Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Bex?”
“Rebecca Gordon,” he says with a raised eyebrow. “Mr. Gordon’s niece? She told me you’ve met.”
Her name was Bex? “Was she there? I thought she only worked nights.”
When Brady coughs into his hand Ken elbows him.
“Oh, come on,” Brady says, tugging on Ken’s long, dark braid. “Who is Mr. Baseball going to tell? He’s a posterchild for clean living and American values.”
“Why do you think I gave George the okay to let him stay in the building?” Ken sighs. “Fine. Bex works for me. Just like her uncle. And she’s always there. She lives one floor below you and she’s not big on fresh air.”
I slam my beer down on the table and lean forward. “Mr. Gordon’s niece is Fourth? But she said—the elevator…”
Ken shares an amused glance with Brady. “She gets bored in between jobs. Not a big fan of humans in general, but she only messes with people she likes, so you’re in good company. And she’s a whiz with gadgets. Invaluable. Everyone in that building is. They’re why I did the renovation. Call it a bonus for jobs well done.”
I still can’t get over the fact that she trapped us in the elevator on purpose. Because she was bored? I don’t know whether to be pissed off or grateful. Maybe both. “We had no idea. Joey thought she was reanimating bodies.”
Brady and Ken laugh, and Seamus drags a stool over to join us. “This sounds intriguing. Are you saying you put JD’s brother in with a whole building of people who work for you? I though you said you’d take care of him?”
“I didn’t make him move there,” Ken points out. “He wanted to. And that is taking care of him. You can’t find a safer building in the city. Not even our place has a Bex and Mr. Gordon. It was the least I could do after what he did for Noah and Zachary.”
“I’m really lost.” And wishing I had an orange soda instead of this beer. “Why did you need to take care of Joey?”
I’m hoping it’s not as nefarious as it sounds.
“His brother, JD, makes me laugh,” Ken says simply. “And Joey earned the Finns’ loyalty for sending help for Brady’s brother after the fire. One of Joey’s best employees has been taking care of Little Zach and his father Noah for months now, free of charge. Joey flew him out and pays for everything Jae needs to stick around. It was more than generous and means a great deal to the family. So we decided to do what we could to help him out if he ever needed it. Holding that apartment for him was just one our ideas.”
Seamus Finn answers my question before I ask it. “Tanaka’s brand of helping is sort of…specialized. He’s not the kind of friend to help you move your couch, but if you have a high-profile problem, he’s your man. Ken has eyes and ears everywhere. And computer hackers. He’s like James Bond.”
Brady grins at Seamus. “I always thought Batman.” He swings a thick arm around Tanaka’s shoulders and gives him a squeeze.
Blushing slightly, Ken answers. “For the record, I would absolutely help you move a couch. But Seamus’s point, I suppose, is that by setting him up in that one building filled with residents who are not only in my employ, but also people I trust, is my way of taking care of Joey. And it’s a good thing you were both there, considering our current predicament.”
“My buddy George doesn’t work for you,” I protest. Though he did tell me to trust Tanaka with my life and Rue’s safety.
“Doesn’t he though?” Ken winks, dragging his braid over his shoulder so Brady will stop fiddling with it. “He has contacts in high places, a personality only you and certain secret societies could love, and he writes fiction, so people rarely see him as a threat.”
Shit. Is he saying my buddy from college spies for him or something? What kind of security business does he have? “I haven’t had enough to drink for this day.”
“Unfortunately, that’s the last beer we have time for,” Ken says. “No wallowing. We’re involved now. I really didn’t plan on it this time, but I’m not about to leave the situation in its current state.”
“It seems fairly FUBARed,” Brady agrees with a nod. “And in a way, we’re partially responsible, since you two wouldn’t have met if we hadn’t kept that apartment open for him.”
Ignoring the knife in my belly, I ward them off with a hand. “It’s not fucked up. My manager said Joey saved the day. Now I have an interview with a daytime host about my baseball academy the day after tomorrow. I’ll introduce Rue and things will be fine. Perfect. Problem fucking solved.”
Seamus frowns at me in genuine concern. “Well, that wasn’t convincing at all. Was that your first lie? Because my son, Jake, could run circles around you, and he’s not all that good at it either.”