Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) (17 page)

“And how are you going to take photos without them noticing, brainiac?” Max challenged. “They’re not drunk enough to ignore you standing two feet away – which is how close you’re going to have to get if you want to get decent photos in this lighting – and not question you about your intentions.”

“It will be fine, Max,” Ivy soothed, patting his hand. “I’m very subtle and sneaky.”

“You’re neither.”

“I could be a spy if I wanted to go that route,” Ivy argued, hopping off her bar stool. “Everything is going to be fine. Trust me.”

“This is going to end in disaster,” Max muttered, reaching for his beer. “I hope this place is insured, because something tells me things are about to go very wrong.”

Toni didn’t appear perturbed at the prospect. “If she burns it down I’ll be fine with it,” she said. “At least then I’ll get a day off.”

“
D
oes
someone want to explain what happened here?”

Jack tugged on his waning patience and fought the urge to explode as he placed his hands on his hips and surveyed the disheveled bar patrons in the parking lot behind Coyote Moon an hour later. The fact that Ivy was one of them hadn’t escaped his attention. He hadn’t acknowledged it either, though.

“I can tell you exactly what happened,” Virgil said, still clutching his beer glass with one hand as he raised the other as if he was a student waiting for the teacher to call on him in class.

“Great,” Jack gritted out. “What happened?”

“Well, we were playing cards and minding out own business … .”

“Being the upstanding members of the community that we are,” Marvin interjected. “We respect the law and your authority here, officer.”

“I’m thrilled to hear that,” Jack deadpanned, purposely ignoring Brian’s snicker as his partner rested against the cruiser and watched the scene unfold.

“We were playing cards and that … hellion … came up and started taking photographs of us,” Virgil finished. “She invaded our privacy and everything.”

“I see.” Jack shifted his narrowed eyes to Ivy. “Would you like to explain why you were taking photographs in a bar?”

“Um … I’m good,” Ivy said, shifting closer to Max. She had no idea why she felt the inclination to huddle closer to her brother – given his black eye from defending her, he wasn’t particularly thrilled to be in her presence – but anything was better than Jack’s cold tone and obvious fury.

“You’re good?” Jack arched a challenging eyebrow. “This is an official inquiry, Ms. Morgan. You are required to answer questions or risk being taken into custody.”

“I’ll answer whatever questions you want,” Art volunteered, his greasy brown hair gleaming under the moonlight. “In fact, I’ll make things easy for you. She’s at fault and should be arrested. The rest of us should be free to return to our cards and beer.”

“You should’ve brought your beer with you,” Virgil said. “I told you when she ran we would be away a lot longer than you thought we would be. You insisted on chasing her, though.”

“You chased her?” Jack had no idea if he was angrier with Ivy or the men who would dare chase his girlfriend. It was a tough call.

“She broke the law and invaded my privacy,” Virgil replied. “She had it coming.”

“I just … .” Jack ran a frustrated hand through his hair and cast a forlorn look in Brian’s direction. “Maybe you should handle this.”

“I was hoping you would say that,” Brian said, pushing his body away from the vehicle and flashing Jack a cheeky grin. He was clearly enjoying himself. “Gentleman, if you promise not to chase women around parking lots while threatening them, I will let you off with a warning and you can return to your cards and beer.”

“We agree to your terms,” Virgil said, bobbing his head up and down. “I hope you throw the book at her, though.”

“I think that’s a distinct possibility,” Brian said, locking gazes with Ivy. “Just for the record, though, which one of you punched Max?”

This time Ivy was the one to raise her hand, catching both Jack and Brian off guard.

“Seriously?” Brian was incredulous. “Why would you punch your brother?”

“Because she’s a menace,” Max hissed, jerking his arm away from Ivy. “I was trying to protect her and she did this.” He pointed toward his eye for emphasis. “I’m with those guys. Throw the book at her.”

“Hey, I thought you were one of them and I was protecting myself,” Ivy argued. “I didn’t mean to punch you. It was instinct. You act as if I’ve never punched you before. Man up! You’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, just think, the women will be all over you when they think you’re wounded and in need of care,” Brian said, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe you’ll be able to convince someone to play naughty nurse with you.”

Max brightened at the suggestion. “Well, that’s the best possibility I’ve heard all day.”

“You guys can go,” Brian said, turning his attention back to the four men. “Don’t cause any trouble tonight, because if we have to come out here a second time we’ll definitely take you into custody.”

