Nora Roberts Land(21)
She flipped through his notes, not even bothering to ask how he’d received the tox screens. “Doesn’t look like the hospital found anything but marijuana and alcohol.”
“Neither of those things usually make kids sick enough to puke like that. Something’s not right.” He pointed to her. “You need to convince Jill to ask some questions.”
“No way.”
He huffed.
“Anything else?”
His mouth twisted. “No. Have your ideas for the editorial on my desk tomorrow.”
She picked at her button again, wanting to close the loop on his earlier speculation. “Please leave me in peace, Grandpa.”
His eyes lifted from the page. “If I believed you were in peace, Mermaid, I would. But you’re not. And since you won’t tell me why, I’m going to have to dig.” He picked up a file. “You’re my granddaughter, and if that prick is bothering you, I won’t tolerate it. Now, get out of here and let an old man do some work. Kitty has a desk for you.”
Meredith left with feet of clay. Her hope of keeping things a secret had soured. Arthur Hale had teased the truth out of mendacious politicians. She didn’t stand a chance. Damn. She didn’t want to protect Rick, but the information she had on him would keep him from bothering her.
Would her grandpa care? Hell no. The public had a right to know.
She was dead meat.
Chapter 9
You girls have a good time,” their mom called out as Jill and Meredith walked away from the house. “See you in the morning before we take off.”
“Okay.” They both waved at her, and she hustled inside.
“Man, I’m stuffed.” Jill rubbed her belly. “Mom really is glad to have you back. Otherwise, why would she cook a spread like that right before they leave for three months?”
Meredith unlocked her Audi, marveling at the return of her appetite. It was like the switch to her taste buds and stomach had been flicked. She was actually craving food for the first time in forever. And she didn’t feel too badly about it—yet.
“I’ve gotta start swimming again, or I’ll be fatter than Aunt Harriet.”
Jill snapped her seat belt on. “Right, like you’d ever have a weight problem. Fingernails feeling a bit heavy? Muffin-top cuticles?” She snorted. “You’re skinnier than I’ve ever seen you.”
“You can credit the divorce diet. And working out like crazy. Kept me sane.”
“Well, those days are a thing of the past. We’re going to go home, get dolled up, and head out to Hairy’s tonight. Make sure you wear your best La Perla. I have a plan.”
An hour later, Meredith followed Jill into Hairy’s Pub. The owner had famously misspelled the name on the small business permit. Poor Harry O’Brien had too much Irish pride to admit he’d been drunk, so he called the name ironic. Since he was super hairy, most people agreed.
Harry had given into the new non-smoking ordinance, but he hadn’t changed much else. A hardcore Irish band played on the speakers, reminding her of the theme song to The Departed. Stains and scuff marks dotted the hardwood floors. Wooden booths ran in rows, while the bar angled in an L shape.
A neon-colored rainbow with a pot of gold at the end flashed in time with a naughty leprechaun. Vintage Guinness beer signs and mirrors lined the wall along with placards of funny Irish sayings like As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction—ouch.
“It’s packed,” Jill yelled over the music. “I figured we could try some informal speed dating.”
Meredith unwound her white scarf so the V-neck of her navy top was visible. “What?”
“This is a legal-only zone. Harry hates students. He’ll call the cops over a fake ID, and everyone on campus knows it.”
Jill sidled up to the bar and pulled Meredith through a throng of women. The TVs in the corner were playing old football games and ESPN’s current programming. Meredith clutched her purse, channeling Divorcée Woman. She could do this. It only took confidence and courage, right?
Right.
“Hey, Mike,” Jill called to the bartender.
Meredith remembered him—he had the reputation for being a total ladies’ man. So not Duncan Swift from High Noon, more’s the pity.
“My sister, Meredith, is back in town. We need your best pull. Murphy’s.”
He flashed her a wicked grin and reached for two glasses. “Let me know if you need a tour, sis.”
“I will,” she responded, not meaning it. She had no interest in a ladies’ man. Been there, done that.
The bartender handed Jill the full glasses with a wink. She set Meredith’s beer down while taking a sip from her own. “Okay, let’s migrate to the corner. I can scan better from there and run you through your options.”