The downside of so many small New England towns was that nothing much ever happened to require any to have a really big police department. Getting help was going to take time. Time Violet was sure they didn’t have. She had zero interest in becoming the heroine too stupid to live who ignored instructions and charged in making everything worse for the good guys. On the other hand, crouching on the floor in the office holding onto a handset, peeking through the doorway at nothing, or out the window at the obnoxious sedan, and praying the sheriff and his deputies got here sooner than later wasn’t sitting well with her either.
Taking another look at the lone car in the empty parking lot, she wished she had this good a view of the voices growing louder at the other end of the building. Sitting and doing nothing was killing her. She had no idea how much longer this crazy situation was going to last, if the creeps would get away before the cops came, or if Grant and her grandfather were still safe and okay. If only she could…
Tipping her head to one side, she studied the near empty parking lot. Maybe there was something she could do after all.
***
The apple flew out of his hand. Grant would have sworn all the air sucked out of the large room. Like a slow motion movie scene, the green ball cut through the air, following the intended trajectory. Within seconds, the projectile hit its mark. Like David and Goliath, the apple smacked the hulk in the side of the head, and like the biblical giant he fell with a loud thump in one direction. The gun fell to the floor, skidding away.
Grant lunged after the gun before Hulk woke up. A hard green apple tossed at close to 90 miles an hour could do serious damage, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Arms out, he slid after the weapon the same way he’d have slid into home plate in a do or die championship game. The only problem was the fingers that curled around the firearm before he could.
“You okay?”
Tracking from the tip of comfortable laced shoes, up a light brown pant leg, all the way to the shit eating grin of the General was better than… well, anything. “Yeah.” He pushed to his feet and brushed off his hands. “I’ll be better when the cops get here.”
“Ditto. Sorry I didn’t get back sooner. Found your guard tied up behind some pallets.”
“Is he all right?”
“A little shaken up. He’s gone to meet the cops at the gate.”
Grant glanced at the hulk on the floor and over to his supervisor who had passed out. Whether from pain, injury or fear, Grant didn’t have a clue. “I’m going to untie him. Use the ropes to tie this hulk up, then we’ll see where his boss went.”
“He’s leaning against the trunk of his car,” the General said, matter of factly. “Yakking away on his cell.”
Grant swallowed a groan. Was he the only one on this mountain without cell service?
Doing his best to unknot the ropes at Larry’s feet, a low moan drew his attention away, his gaze shooting up to the General firmly pointing the gun at the character on the ground. Grant didn’t even want to think how this would have gone down had he been alone and stumbled onto this situation. Another few tugs and pulls and he slid the rope off his employee and turned in time to see Hulk rolling into a sitting position.
“What the…” Hulk rubbed at the side of his head, his eyes widening at the sight of the General holding his gun.
“I’d stay nice and still if I were you.” The General’s tone remained steady and calm. Even Grant had to admit had he been the one to speak, his voice might have cracked just a smidge.
Hulk laughed. Shaking his head and looking up at the General, he pushed to his feet. “I don’t think so, old man.”
The sound of the gun cocking came across loud and clear in the quiet room. “Allow me to introduce myself. General Harold Hart, retired, United States Marine Corps.”
One leg in motion, Hulk’s eyes rounded, his jaw dropped, and he stood frozen in place. Slowly he raised both arms in surrender and set his foot down. The General might as well have announced he was Superman. However stupid Hulk might be, he was smart enough to know, old or not, don’t mess with a Marine.
“That’s more like it.” The General didn’t bother to smile, he simply tipped his head toward the ropes in Grant’s hands. “Know how to tie him securely?”
Grant nodded. “Always knew making Eagle Scout would come in handy some day.” He’d just about gotten the guy’s hands secured behind his back when a distant siren broke the silence. Thank heaven. Hurrying, he returned to Larry, slowly undoing his hands so he wouldn’t fall out of his seat once freed.
The siren grew louder, accompanied by pounding footsteps.
“Don’t you hear the sirens? Move…it.” Suit came to a halt in the doorway.
