Page 15 of Guy
“I don’t want to be gone all day and have to come home exhausted.We’re getting the house set up the way that we want it, and I think that we’re having too much fun just being a couple for a change.”She decided that was too much information and changed the subject back to the original question.“No, I’ve not found anything as yet.I did apply at a couple of places in town, but was told that if I wanted to take jobs from the poor, I should move to the next town.Not too friendly around here about the Fraizers, are people?”
“Mr.Jenkins, I’m betting.”Summer nodded when she did.“He’s in big trouble with the Feds.He was audited just a few days ago, and we’re all waiting for the results to come back.He was charging fifty percent more in the way of taxes to any shifter in town, especially to the wolves.Then he didn’t report the extra income on his taxes.He’s going to prison if I don’t miss my bet.”
“He was the one.Even told me I wasn’t allowed to shop in his store because I might sully it up.Whatever.I can find the things he has in his store online for much cheaper.Thanks for letting me know about him.I’ll avoid him in the future.”She reached for one of the rolls that had been set on the table.“I’m starving.It’s been forever since breakfast, I feel like.”
“I am as well.I ordered a few appetizers for the table, so they should be coming soon.By the way, is there anything you don’t eat?Sometimes when we’re all together, I cater the food so that I don’t have to cook.”Mac teased her about ordering food out all the time if she didn’t have a cook.“I know I should take more time to cook meals, but I’m so busy running my grandma’s business.It’s fun, but I think I’m ready to turn it over to someone else to mess with.I think that—that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.I have a part-time job for you to do if you want it.Guy said you could do books.I have two little companies that don’t have a bookkeeper, and you’d be perfect.You can even do it from your house as they’re that small.”
“That sounds right up my alley.I’d love to do that.”They talked for a few minutes about what the job would entail and how much it paid, just as the appetizers arrived.She took one of the deep-fried cheese sticks and a ravioli.They were both hot, but she didn’t care; she really was very hungry.“Burning off energy is hard work when you’re with one of the Frazier men, isn’t it?”
She couldn’t believe that she said that and was embarrassed when they all three agreed with her.She supposed there was a lot to be said for marrying brothers, and she knew these women were very outspoken about a lot of things.Amber would have to be careful in the future in case she said something very revealing.
They did talk about anything and everything.There were topics about babies, Brandy having the little one at home, and they spoke about the upcoming pack meeting that was going to introduce the new members of the family.Guy had told her about that, and she was happy to get to know the other members of the pack that she was now a part of.By the time they had ordered their food and it was brought to them, she thought that they had exhausted every subject that could be talked about.
“Now we get down to business.There are some people coming in through our network who are going to need jobs.Guy and Amber have already hired one of them, but there are four more that are needed to have a place to work.”She knew this topic was going to come up and had been prepared for it.She told them about the job that still needed to be filled at the slaughterhouse.Plus, she and Guy were going to need someone to come in once a day to clean up the house for them.
“We’re not messy by any means of the word, but it would be nice to come home to clean bathrooms and bedrooms.Cleaning around Guy is hard enough.He gets to writing, and there is no disturbing him with vacuuming or dusting.”They all agreed that having someone in the house to do those things was really nice.“I don’t, however, know if I could employ someone full-time, and I’m betting that’s what they’re looking for.”
“Getting them into the workforce is more important than how many hours they’ll be working.I know for a fact that two of the people who were brought in have been out of work for a while, so anything would be good for them.The male in the group can work at the slaughterhouse with the others.And either one of the women, though I think that the job is a little strenuous for one of the women, she’s nothing but a twig, but I could be wrong about her.She might do better than the men who work there.”They all laughed, and then the spotlight was turned to her.“You said not full-time, but I’m betting that having someone in the house is going to make you want her full-time.She can make up the beds and dust things, but she can also wash windows and things like that.I’ve seen your home, don’t forget, and it has a lot of windows that look out over the yard.I’m betting that by spring, you’ll need yard work as well.We have someone who mows and trims.By the time he’s finished up with the yard, it’s time to start all over again.He does make us look good with the flowers and bushes being trimmed up as well.”
After the lunch plates were taken away, they decided that they needed dessert.She’d never been a big fan of sweets, not like Guy was, but she did order herself some fruit.She thought that she could eat that for every meal that she had.Just as she was finishing up, she got a call from the doctor who was monitoring Margaret.
“She’s run off again.”She asked him how many times she’d done it so far.“This is the third time.She’s usually in the same place, back at the house I was made to understand was yours.Thank goodness the police found her this time.I don’t know what to do about this.I don’t even know why she ends up there.”
Amber had an idea that it was to hurt her, but didn’t say anything to the doctor.He did tell her that he was going to have to hire more help if she was going to continue this way, and she agreed with him.He also asked her about her brother, who Margaret seems to focus on a great deal.
“He’s working a full-time job, and I guess she might be missing him.”She’d also heard that he wasn’t working out so well at the house.Instead of working like he was supposed to, he was hanging around the others and watching them.Lica was going to fire him soon if he didn’t get his crap together.“I know that he lives there with her, too.Maybe she misses him, like I said.Could be, couldn’t it?”
