Against the Heart Read Free Page A

50-50 bar.  Meri halted just outside the door, surveying the parking lot in search of him.  Even from a distance, he could read the fear in her face. 
    Opening the car door, he stepped out and waved.  "Over here!"
    She seemed to sag in relief as she hurried toward him, handed him the grocery bags, which he loaded into the back of the Jeep.  She carefully counted back three one-dollar-bills, gave him twenty cents in change and a receipt for the food. 
    "That’s my cell number."  She pressed a slip of paper into his hand.  "In case we get separated in traffic."
    "I won’t lose you," he said, looking down at the money she had so carefully returned, a good sign he thought.  "I promise."
    Meri just nodded.  He watched her as she hurried to her car, loaded Lily into the kid’s seat in back, then went around and slid into the driver’s seat.
    Ian kept the old car in his rearview mirror as he drove back to the house.  He wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation with his father, but what was done was done.
    He’d given Meriwether Jones a job. He didn’t know her story, didn’t know what kind of trouble she was in.  In time, he’d figured it out.  Investigating people was what he did.  In the meantime she’d be working for him.
    Ian hoped like hell he wouldn’t regret it.
     
    Meri wrinkled her nose at the smell as Ian held open the front door of a white two-story house surrounded by open fields.  Walking past him, she towed Lily into the entry. 
    "Mama, it stinks in here."
    Heat rushed into her cheeks.  "That’s why we’re here, sweetheart.  To help Ian get the house cleaned up."
    Ian glanced around, rubbing the back of his neck, a little embarrassed, she figured, seeing the house through a visitor’s eyes.
    "When my mother was alive, it was spotless," he said.  "She died five years ago.  My dad never really got over it.  He isn’t much of a housekeeper."
    That was the understatement of the year.  "You want to show me around?"
    "First, let me introduce you.  Dad’s in the den."
    She followed him into a small, wood-paneled room off the hall.  An old-fashioned TV was playing, a game show, she saw. The room looked like something out of the seventies, with dark brown shag carpet, and a brown vinyl sofa, chair, and recliner.
    "Dad, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.  This is Meriwether Jones and her daughter, Lily.  Meri is going to do some cleaning and cooking for us." 
    He just grunted.  "I thought that’s why you were here.  You said you were going to get the place cleaned up."
    "I am.  But there’s plenty to do outside.  Meri’s going to take care of the inside."
    Another grunt.  "Suit yourself.  Long as she doesn’t come bothering me in here."
    Ian turned in her direction.  "Meri, this is Daniel."
    "Hello, Mr. Brodie."  The room was so dim it was hard to see exactly what he looked like.  Tall, she figured, since his son was.  Silver hair reflected in the light of the TV screen.
    He made no reply. 
    "Say hello to Mr. Brodie, Lily."
    She looked up at him, her eyes big and solemn.  "Hello, Mr. Brodie."
    He pushed the handle down on the recliner and sat up in the chair.  "She’s got a kid?  How’s she going to clean while she’s tending a kid?"
    "We’ll let her worry about that," Ian said, heading for the door.  "Come on, Meri.  I’ll give you a tour." 
    Thankfully, Ian left the den, led them into the hall and up the stairs. 
    "The room I’m using is relatively clean and there’s a TV in there.  Lily could watch cartoons while I show you around."
    "That’d be great."  
    Ian led her into one of the bedrooms.  Football wallpaper covered the walls, and there was a full-size bed.  It looked like the room of a high school student.  Gold athletic trophies: swimming, tennis, and football, lined the bookshelf.  A canvas duffle sprawled on top of the old-fashioned quilt on the mattress. 
    "I just got here," Ian said.  "I have hadn’t had time to