Before Grant could blink, the guy’s hand was in and out of his jacket. Gun in hand, he and the General looked like a scene from a bad western. Each pointing a lethal weapon at the other.
Suit took a slow step back. “No one wants to die here today.” Staring down the General, he retreated another step. “Your man there isn’t worth losing your life for.”
Cool as a cucumber and steady as the proverbial rock, the General didn’t flinch. Keeping his eyes on his target, he dared to move forward a step.
“Now, now.” Suit shook his head. “No martyrs today.” And in the shadows, he took off toward the parked car.
“We can’t let him get away.” Grant bolted toward the door, the General half a step ahead.
“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you two.” Violet stood where he’d hid earlier and watched the unfolding scene. Something dangling from one hand, she held them up for all to see. “He’s not getting very far without these.”
The moment the battery connector cables came clearly into view, Grant couldn’t stop the laugh that burst from deep in his belly. She’d cut Suit’s battery cables. No wonder he loved her. Had he really once considered this woman might be an airhead?
“I couldn’t stand by doing nothing. Then it dawned on me, if it worked for the nuns in the Sound of Music, why not for me? I was just going to disconnect the cables but thought, nope, needs to be a permanent fix. Didn’t hurt that the office desk has some seriously sharp cutting tools.”
By the time she got within touching distance, Grant grabbed her hand and curled her into his arms, planting a big kiss on her lips, not caring who saw. “You’re amazing.”
She giggled under her breath and Grant wanted to kiss her again. “You weren’t so bad yourself. I caught most of the show from back there.” Her thumb pointed over her shoulder.
“What?” the General shouted to be heard over the sirens that had clearly reached the parking lot. “Don’t I count for anything?”
Violet pulled away and slid into her grandfather’s embrace, kissing him on the cheek. “You were wonderful too.”
Oh hell, was Grant in trouble. He really had it bad for Violet. Why else would he be jealous of kisses for an old man?
***
“I still say the next time you’re going to confront the mob, you should bring me along. I know a thing or two about this.” Ralph played a card. Most of the night he’d been grumbling and frowning at the General. “A man learns a thing or two working the trains back in the day.”
“Ralph,” the General lowered his hands to rest on the table, “I did not go looking to confront anyone. Neither Grant nor I had anyway of knowing his supervisor has a gambling problem or that he was into his bookie for over five figures. Shit happens.”
“Your language, dear,” Fiona Hart said softly. The General sighed, Ralph harrumphed, Thelma rolled her eyes and Grant did his best not to laugh. For most of the evening the only topic of discussion during the impromptu late night card game had been tonight’s excitement.
“If you ask me,” Lucy came in carrying a tray of snacks, “it’s a miracle none of you got yourselves killed.”
“I’ll admit,” Violet came in behind Lucy with her cousins in tow, “I’d pay big bucks never to be in that situation again.”
“You did good cutting off the battery.” The General smiled for the first time since sitting down to play.
A huge grin spread across Violet’s face. “I am rather proud of myself. I don’t know squat about cars except that a car won’t go far without a battery.”
“He was behind the wheel cussing when the police arrived.” Grant played a low card and hoped it was the right move. Things were on a roll today and he didn’t want to get on the General’s bad side. Even if he had decided not to pursue the purchase of Hart Land. “Foolishly made a break on foot, but not soon enough.”
“Are you going to have to testify?” Thelma asked.
Grant shrugged. “If it comes to that.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t.” Ralph sighed as the General scooped up the trick. “The mob can be mean.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.” The General played his next card. “I’ve spoken with a few people and the victim’s statement is enough to get the ball rolling.”
“I really hope it ends there.” Fiona Hart heaved a deep sigh and poked at her rug. “Nasty business.”
“That it is,” Ralph agreed.
The General asked over his card. “What’s going to happen to the supervisor, Larry?”
“Don’t know. Need to talk to my partner. From what I was able to piece together, in over his head, he began selling our high end fixtures and replacing them with inferior product and keeping the profit, but things got out of hand.”
