“I may want a couple of pumps of mocha in mine,” she told him.
“I think I can handle that.”
* * *
JUSTICESTARED AT the spreadsheet on his computer screen. Felicia had done her usual excellent job of sorting through the numbers and breaking them down into relevant relationships. If she went into a little too much detail, it was a small price to pay.
He was about to read the income projections when he heard a knock on the door.
He rose and crossed the living area of the suite at Ronan’s Lodge. Eventually he would have to get an apartment or rent a house, but for now, the hotel suited his needs.
He opened the door, prepared to tell housekeeping that he didn’t need any more towels. But instead he found himself staring at a ten-year-old girl.
“Hi,” she said. “I’m Lillie McGraw. Patience’s daughter.”
“I remember.”
Lillie had obviously come from school. She had a backpack over one shoulder and a book in her hand. She gave him a tentative smile.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.” He grabbed his room key and stepped into the hallway. “Let’s go down to the lobby. I’ll buy you a soda.”
She smiled. “That would be nice. Thank you.”
They took the elevator down to the spacious lobby. Justice settled Lillie on a sofa in the corner.
“What would you like?” he asked, glancing toward the coffee cart in the lobby.
Lillie shook her head. “I’m okay. I’d like to just talk, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is.”
Her eyes were the same brown as her mother’s. He could see a lot of Patience in her, as well as a few features he didn’t recognize. Her father’s influence. Patience had said things hadn’t gone well, but hadn’t provided any details.
He took one of the club chairs across from the sofa. “How did you know where I was staying?”
Lillie smiled. “There aren’t that many hotels in town and when Grandma was talking about you the other night she said you weren’t a B-and-B kind of guy.” She paused. “That’s a bed-and-breakfast. We have a couple here in town.”
“I saw.”
Lillie leaned forward and unzipped her backpack. She pulled out several bills and thrust them toward him. “I want to hire you.”
Justice hadn’t been expecting that. “What’s the job?”
“I need a bodyguard. There’s this boy at school. Zack.” She wrinkled her nose. He’s always around and he watches me. It’s creepy, you know? I don’t know what to do about him and I don’t want to say anything to my mom because she might take it wrong. Maybe talk to my teacher. That would be embarrassing. But you’re a guy and I thought if you talked to Zack it would be better.”
Justice watched her carefully. “What exactly has he done? Has he hit you? Pushed you?”
Lillie frowned. “No. He doesn’t even speak to me. He’s— Oh!” She shook her head. “No, he’s not bullying me. We study that in school and watch movies and talk about it. I’m not being bullied. He’s just there all the time. I can’t figure out what he wants. I did ask, but he ran away. Boys are very strange. Mom says I’m going to like them someday, but I don’t think so.”
He relaxed a little. “Okay.”
“I don’t want her to worry. You can’t tell her.”
“I have to tell her if something is going on in your life, Lillie.”
The girl sighed. “Can you tell my grandma instead?”
She was a good negotiator. “Sure. I’ll tell Ava if I find anything, and I’ll report to you.” Because if someone was bothering Lillie he wanted to make sure it stopped.
“Great.” She held out the money again. “Is this enough?”
“You don’t have to pay me. The first one is free.”
She smiled. “Thanks.” She put the money in her backpack and withdrew a piece of paper. “Here’s his name and where he lives and stuff. So you can find him.”
He took the information. “I’ll look into the situation and get back to you.” He wasn’t sure what was going on with Zack, but he would sure find out.
“Thank you for helping me. Mom’s busy with her new store. She’s really happy and I knew this would upset her. Grandma’s excited, too. So I didn’t know where else to go. Maybe it would be different if I had a dad.” She put her elbows on her thighs and rested her chin in her hands. “I mean, I have a dad, but I never see him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I don’t remember him at all. He left like when I was born or something. He doesn’t see me.”
She spoke without emotion—because this was all she knew. He wondered what kind of man could walk away from his child, then told himself the question was stupid. Parents walked away from kids all the time. Or did worse. Look at his own father. Justice had lived the nightmare of parental abuse. Having Bart abandon him would have been a kindness.
“If you have questions about him, I’m sure you can talk to your mom,” he said.
“I know. Or Grandma. They tell me that. But what am I supposed to ask?” She straightened and stood. “Thanks for helping me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”
She grinned. “Can we set up a secret meeting place, like we’re spies?”
“Sure.”
“I’d like that. But it’s okay if you just come to school, too. Mom says you’re busy with your business.”
She picked up her book and her backpack and walked to the main entrance to the hotel. Justice followed her to the door and watched her walk away. Then he took the stairs back to his room. He returned to his computer, but instead of seeing Felicia’s detailed spreadsheet, he saw the past. A much-younger Patience and how she’d smiled at him.
She’d only been about four years older than Lillie. A pretty girl who had grown into a beautiful woman.
He stood and crossed to the window, then stared out at his view of the mountains.
If things had been different, he thought, even though he knew it was a waste of time. Things couldn’t have been different. Not with who he was and how he’d been raised. Bart Hanson had liked living on the wrong side of the law, liked the risk and flirting with death. His sociopathic tendencies had kept everyone around him on edge.
Justice
