Page 53 of Sam to the Rescue

My husband grins. “It’s not ideal, but still, a step up from the hole in the hallway, no pun intended.”

Standing in front of our new gas grill, Joey waves a spatula in the air. “Who wants a burger?”

“Me, I do.” I turn to the Patten boss but he’s already joined a group of coworkers and their wives.

My husband’s palm lowers down my back as he kisses me. “Nice party, Mrs. Sutcliff.”

“Well, it’s not every day we celebrate a real door.”

“True, true.” He picks up a paper plate, hands one to me, and as we stand in line, out of the corner of my eye, I see someone not invited.

“Suds, is that Riley?” As I point up at the private detective walking down our new stairs, my husband rushes to the rear.

“Shit. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Seriously? I was the one run off the road by this asshole.“What the hell are you doing here?” My hands on my hips, I wait for him to answer and gasp as he draws his weapon.

“Nobody move.”

“Hey, there’s kids out here. Put it down. Let’s talk.” Suds opens his hands and uses his body as a shield. Behind him, women round up the children and take them into Joey’s apartment.

“You ruined me. Both of you.” Alcohol, sweat and tobacco reek from the man.

As he waves his gun around Slate, Lucky, and Jack, inch closer. Suds holds out a palm. “Give me the gun, Frank.”

Sobbing, the man points the barrel under his chin and I rush forward. “Don’t. Please. No one was hurt.”

His eyes water. “I owed tons of money. My business was booming until you two moved in.Suds and Samthis,Suds and Samthat.Suds and Samsave the fucking day. The news is filled with you and your successes. It’s sickening. You give private eyes everywhere a bad name. What part ofprivatedo you not understand?”

Suds grunts. “Mr. Riley, we can work this out. Please.”

Jack’s wife, the shrink, hands the gunman a bottle of water. “Here. You look hot.”

He lowers his weapon. “T’anks.”

The tension in the backyard drops a notch as she smiles. “Bad day?”

“Bad year.” He wipes his brow. “First them, then the pandemic, and my wife… “

“Died?”

“No, she left me for an Italian guy with a house on the water in Baysiide.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Blake pats his back and the man collapses on his heels, face in his hands.

Suds takes his gun, lifts him to stand, and leads him down the basement steps. Not too much longer, he returns, grinning ear-to-ear. “The cops want to take me to the station and question me.”

“No. Absolutely not. We are in the middle of a party. Yo, Suds? You hear me?”

Chapter 39

Suds

In bed, I nuzzle my wife’s earlobe as she stares up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

“I still can’t believe Riley crashed our party.”

“Some people have no manners.” Pulling my shirt over my head, I kick off my undies.