Joel spoke up. "You'd like it less ifwehandle it."
My aunt drew back. "Are you threatening me?"
This time, it was Jake who answered. "Does a leprechaun shit in the woods?"
My aunt gave a dramatic gasp. "What are you saying? You'd mistreat me?" Her voice became shrill. "A woman? What kind of people are you?"
Joel looked unaffected by the theatrics. "Keep stalling, and you'll find out." His gaze shifted briefly to my uncle. "And we don't need to hurtyou." He gave her a cold smile. "We can beat it out of Lucky."
My uncle croaked, "What?"
My aunt turned to give my uncle a long, speculative look. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head.How bad would they hurt him, anyway?
The way it looked, it was a risk she was willing to take.
In truth, I would never let it get that far. But a little fear would do both of them good.
I said, "Just tell us. I deserve to know."
My aunt snorted. "Deserve? What doesthathave to do with anything?" Her lips curled into a nasty sneer. "Haven't you gotten enough already?"
I knew exactly what she meant. In their will, my parents had left nearly nothing to my uncle. I recalled his face when the document was read. My uncle hadn't been happy. And as far as my aunt? Well, let's just say her reaction hadn't been pleasant.
That was years ago, and they'd been trying to even things up ever since.
If they only knew. Sure, I was the primary beneficiary of my parents' estate. But I had zero control and nearly no cash to speak of. As far as the property itself, it was so deep in debt that it hardly mattered.
In the end,I'dbe lucky to get a punch bowl. Forget the little cups.Andthe ladle.
At the sound of sirens, my uncle perked up. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled out, "Help! Police! Over here!"
Joel gave a low laugh. "Hey Lucky, they can't hear you. Not over the sirens."
My uncle dropped his hands from his mouth and muttered, "How wouldyouknow?"
Joel gave a loose shrug. The way it looked, he knew plenty. But I'd known that already, hadn't I?
Pushing that distraction aside, I stared at my uncle. "And besides," I reminded him, "the police are here toarrestyou, notrescueyou."
My uncle's face froze. "Us? Why?"
Did I really need to explain this? I threw up my hands. "Because you broke into my house. That's why."
My aunt gave another gasp. "You wouldn’t seriously prosecute us?"
Funny, she hadn't denied breaking in, not within the last two seconds anyway. Was that progress? I had no idea.
I looked to the guys standing in my doorway. And then, I turned to look at my aunt and uncle.
I tried to see things how the police would see them. The guys in my doorway looked dark and dangerous. My aunt and uncle looked like a pissed-off socialite and her lucky mascot.
I sidled closer to Joel and peered around him out the open doorway. If I wasn't careful, the police would be arresting the wrong people.