Something About Harry(68)

Harry sat back in his chair, his shoulders sagging. “So the person who took Carl is probably the same person who took the kids.”

Carl thumped once more.

“Do you know this person, Carl? Have you ever seen this person before?” Mara asked, pressing the edges of the duct tape on his finger to secure it.

Carl didn’t move.

No. Damn. “Did she talk about me and Harry, Carl? Did she talk about the kids?”

Carl thumped once more.

“Maybe we should be more direct rather than generalize? My gut says whoever this is, even though she took Carl, she wouldn’t let slip much that was important. Not if she’s a smart kidnapper, anyway, even with Carl unable to speak,” Harry suggested. “Did the lady say anything else but our names, Carl?” Harry asked.

Carl played statue.

Damn, damn, damn.

“But who is this woman? How are Carl and the children connected in her mind other than to both of you?” Wanda chirped from the laptop, straightening in her seat. “I go back to my original theory, Harry. Do you have any ex-girlfriends with the potential to do harm? Whatever this is about, part of it is about you and Mara being together. That much is obvious.”

Harry shook his head. “I’ve only had a couple of serious girlfriends, and I think I can quite honestly say with no disrespect intended, they wouldn’t go to these lengths to catch my attention. I don’t think they’re capable of putting something like this together.”

Mara’s heart sang a stupid song, giddy over the fact that if nothing else, she won the biggest brains contest. Knock that off, Mara. It’s catty and petty. “So for now we rule out a jealous ex and focus on what? None of this makes sense. I certainly don’t know anyone who cares one way or the other about our pretend relationship.”

“Astrid,” Harry dropped the word like a bomb.

Mara’s head swung upward. She was definitely smart enough, and she’d certainly expressed her displeasure about her and Harry dating. “She doesn’t have swingy hair like me.”

“A wig?” Wanda suggested.

Mara shook her head. “Astrid’s quirky and even sometimes possessive, but she’s not—”

“Nutty as squirrel shit, Short-Shot? I’m here to tell ya, I’ve met that wingnut a time or two at some of Pack’s company picnics. Bitch is one screw shy of coming unhinged, and I’m not just talkin’ brainy kinda wingnut like you two. I’m talkin’ full-on, all in her head, crazy-ass nutcase. I did the potato sack race with her. You learn a lot about a whack when your ankles are tied the fuck together like drumsticks on a roast chicken.” Nina nodded her dark head to confirm her statement.

Mara was quick to defend her friend. “But she’s known all along about my crush on Harry. She supported it. I would daydream all the time with her . . .” Oh. Oh, God, why, why, why were her emotions suddenly like a babbling brook?

Harry’s eyes found hers, but his words didn’t belie his feelings on the subject, nor did they mock. He was All Business Harry. “So you’ve talked with Astrid about this—I mean, me? She knows how you feel, felt . . . whatever?”

Nina’s mouth began to open, but even from the distance Skype created, Wanda was on watch. Her finger flew upward before tapping the screen. “Nina! Do not. I’m warning you. Do not open your big mouth, or I’ll drive over there tonight and stuff one of Fletcher’s dirty socks in it.”

Nina smirked, using her fingers to indicate she was zipping her lip and throwing away the key.

Mara looked down at her hands and swallowed. How could she admit she’d fantasized loud and proud over many a lunch with Astrid as her compadre in lust. How could she divulge that all her secret desires had been shared out loud? But she had to. If Astrid was suspect, and she’d had anything to do with taking the children or Carl, they needed to look into all aspects of her—even the most unbearably uncomfortable. “Yes. Astrid knew.”

Harry lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his, his gaze intent. “Then we need to investigate, okay?”

Mara clenched her eyes shut, hoping her utter humiliation would go away if she just willed it gone. When she popped them open, Harry was still gazing at her. No such luck. “Okay. But please let me talk to her first? Astrid’s an odd bird, and I know that. I’ve always known that, but I don’t want her to feel cornered if she had nothing to do with this. She’s already low in the self-esteem department. She thinks no one likes her no matter how openly we say we do. It could really hurt her if she’s not responsible.”

Harry gave her chin a gentle squeeze. “Deal.”