Violet set her glass of lemonade on the table beside her. “I guess it’s a good thing we walked in on him or this could have gone on for much longer.”
“Not likely.” Grant shook his head. “My partner Joe has been running around fixing plumbing failures at different projects. This last mess would have brought everything to light sooner than later.”
“Wouldn’t have minded if it had been sooner.” Violet smiled at him. “Chasing after bad guys with guns is best on TV, thank you.”
“I propose we shift to a more pleasant subject.” Fiona looked up and smiled.
“That would be bedtime for me.” Lucy looked around the room. “Anyone need something before I retire?”
A multitude of voices echoed no, thank you, and goodnight. Except Violet. Playing out the last card in the hand, she stood. “It’s been a long day and I’m right behind Lucy.”
Grant’s gaze met Violet’s and suddenly he couldn’t think of anything more appealing than walking her home. Without skipping a beat, he stood up and laid the last card down. “I’m wiped also, folks.”
All he could think of was quickly saying his goodnights and walking Violet to her cabin.
Outside Hart House, Violet paused and took a deep breath. “I think this is one of the lightest winters we’ve ever had. I’d almost swear spring is around the corner.”
“Considering how quickly time passes, I consider anything after the New Year as almost spring.” Grant hesitated, waited as she brushed her hands together, blew into them for warmth and then, when her hand fell to her side he slid hers into his and raised the clasping hands up between them. “Do you mind?”
Her lips tipped north and a smile spread across her face. “Not at all. I like it.”
“Good, because so do I.”
The walk to her cabin was short. Too short. At her door he didn’t want to leave. He felt like a teenage kid after a first date. Should he kiss her? Should he be considerate and let her go inside? Should he search for something else to say? Drag the moment on?
Her back to the door, she leveled her gaze with his. “Would you like to come in for some hot chocolate? Or maybe tea?”
Which would take longer to make? “I’d love to. Thank you.” Without letting go of her hand, he followed her inside. At some point he knew he’d have to let go. Give her back her hand. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go just yet. Still he couldn’t hold on to her forever. Slowly he loosened his hold on her hand. “Hot chocolate would be nice if it’s not too much trouble.”
Easing away from him so slowly, he wondered if maybe she hadn’t wanted to lose contact any more than he had. His nephew’s favorite song from an old animated movie popped into his mind. He should have just kissed the girl.
He was still standing, rooted to the floor, when she called from the kitchen. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. This will only take a minute. Literally. I use the microwave, but don’t tell Lucy, she’d have a cow.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Biting back a grin, he sank into the comfortable sofa.
“And here we go. I even put little marshmallows on the top. Hope you like them.” She handed off one mug and tucking her foot underneath her, sank into the seat beside him.
“Definitely. What’s hot chocolate without marshmallows?”
This cabin was definitely more contemporary than his cabin. Besides being much larger, it felt more like a home than a vacation rental. On top of that the view from the sofa was the next best thing to standing on the shore.
“A penny for your thoughts?” She blew on the top of the hot chocolate.
“The view is perfect.” And he didn’t mean just the shoreline.
Violet sank back into the sofa. “It really is. Every time I’m here, I swear I’ll come more often.”
“Or just stay?” After such a short time at the lake, ditching the chaos of the real world held much more appeal than it did when he arrived and learned internet was near non-existent.
A cute grin tugged at the corner of her cheeks as she peered over the edge of the mug and out the picture glass window. “I’ve thought about it.”
“Changing your mind about the studio?” His heart dipped low in his chest.
She shook her head. “Not seriously.”
“But you’ve thought about it?”
“For half a second.”
“You’re sure?”
She sucked in a deep breath that made his heart sink as if he’d hit an air pocket during flight, but she nodded and he felt on even ground again. “Sure.”
Before he could say a word, she’d shifted her weight until she was leaning against him, her head tucked into his shoulder. If Violet stayed tucked into his side, if tonight never ended, life—his life—would be better than good. Maybe his grandfather had a point, remaining a bachelor isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.