I’m an undercover FBI agent with the Violent Crimes Division. “I’m a marketing consultant.”
The doorbell rang and Randy pushed out of his chair. “That’s the guy to check out the lawn mower. Gordon, you wanna join me?”
“You’ve got this,” his stepdad replied. “Take your pretty wife. She can help with negotiations.”
Lizzie set her plate on the counter by the sink. “Heather, I’ll be right back to clean up.”
And with that, they headed toward the front door. Once Randy closed the door behind him, Providence leaned back. “If you had given us a hundred guesses, I would never have picked this one.”
“Ditto,” Megan said. “When did they come back?”
“About a week and a half ago.” Providence’s mom pushed out of the chair, but gripped the table.
Again, her dad was by her side, offering an assist. “Heather, I think you should see the doctor.”
“I’m fine, honey, really.” Providence’s mom ambled over to the sink, moving slower than usual. “It’s probably just the excitement of having the kids home.”
Providence and Megan exchanged glances. “Why are you selling your mower, Dad?” Providence asked.
“It’s the old one I don’t use. Randy offered to clean out the garage. He’s already hauled a trunkful to the dump and is selling a bunch of things.”
Her mom stopped loading the dishwasher. “I cannot wait to have my garage back,” she said with a smile.
A few moments later, Randy and Lizzie returned, and Randy plunked down the cash. “Lizzie wouldn’t budge from your asking price.”
“A deal is a deal,” Gordon said, pushing the cash toward Randy. “You sell it, you keep the cash. You have no idea how happy you’re making your mom. I would say I’m going to clean out the garage—”
Providence’s mom barked out a laugh. “Ha! You don’t have to tell me that anymore, dear.”
Megan pinched her nostrils shut. “Ew, I smell cigarettes. You still a smoker, Randy?”
“Hell, no.” Randy sat back down. “I quit years ago. The dude who bought the mower was smoking and it stunk like hell.”
“Randy is one of those annoying reformed smokers,” Lizzie added. “Even vaping makes him sick to his stomach.”
“A couple will be here soon to buy the kayak,” Randy said, after checking his phone. “And I’m going to sell that, too.” He grinned. “I’m a born salesman, what can I say?”
The go-getter sitting across the table was a completely different person from the lazy, angry, young man Providence had known all those years ago. Had her mom not shown him tough love, what would have become of her brother? As she marveled at the changes in him, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life he’d had that had brought him right back to the beginning.
5
Goode-Luck
Dakota stashed the thermometer in the kitchen cabinet before returning to the family room. Sammy’s fever had vanished. Even so, he’d opted to skip her Saturday morning karate class.
“How do you feel, punkin?”
“Good.” Sammy was too busy building LEGO Duplo to pay him any attention.
He sat on the floor beside her. “What are you building?”
“A house for my Barbies.”
“Need some help?”
As Sammy told him what to do, he smiled. She had a clear image of how she wanted her house to look. She told him how high she wanted it and which colors he should use. He did as she instructed, father and daughter working silently side by side. When finished, Sammy collected her dolls and got busy playing, while he stepped into the kitchen to check in with his guys. He worried about them, especially after the intensity of a kill.Saving Stryker for last, he dialed.
“Hey.” Stryker sounded groggy.
