Norville knew Piper’s exact age? That was just plain wrong.
“I’ll tell her to call Mom.” Sure, that was going to happen.
“You’ll go away for kidnapping,” he threatened. “I don’t care how fancy you think you are, it won’t matter when they send you to Pikeville.”
Drake laughed. “Thought you were going to kill me, Dad. Which is it?”
“I think killing’s too easy. Thirty years in prison is a much better way to go. I have friends who’ll fuck you up.”
“It was great talking to you, Dad. Give my love to Mom.”
Drake hung up the phone. He had all the information he was going to get.
Drake checked on the three men as he headed back toward his vehicle at the old drive-in theatre.
***
When Drake got back to the chalet, it was almost midnight. Aiden let him into the gate, and when he came in the door, he saw Karen still on the couch.
“Why is she still on the couch and not in a bedroom?” Drake demanded.
“She wanted to wait up for you.”
“Trenda put up with that shit? You did?”
“The teacher is pretty formidable. Come on, let’s go into the study where we won’t disturb her.” Drake saw that Aiden had already set up shop with his laptop on the desk. Aiden pulled open a cabinet and waved his hand in front of a wide array of liquor bottles. “What’s your poison?”
“I don’t suppose they have a beer?”
“You plebian.” Aiden opened a small mini fridge. Drake went over and pulled out an IPA. Meanwhile, Aiden poured himself some Irish Malt Whiskey. They sat across from one another in the plush leather arm chairs.
“So, how’d it go with Daddy Dearest?”
“Typical day at the Avery’s. He tried to kill me again.”
Aiden continued to sip his beverage, unperturbed by the information. “Yes, I’ve read your testimony that put your father away. It sounded like he would have killed you that day in the basement. Piper ended up in surgery, right?”
“I think she’s always going to end up with problems with her arm because of what that bastard did to her. He wants me dead right now, no big surprise. But what was really interesting is that Dad knew exactly how old Piper was. He said that she would be a minor for a year and three months.”
“Ahhh, he wants to become more involved.”
Drake choked on his swallow of beer.
“Sure, we could look at it that way,” he said slowly. “I have to ask Trenda if Mom is counting on any sort of entitlements while Piper lives with her.”
“I can’t imagine there’s much,” Aiden said as he sat back in the chair.
There was a knock on the door, then it pushed open. “Is this a private party?”
“Shouldn’t you be up in a room?” Drake asked Karen.
“I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said firmly.
Aiden finished his whiskey and then stood up. “I’m out of here. Nothing personal, but you scare me when you use that teacher tone, Miss Eastman.”
“What does a teacher tone sound like?”
“A little more clipped like you want me to clean the chalkboard or take saltpeter.”
Karen laughed.
“She’s out of here too,” Drake said to Aiden’s back. “I’m taking you up to a room,” he said to Karen.
“I’m fine on the couch.” He put his arm around her and guided her up the stairs.
“Which room did Trenda give you?”
“The one next to yours.” Even in the dim light of the hall, he could see her blush.
“She didn’t mean anything by it, Karen. Unless of course there’s a connecting door, then I’m going to kiss my sister.” He pushed open her door and turned on the lights. This room was done in rose and gold tones. “Let’s get you settled.”
“I do not need to be settled. I need to talk to you about something.” She reached around him and shut the door.
She might not think she needed to be settled, but her ribs were obviously causing her pain, he could tell just by the way she leaned on him up the stairs. At some point, his sisters must have talked her out of the pantsuit because she was wearing pink plaid flannel pajamas. They matched her toenails.
“For God’s sake, Karen, why aren’t you wearing socks?”
“Oh shit, they’re on the couch, I must have kicked them off. I can’t leave them there.” She tried to push by him.
“Don’t worry about somebody finding your socks, your feet have to be freezing. Get into that bed right now.”
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” She threw back her hair and stared up at him in amazement. “Is surly and dictatorial your go-to attitude when dealing with women?”