“We were having a perfectly good evening until the evil temptress walked into our lair and infringed on our personal liberties,” Virgil argued. “Blame her.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jack supplied. “I’m definitely going to blame her.”

Ivy swallowed hard but her senses returned before Virgil had a chance to walk away. “Wait! He has my phone.” She pointed for emphasis.

Brian wordlessly held out his hand and Virgil appeared reluctant to hand over the iPhone.

“I want my photograph deleted from that thing,” Virgil said. “I don’t like having my picture taken.”

“Why?” Brian asked, accepting the phone. “Do you think it steals your soul or something?”

Virgil made a face. “No. I just like being pretty when my image is being captured for the enjoyment of the masses. I didn’t get a chance to shower today. I don’t look as pretty as I could.”

Ivy snorted. “Don’t kid yourself,” she snapped. “I smelled you when you tried to wrestle the phone away. You haven’t showered in a week … at least.”

“And you smelled pretty,” Virgil sneered. “I’ll be thinking about that all night tonight. How does that make you feel?”

“Hey, that will be enough of that,” Jack warned, extending a finger. “Go back inside. We’ll deal with the … evil temptress.”

“You do that,” Virgil said. “Delete those photos, too. She didn’t have permission to take them.”

“Her phone is evidence, but once we’ve gotten everything sorted out I’ll get right on that,” Brian said dryly.

The foursome remained quiet until the men disappeared inside. The moment that happened Jack lost the limited cool quotient he was clinging to. “What in the hell did you think you were doing?”

Instead of apologizing – or even feeling guilty for her actions – Ivy strode forward and poked Jack in the middle of his chest. “Don’t yell at me!”

Max slapped his hand to his forehead. “Great, Ivy. That’s the way to handle this situation. Dig your heels in. This should end well. Just know, if he dumps you, I’m not sitting by your bedside holding your hand while you cry. I won’t do it.”

“He’s not going to break up with me,” Ivy shot back. “He’s going to yell … and pace … and make a lot of noise. He won’t break up with me, though.”

Jack narrowed his eyes. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you told me that you wouldn’t,” Ivy replied, not missing a beat. “You told me that you were happy with me and you even like it when we fight. You’re not going to let something like this – a very minor thing, mind you – derail our relationship. I have faith.”

“See, I am happy you have faith because you’re right,” Jack said. “I’m not breaking up with you. I’m not happy with you and your actions right now, though. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that Dan Dorsey played cards out here and maybe the person who framed him did the same,” Ivy explained, unruffled. “I wanted to see who the regulars were, and let me tell you something, they’re all jerks.”

“What did you want the photos for?” Brian asked, genuinely curious.

“I wanted something to show Jessica,” Ivy answered. “I thought she could rule these guys in or out pretty easily. She seems more open to helping. I know you said that a photo lineup isn’t admissible in court, but if I show her the photos then you guys are off the hook.”

“That’s actually … a pretty good idea,” Brian said.

“Don’t encourage her,” Jack muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “How did you even find out Dorsey played cards here? He didn’t tell us that. We tried to get him to discuss people who might want to frame him and he spouted some nonsense about God clearing it up when the end of the world came. We ordered another psych evaluation because no one is comfortable setting him loose amongst the general populace in case he tries to bite them or something.”

“Douglas Dorsey came to see me today,” Ivy said. “His mother made him apologize. We talked for a little bit – he called me a ball-buster, by the way – and then he let slip about the card games.”

“You
are
a ball-buster,” Jack muttered, shuffling from one foot to the other as he considered Ivy’s words. “What do you think about all of this?”

“I think I’m a genius,” Ivy said.

“I was talking to Max,” Jack shot back, shaking his head. “How did you let her talk you into this?”

“She explained that you wouldn’t be happy with the excursion and there was no way I was going to let her go alone,” Max replied matter-of-factly. “She’s my sister. I know you’re in a relationship, but she’s still my sister and I’ve known her longer. She’s stubborn. She was going to head out here alone if I didn’t come with her. She needed a chaperone.

“You should be thankful she thought ahead to ask me in the first place,” he continued. “If I hadn’t been here … well … let’s just say things would’ve been pretty bad.”

“I handled myself just fine,” Ivy argued.

“You kicked two of them and punched me,” Max argued. “I took on the other two and protected you. I’m a hero and should be treated as such.”

“Fine,” Ivy muttered. “I’ll make you a blackberry pie tomorrow.”

“And blueberry.” Max crossed his arms over his chest, practically daring Ivy to challenge him.

