Page 66 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
Tim laughed low in his throat. “Good luck getting Robbie to see it like that.”
Sheila shot her a look, clearly ready to take over. Lily shook her head subtly. “I want him to see it like that, Tim, for personal and professional reasons. Because I have a plan that will help keep Tara and the girls safe and allow us to take down the Kellys for good. Will you help us?”
He studied her before saying, “I’ll do my best to encourage Robbie to listen to you and not storm off. Because that’s your biggest problem up front. He likes you, Summer. Ah… What is your real name?”
“Lily Meadows,” she told him, giving a short smile. “Not too much better than Summer Sunshine, right?”
“I call her Sunshine as a nickname because she really is so sweet,” her partner broke in, standing at last and thrusting out her hand. “Tim, I’m Sheila Morales.”
He shook her hand with strength before turning and doing the same with Lily. She rather liked that. “Also, we’re based out of Boston.”
“You are?”His eyes widened before a smile appeared on his face. “Is there some rule about cops and FBI officers not being allowed to date?”
She and Sheila shook their heads simultaneously. “Not a one,” Lily answered. “But helping Tara and the girls is the priority.”
“You sound like Robbie.” He suddenly started to laugh, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Oh my God. This is perfect. Like Shakespearean perfect. The two love interests next door aren’t who they say they are. Only…everyone is lying to each other as they develop feelings for each other. I wish I were a playwright. This would make a great story.”
Sheila punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Hey! Every work of Shakespeare I had to read in school ended in tragedy. We don’t like tragedy, do we, Lily?”
She crossed her arms. “No, we most surely do not. So are you in?”
He nodded swiftly. “How do you want to tell my brother?”
“I thought you might go over there and tell him I have something urgent to tell him. Billie can look after Tara and the girls. We’ve checked the area. No one followed her.”
“We checked too, but Billie stayed up all night until I sent him to bed at dawn—”
“Oh, that big galoot.” Sheila put a hand to her heart. “How mad is he going to be, do you think?”
Tim shrugged. “I have no idea really. I say we start with Robbie. He can talk Billie down if necessary.”
“Good.” She and her partner shared a look. “Let’s summon the beast.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Robbie was scrapinghis razor down his cheek when someone knocked on his bedroom door. He rinsed his face and left the bathroom to open it. Tim was standing on the other side, looking a little pale.
“Did you get any sleep on the couch Miss Purrfect has covered in cat hair?”
His brother shook his head. “Billie slapping cards on the table in the kitchen playing solitaire was the bigger culprit for my lack of Zs. Besides the obvious elephant in the house. Got a sec? I need some help. Clarice got stung by a jellyfish—”
“When?” he asked, going on alert. “Is Summer all right?”
“She hadn’t gone out onto the beach yet. Anyway, Clarice also took a hard fall hopping around, and while I got her into the house and tended to the sting, I’d like to carry her upstairs so she can rest. I thought she’d be more comfortable if we lifted her together. Billie finally crashed when I woke up, or I’d…”
“Sure thing.” Clapping his brother on the back, he followed him quietly down the stairs. “Is Tara up?”
“She hasn’t come down yet,” he said quietly. “And the girls are still out.”
“Well, it’s barely six.” He hoped his cousin had gotten more rest than he had because they had a lot to talk about.
He had an initial plan, but he wasn’t sure how she was going to react to being in touch with the Southie PD, especially when they had reason to suspect the Kellys had someone on the payroll. Robbie wanted to bring the officer leading the arson case into the larger Internal Affairs investigation. He didn’t see any other way. He could not handle the Kellys alone. He and Tara had to work with the police, and if Internal Affairs had to run the case, then so be it. The biggest issue he was having was where to keep the girls until the situation was resolved.
He didn’t think it was wise for everyone to stay together. They needed protective custody, but he wasn’t sending them off with strangers. His brothers couldn’t keep taking time off. God, he could finally fully understand the agonizing choice Tara had made to leave them with him in the first place.
“Lot on your mind today, huh?” Tim asked as they left the house. “Well, it’s a new day. Thanks for coming over with me.”
“You know it.” Besides, he would have a chance to see Summer and tell her he wanted to stay in touch but didn’t know how long it was going to be before he could call her again. He couldn’t keep his focus with her around, and his every waking hour had to be dedicated to solving this case so Tara and the girls could go home.
