
“True.” Lucas smiled. “I like the way you think.”
Harper sipped her lemonade. She really could taste the orange now. It was delicious. “How did the editing go on the show today?”
“It went well,” Lucas said. “Those two are so good. I could have used almost every bit of footage. All the little comments they made back and forth to each other were hilarious. I think at some point they forgot they were mic’d.”
He looked in Mitch’s direction. “I don’t know how long Beryl is staying, but I would love to get them in for another show. I have a feeling my viewers are going to go crazy for them.”
“She’s probably staying for a little while longer,” Frankie said. “She came a long way. Wouldn’t make sense to leave that soon.”
Jack joined them. Mitch and Angie were still talking.
Lucas smiled at him. “I sincerely hope my brother can help you.”
“So do I, brother,” Jack said. “We’ll soon see.”
Mitch and Angie came over then. Mitch stood next to Harper. “Thank you for your hospitality, Lucas. This has been very fruitful.”
“Good,” Lucas said. “I’m glad.”
Harper was, too. She didn’t know quite what Mitch and Angie had discussed, but she knew it had something to do with Ruthie. What Angie could do to help with getting custody of her, Harper wasn’t sure. Mitch would share, if he wanted to.
Mitch put his hand on the small of her back. “I’d like to get back. I don’t mean to cut things short, but I need to talk to Kyle, and I know Angelo just got in.”
“It’s all right,” Angie said. “I need to unpack anyway. It was good to meet you all. Mitch, Jack, I’ll be in touch soon.”
Mitch reached across the corner of the island and shook Angie’s hand. “For sure. Thanks again.”
Harper looked at Frankie. “If you want to stay…”
She shook her head. “Lucas and his brother need time to catch up. Besides, I still have work to do.”
They said their goodbyes and climbed into the golf cart. No one said anything for a moment, then Jack spoke. “He seems solid. And maybe a little frightening.”
Mitch snorted. “That’s a fair assessment. He’d make a great character in a book.”
“He’d make a great character in a movie,” Jack countered, chuckling as he changed subjects. “Frankie the artist, do you have a price for me on that portrait?”
“Um…”
Harper turned in her seat. “It’s going to be expensive, Jack. And she’s probably a little worried it’ll be too much.” Harper knew her sister was glaring at her, but she kept going. “So let me ask you this—is it worth ten grand to you to have the painting done?”
Jack nodded. “Of course it is.”
“Then there you go. Ten grand.” She finally looked at Frankie, whose eyes had rounded like saucers. “Are you good with that price?”
Frankie nodded, swallowing. “Yes.” She looked at Jack, nodding some more. “Yes. I’ll go to the art store tomorrow and buy supplies. I’ll start working on it right away.”
“Cool, cool.” He grinned. “With all the ugliness in the world, it’s good to create new, beautiful things. Don’t you think?”
Frankie took a breath. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Smiling, Harper turned back around. Another minute and Mitch pulled into her driveway. Willa came out the front door with Archie on his leash. She was frowning and looked upset.
Harper jumped out of the golf cart. “What’s the matter?”
Willa frowned. “They’re here .”
“Who’s here?” Frankie asked, moving to stand beside Harper.
“The paparazzi.” Willa shook her head. “There are three big boats and one small one in the channel. I think they’re anchored, because they’ve been there for a while now.”
Mitch turned the golf cart off. He and Jack came over. “What’s going on?”
“Paparazzi,” Harper said. “They’ve got boats in the river channel.”
Jack frowned. “And no doubt cameras aimed at the house and guest house.”
Harper nodded. “No doubt.” She hated this. Even when she’d been running in celebrity circles on a regular basis, she’d never had to personally deal with this kind of scrutiny. Not until she’d gotten involved with Ford Keating. But now that she’d come to Hideaway Bay, she really understood just what the invasion of privacy felt like. Ironic, that.
But this time it wasn’t herself she was upset for. It was Jack. With him being hot news, there was every chance that Monica would use that to her advantage and ask for more money or put more pressure on him to pay.
She really hoped Angelo wasn’t all talk.