“And blueberry,” Ivy conceded. “Will that make you happy?”

“I’ll be happy once I go to a regular bar and all of the women fall over themselves to play nurse for me,” Max said. “Can I be done here?”

Brian nodded. “Try not to throw your back out when you’re getting your sponge bath.”

“No promises,” Max said, offering Ivy a small wink to let her know there were no hard feelings before moving in the direction of his truck. “Try to keep your temper in check, Jack. She is who she is and you like who she is.”

“I never said I didn’t,” Jack said. “I would just like her better if she wouldn’t do dangerous stuff all of the time.”

“Well, then she wouldn’t be her,” Max said. “I’ll be by for my pies tomorrow, Ivy. Make sure they’re good ones. I want the little cutout fruit shapes made out of dough and everything.”

“Wait!” Ivy cast a desperate look toward Max as he shifted to face her. “I need a ride home. We came together.”

“I think Jack is taking you home,” Max said, chuckling.

“But … .”

“Oh, no, honey,” Jack said, his voice taking on a falsetto tone. “Max is right. I am taking you home. We obviously need some quality time together to talk.”

“You mean yell,” Ivy clarified, shaking her head. “I’m not in the mood to yell.”

“That’s okay,” Jack said, holding out his arm to usher her toward the cruiser. “I can do enough of it for both of us.”

“Here,” Brian said, handing Ivy her phone. “I think the photos are a good idea. I’d start with Virgil. He obviously didn’t want his photograph shown to anyone, and I doubt very much it was because he didn’t feel pretty.”

“Yeah, I’m going to see Jessica first thing in the morning,” Ivy said. “She’s helping at the nursery greenhouse for a little bit and then I plan on taking her back to the house so she can help with Max’s pies.”

“That’s good,” Brian said. “Keep me updated if you find something.” He cast a glance over his shoulder and raised his hand to catch Max’s attention. “I’m coming with you.”

Now Ivy felt really desperate. “What? You need to ride with Jack and me. I … you have to.”

“I think you and Jack need quality time together, Ivy,” Brian said, his eyes twinkling. “I don’t want to get in the way of that.”

“But he won’t yell as much if you’re there,” Ivy whined.

“Well, you’re a big girl,” Brian countered. “You need to suck it up.” He patted Jack’s shoulder by way of saying goodbye. “Call me if you come up with anything after I’m gone.”

“That’s on top of my list,” Jack said, licking his lips. “Ms. Morgan, if you’ll make your way to the cruiser, I would be happy to drive you home.”

“This bites,” Ivy muttered, scuffing the toe of her shoe against the dirt parking lot. “I’m going to yell back. I hope you’re ready for it.”

“Oh, I’m looking forward to it, honey,” Jack said, pressing his hand to the small of Ivy’s back. “I think it’s going to make both of us feel better when it’s all said and done.”

“You’re a masochist.”

“I can live with that.”

“
W
HEW
!”
Ivy rolled to her side in her bed an hour and a half later and rested her head on Jack’s shoulder, struggling to catch her breath. “That was a fun fight.”

Jack tugged Ivy’s comforter up to make sure they were both covered, his eyes drifting shut as his heart rate slowly returned to normal. “That was a pretty good fight,” he agreed. “The making up was even better.”

“I was talking about the making up.”

“I know,” Jack said, chuckling as he rested his hand on top of hers and clutched her fingers. “Did I yell too much?”

“You didn’t really yell all that much,” Ivy said. “You were calm the entire drive. I didn’t particularly like the part where you said you were disappointed because I didn’t tell you my plan, but the rest wasn’t too bad.”

“I am disappointed,” Jack said. “I thought we were a team.”

“We are a team,” Ivy said. “I just … you’ve been so busy and I thought it would be an easy trip. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” Jack clarified. “I’m actually glad you took Max. That was the smartest thing you did all night.”

“I thought the photographs were smart.”

“Those, too,” Jack said, pressing his lips to her forehead and shifting so they were both more comfortable. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Did you even consider asking me to go with you?”

“I did.” Ivy’s answer took Jack by surprise. “I worried that would put you in a bad position for your job, though. I figured if I did it, if I was doing something illegal, it wouldn’t blow back on you. I wasn’t trying to be sneaky.”

“Really?” Jack wasn’t convinced of her sincerity.

“Okay, I wasn’t only trying to be sneaky,” Ivy said. “I don’t want you getting hurt because of me, though, Jack. I couldn’t take that.”