Page 5 of Doctor Grump

There was a brief moment of disbelieving silence where you could hear a pin drop. It stretched for one second, then two, until it was interrupted by the loud cawing of a bird flying overhead.

And it was at that precise moment that all hell broke loose.

“What?!” the first man exploded out of his chair and charged at Mick, who scurried backward. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is this some kind of joke?”

“Him?” another short, portly man who looked suspiciously like Piper barked as he glared at me. “Who the fuck is he to get that amount?”

“Dad!” Piper instantly gasped, looking mortified at what was happening. “Not so loud.”

“Oh no, honey, I can’t take it.” The man bustled toward me, sweat streaming down his face. “You took advantage of Judith, didn’t you? You gave her loony pills so she would go crazy and sign her fortune over to you.”

“Dad—”

“Explain yourself, Mick!” the first man shouted.

“It’s obvious!” Piper’s father growled as he got in my face. “Answer me, pretty boy.”

Finally sick of the heat and company, I stood up, towering over the man. To his credit, he didn’t back off, but I could see fear flash across his features.

“If you think that’s the truth, then sue me,” I said before turning to Mick. “Is that all you wanted to say, and why you had me come here?”

Mick, who was still cowering from Fred, nodded and said, “Yes, essentially.”

“Good.” I turned around. “Then I’m out of here.”

* * *

Of course,there was no peace to be had at home either.

I came home to find my twelve-year-old daughter sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV.

“Where’s the nanny?” I asked tiredly.

“Gone,” my daughter answered without looking away from the TV.

“What do you mean gone? Gone where?”

“She quit,” Kendy said, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “She ran out of here this afternoon.”

Anger speared through me. “You mean she left you here alone without telling me?”

Kendy shrugged. “She probably tried to call you, but your phone was off. As usual.”

I pulled it out of my pocket, and indeed, it was off. Shit. “Why did she quit?”

“Who knows?”

“Don’t give me that, Kendy. I know you did something. What is it?” I demanded.

“Nothing!” she yelled, jumping off the couch. “Why do you always think I did something wrong?”

“Because I know you.”

Kendy gave an annoyed, insolent huff and crossed her arms. “Whatever. I don’t even know why I need a nanny anyway. I can take care of myself.”

“Not likely. Tomorrow, you’re getting a new one.”

Kendy glared at me and looked like she wanted to spit out some obscenity, but she didn’t, probably because the last time she did so, I grounded her for a month with no phone. I still had to decide on her punishment for what she probably did to the nanny. It wouldn’t be smart of her to push me at this point.

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