Free Marja McGraw - Bogey Man 03 - They Call Me Ace by Marja McGraw

it comes with her attitude. Sometimes it just seems to fit. Besides, she keeps calling me Junior.”
    Okay, now he was being silly. It’s amazing how sometimes our parents can turn us back into children. I shook my head and went in search of Mikey. He was still in the backyard with the dogs. I watched them for a moment before returning to the kitchen.
    “How about this? What if we take the dogs with us? Would that make you feel any better?”
    “That’s aces, as long as you keep them with you. Don’t let my mother talk you into leaving them in the car.”
    We walked out to the motor home and shared our plan with Chris’s parents. Judith smiled and Chris Sr. grunted.
    He needed some tools for a repair in the motor home, so he and Junior headed for the garage. I had to admit that calling Chris by the nickname Junior did help lessen the confusion of having two men named Chris in the same house.
    Deciding I could put my household chores on hold, I grabbed the dogs’ leashes and headed back to the yard again, ready to talk to Mikey and put the leashes on the dogs.
    “Mikey, your dad and grandfather are going to work on the motor home. Would you rather stay here with them and do some guy stuff, or go with Grandma Judy and me back to the old house?”
    He glanced at my hand. “Sherlock and Watson are going with you and Grandma?”
    I nodded. “Your father thought we’d be safer if they want along.”
    “I’m going with you guys.” He took one of the leashes from me and attached it to Watson’s collar.
    Sherlock began doing a doggie dance so I put his leash on him and headed toward the garage. It was time for a bye-bye , and he was winding up to drag me down the driveway.
    “Heel,” I said. He started to pull, so I gave a quick, sharp tug on the leash. He stopped pulling and fell in step beside me.
    “Chris,” I called, “we’re leaving now.”
    He walked out of the garage and gave me a kiss. “Please be careful, Pamela. Don’t let my mother talk you into anything you’ll regret.”
    “I’ll have Mikey with me, so you can be sure I won’t do anything that might put him in danger.”
    Mikey’s head swiveled back and forth between Chris and me. “Is this going to be dangerous?” His face looked hopeful, but then he was only seven. What did he know about danger?
    “No, it’s not. We’re just going to explore the old house.”
    Chris rolled his lip under in true Bogey fashion, and tugged on his ear. “Ace, I’m expecting you to watch out for your mother.” Chris handed Mikey his cell phone. “If you find yourself in a jam, just call me. Don’t let anything happen to her, and don’t let your grandma make a sap out of you.”
    “Yes, sir! Me and the dogs’ll keep Mom and Grandma Judy safe. You can count on us.”
    I smiled. My little hero. Chris patted Mikey’s back and returned to the garage.
    I backed the Jeep down the driveway and we waited for Judith. Mikey and the dogs managed to fill the back seat, and my son giggled when the dogs got excited and licked his face. I watched them in the rearview mirror.
    We didn’t have to wait long for Judith. She climbed into the car and settled on the front passenger seat. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”
    I reached over and touched her arm. “Patience.”
    I pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the restaurant and the old house.
    “What do you expect to find in that place?” I asked.
    “I have no clue, but it fascinates me. It reminds me of a house where you’d find hidden passageways.”
    I could see excitement on Judith’s face, and I had a feeling that she never would have thought this if it weren’t for
    finding Kimberly’s body in the house. It was wishful thinking on her part, but who was I to burst her bubble?
    “Grandma’s right, Mom. I know we’re going to find something there. I can feel it in my bones.” Mikey leaned forward, putting stress on his seatbelt. He was just as excited as Judith.
    “Me, too, Mikey,”