Janet Evanovich - Full Tilt

"Go back to bed, kitten," Frankie said, his warm breath creating a vapor in the cold air as he spoke. "I'll take care of it."

"I can't just lie here. Something must be wrong for them to show up here in the middle of the night." Deedee checked her reflection in the mirror over the vanity. "Eeyeuuw, my hair looks terrible. I should wake Beenie."

"Let him sleep, honey. Your hair looks fine. Besides, Beenie will pitch a tantrum and throw all your hairbrushes in the toilet like he did last time he got angry."

Deedee slipped on her own bathrobe. "I know he's temperamental, but it's part of his creative nature."

Frankie shrugged and opened the door, letting her pass through first. "If you're happy with him, that's all that matters. We can afford to buy hairbrushes."

The housekeeper was in the process of making coffee and preparing sandwiches for Max and Jamie when Frankie and Deedee joined them. Deedee took one look at Jamie's bandaged leg.

"Oh, no!" she cried. "What happened to you?

"It's just a small cut," Jamie said. "I'm more annoyed than anything."

"There was a shooting at the newspaper office," Max said. "Just some drunk with a gun, no doubt. The glass from Jamie's window shattered, and a piece of it hit her leg. The paramedic put a couple of butterfly stitches on it, no big deal."

Deedee's hand flew to her breasts. "You could have been killed!"

Jamie knew Max was trying to play it down so as not to frighten Deedee. Frankie was hell-bent on protecting her. There was no way they could pretend it hadn't happened because the local TV station would broadcast news like that for the next six months. Deedee would find out eventually. "Yeah, I figure it was probably a redneck with his grandpa's deer rifle trying to show off. Or maybe the quilting club."

"You called the police, right?" Frankie said.

Max nodded. "They're investigating now. I brought Jamie here because I wanted to make sure her leg was okay."

Jamie nodded. "In case it starts bleeding," she said. "I don't have any Band-Aids at home, and all the stores are closed."

"That was a good idea," Deedee said, taking Jamie's hand in hers. "I know all about first aid. I took a course. And you don't have to worry about a thing because we'll take good care of you. This place is crawling with security." Deedee looked adoringly at her husband, then at Max. "And we have two big strong men in the house."

The housekeeper set a plate of sandwiches in front of Max and Jamie. "Would anyone like coffee?"

All four nodded.

"So you think the shooting was random," Frankie said.

"I can't imagine why anyone would want to hurt either of us," Max replied, his eyes making contact with Frankie. The two exchanged silent messages. Frankie seemed to get it, but remained poker-faced.

"That has to be it," Deedee said. "We read about this sort of thing all the time. I can't believe we have so many psychos running loose."

Jamie took a bite of her sandwich. She was not the least bit hungry, but she was trying her best to act calm. "Great chicken salad," she told the housekeeper. "You must've known Max and I were starving to death." The woman smiled at her.

Jamie looked from Frankie to Deedee. "My managing editor's mother was sent to the ER today. Max was kind enough to help me get the newspaper out on time."

"Besides," Deedee continued as though she weren't listening to the conversation. "Why would anyone try to hurt Jamie?"

Jamie shrugged. "The only person who dislikes me right now is Vera. I can't afford to give her a raise."

"Sweetheart, why don't you go back to bed?" Frankie suggested to his wife. "I'll make sure Max and Jamie get settled in."

"Frankie's right," Max said. "You look exhausted."

Deedee glanced around the table. "Why is everyone trying to get rid of me?" When they didn't respond right away, she looked suspicious. "Something's going on, isn't it? Something none of you want me to find out about. What is it?" She didn't wait for anyone to answer. "This has something to do with Frankie's campaign, doesn't it? Oh, Lord, I knew it."

"I certainly don't see a connection," Max said.

"Oh, yeah? First we get threatening letters, now someone is trying to kill you and Jamie. Why are you keeping it from me?"

"Now, honey." Frankie reached for her hand and squeezed it. "One has nothing to do with the other."

"You're getting upset over nothing, big sister," Max said. "Jamie and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Max is right," Jamie said. "We were working in my office, which overlooks Main Street. We were easy targets."

"Lamar will find the person responsible," Frankie said.

Deedee didn't look convinced. "Well, I don't think Jamie should go back to work until they find this person. What if he returns?"

Jamie shook her head. "I'm not the least bit worried. Vera keeps a gun with her at all times, and she's mean enough to use it."

"You're shivering, Jamie," Max said.

"Oh, my," Deedee said. "She's probably in shock, poor thing."

Jamie knew Deedee kept the air-conditioning just above freezing because of her hot flashes, but she wasn't about to bring it up, knowing how sensitive her friend was on the subject. She had never been so damn cold in her life. She would have wrestled a bear for his hide right now. "I'm fine," she insisted.

"Honey, let me take you upstairs and tuck you into bed," Deedee offered. "You can sleep as late as you want."

Frankie waited until he and Max were alone before he spoke. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Max said.

The big man settled back in his chair. "Now tell me what really happened."

Max waited until the housekeeper refilled their coffee cups and went off to bed. "Do you know anyone besides the mayor who doesn't want you to win?"

"Could be a bunch of his cronies don't want to lose their jobs. They got this good-old-boy system. The people running this town are all either related by blood or marriage. Maybe they're hoping to scare me off."

"The person responsible for the shooting was trying to do more than scare someone off, Frankie. We're talking attempted murder here." Max described the type of gun that had been used.

"Don't tell Deedee," Frankie said.

"I know how protective you are where my sister's concerned," Max said, "but she's bound to find out sooner or later, and she's not going to appreciate your keeping it from her." He chuckled. "It would be just like her to insist on taking shooting lessons."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Max grinned. "She's still a handful. Anyway, in the meantime, I'll help you look into it, if you like. Truth is, it smells like rotten money, and I think the fact that you threatened to investigate the missing tax dollars stirred up a hornet's nest. If someone is willing to kill over it, you can bet it's serious."

"But why go after you and Jamie?"

"Because it's impossible to get to you, what with all the security you've got. And the powers that be will suspect I'm going to help you look into it, which I have every intention of doing. They know I have the resources to do it right."

"This is nothing like wrestling," Frankie said. "At least I could look across the ring and see my opponent." He shook his head sadly. "What can I do to help?"

* * * * *

Jamie felt somebody watching her. She opened her eyes and bolted upright in the bed. "What the hell?"

Beenie screamed and almost tripped on his own two feet jumping back. "Oh, Lordy, you scared me half to death!" he cried. "My heart is going pitter-patter, pitter-patter. I almost weeweed on myself."

"Beenie, don't you ever slip up on me like that," Jamie said, pulling a baseball bat from beneath the covers. "You're lucky I didn't bash your brains."

He eyed the bat and cocked one slender hip, planting his hand on it as though miffed. "Wherever did you get that weapon?"