“I would say that if he’d never had a job before, now that she more than likely has become dependent on him when he was around.Neither one of them has worked very much, have they?Neither one of them has a good grasp on money either.”She agreed with him.“Well, I just wanted to let you know about her running off again and to tell you that I’m nearly finished with my evaluation.I don’t know what you expected from this, but I’m sure it’s going to be bringing some hard truths about the two of them.I’m glad you told me to see about his, Mr.Gross’s, interaction with his sister.I think them to be an odd pair if you want to know the truth of it.”
She smiled at his wording and wondered if he’d put that in the report to her and Guy.She and Guy had been talking a great deal about her family.Belinda, too, had some input on the matter and told Guy to tell her not to be alone with either of them.They were not just an odd pair, but they were also dangerous.Just how dangerous was the question.
Still thinking about her brother, she asked Brandy, while they were getting ready to leave, if she could talk to her.After telling her everything she knew about Shawn and Margaret, including the factthat they killed their parents, she asked her if she wanted to see them go to jail.It was already a cold case and would go on being one, it looked to her like.
“He’s fucking up at work.”Brandy nodded as if she knew that already.And she more than likely did with living with Lica.“Belinda, my stepmother said not to trust either one of them.I agree with her, but don’t know what to do about them getting away with murder.”
“Yes, you do.You just don’t want to be the one who pulls the police in on the matter.”She started to deny that, but realized that she was right.He’d been trying, which was the last conversation she’d had with him, and now to find out that he wasn’t even trying hurt her a bit.“I can help you in any way that you wish.I can have them put in jail on suspicion of murder, and we can figure out what the courts have to say about it.I was told that there was a film of them murdering their mother.It wouldn’t take anything at all to clean that up so that it’s clear as crystal for the police.”
“I think I need to talk to Guy.”Brandy said that he would help her see what she wanted to do.“I know.He keeps telling me that he’ll go along with whatever I want, but I don’t think he cares for the fact that there are two murderers just out free to do what they want while two other people are dead.”
“To be honest with you, Amber, that’s the way I feel, too.They’ve literally gotten away with murder, and no one seems to be bringing that up.Or caring for that matter.”She said that she did, but didn’t know what to do then.“But you do now, correct?”
“Yes, they need to be held accountable for their actions.Yes, that’s what I want to do.”Nodding, feeling the burden being taken off her shoulders, they hugged.“You’re a good friend, Brandy.Thank you for talking to me about this.”
“You knew what you were going to do before we spoke.You just needed someone to vent to.I know what you mean about Guy telling you it’s your decision, but I want you to know that he fully believes that.Any one of the men would walk the earth for you, but they’d never put you in a position where you have to be the heavy on something alone.They’d be right there by your side.”She agreed with her again and hugged her a second time.“You give great hugs.Has anyone told you that before?”
“No.I wasn’t much of a hugger until recently.It’s like an affirmation on friendship to me.I find that I feel so much better about things when I’ve had the contact of a good friend like that.”Brandy thanked her.“No need for that.You have become a good friend to me and the others as well.I think that’s what Guy and I both needed.Friendship with his family.”
Amber was glad that she’d walked to the restaurant.It had put her more behind, but the day was a good seventy degrees outside, and she had herself a new coat and boots for all the melting snow.They were predicting more snow tomorrow, so she wanted to enjoy the weather while it was here.Just as she was going into the house, Guy opened the door for her.
“Don’t panic.”She said that she hated that statement.“I don’t blame you, but I don’t want you to freak out, and that one is even worse than not to panic.Anyway, your sister has been arrested.She tried to break into your home and was found to have a gun.”Guy pulled her into the house and held her as they continued the conversation.
“She was looking for me.Correct?”He said that she wasn’t talking yet, so he hadn’t heard.“What other reason would she need a gun at my home other than to cause me harm.I’m going to press charges this time.Has Shawn been notified?”
“He’s been fired from his job.Lica went over to talk to him, and he was sleeping on the desk in the office.He said to tell you he was sorry, but he’d had enough.”Good, she told Guy and said she’d tell Lica that as well.“I thought you’d say that.I also have news on the murder of Belinda.The video has been cleaned up, and it shows the two of them with the baseball bat, both before and after they hit her in the head with it.The reason that the two kids were able to do it is because they hit her a total of eleven times.Five and six times each.The officer who was talking to me said they danced around and laughed; it looked like to him, after they’d done the deed.They’ll be arresting Shawn as soon as they find him.”
“He’s missing?”He told her what he knew.“Oh.I never thought of the car being taken from him when he got fired.I hate that he was hired on my recommendation, but at least he’ll be going tojail too.”
Amber told Guy everything that she’d talked to the doctor about, as well as the conversation that she’d had with Brandy after the lunch.She also told him about the woman who had been hired to keep their home nice.He was all right with everything she’d said to him.
