The construction had finished for the day and so the house was quiet, but when Uncle John let Quinn into the house, Quinn narrowed his gaze, unable to believe what he saw.
Spank sat in a cage. She was undressed, which was normal on any other monkey but strange for Spank, who typically favored frilly dresses and fancy bibs. One hairy arm hung limp at her side and her head was tilted at an odd angle. One word to describe the monkey was “pathetic.”
Quinn stepped into the family room so he could get a better view of the sign in front of the cage:
Quinn rolled his eyes. This was the Costas family. He could definitely believe what he saw. He just had to keep his promise to Ari and put an end to the cons before Sam’s placement was jeopardized.
He glanced around, but everyone had disappeared, including Uncle John. Quinn headed for the cage, but Sam’s bubbly voice stopped him.
“Wait!” Sam said. “Don’t you want to see her newest trick first?” She pointed to a change can he hadn’t noticed before, which sat on a table beside the cage. A small sign said, HELP ELIMINATE ANIMAL TESTING. DONATIONS APPRECIATED.
Quinn raised an eyebrow at the sight. “This is ridiculous.”
“No, it’s really cool! Watch.” Sam dropped a few quarters into the box.
As the coins fell, making consecutive clanking sounds, Spank smiled her infamous big grin.
Then Sam pulled a dollar bill from her jeans pocket and waved it in front of the monkey. Next Sam folded the bill and placed it into the can’s donation slot.
Spank blew her a huge raspberry kiss.
“Ready for the best part?” Sam asked. She placed a single penny into the money holder. One solitary clink echoed in the room.
In return for the paltry sound, Spank turned around and mooned her, banging on her own backside like a juvenile delinquent looking for a laugh.
“Elena!” Quinn yelled at the top of his lungs. “Nicholas! You get out here now!” he bellowed.
“Geez, Quinn, what’s your problem?” Sam asked.
“Is this normal to you?” He pointed to the monkey, who grinned, then waved with her good arm.
Sam giggled.
Quinn didn’t find the situation funny.
Elena finally swept into the room wearing a kimono. “Do you like my outfit?” she asked, twirling around to give him a complete view.
“That depends. Are you opening a geisha house or a day spa?”
“Very funny,” she said as she pinched his cheek. “Now, what did you need to see me about?”
“That.” He jerked one thumb over his shoulder, refusing to look back at Spank and her antics.
“Oh, isn’t she cute? Except for the pickpocket incident, she trains well.” Her voice was infused with pride.
“Adorable.” Quinn didn’t want to ask who would be the recipient of the monkey’s daily take.
“I fully expect she’ll collect a fair share of donations as well as help sell our products. Did I tell you I finally gave in and hired someone to produce for us?”
He shook his head, ready to congratulate her on her good sense, then reminded himself not to get distracted. He had to make them see reason when it came to scams and to Spank.
“A family meeting is in order,” Quinn told Elena. He fully intended to read the family the riot act. Much as he’d like to do it now, he knew it would be more effective coming from Quinn the cop. That meant a slight delay.
“No need,” Elena said, waving her hand and dismissing his idea. “We’re following the rules for Sam. Nicholas and I have been to one class and have another tonight. We filled out the forms and that cute little minivan came to visit.”
“The DYFS Recruitment Mobile?” he asked of the vehicle that served as an mobile office for the Division of Youth and Family Services.
Elena nodded.
“And where was the monkey at the time?” he asked through clenched teeth, afraid he’d see Sam’s last chance at adoption disappear.
“Across the street with my sister like I promised. It’s just that we needed to
The young girl, Quinn noticed, sat playing with Spank through her cage doors.
He shook his head. Why hadn’t he realized how strong-willed and difficult these people were? And why did he like them so much despite it all? “Okay, this is how things are going to be,” he said, intending to lay down the law and reinforce it when his undercover work was over.
Elena blinked but remained silent.
Quinn took that as a good sign. “The monkey goes back to your sister’s and stays there.” At least until he had time to figure out the laws and what to do with her. “And the cons and scams have to stop. Now. You will operate this spa legitimately. Understood?”
“What fun is that?” Nicholas asked, joining them in the living room.
“He’s kidding,” Sam told Quinn, trying to reassure him.
It didn’t work. “And how would you know that?” Quinn asked her.
Sam clasped her hands behind her back and lowered her eyes, averting her gaze from Quinn’s, always a sign she’d been in trouble.
A sinking feeling settled low in his stomach. “What’d she do now?” Quinn asked, looking from Sam to Elena and then to Nicholas.
All three remained stubbornly silent.
“Apparently Sam stole someone’s lunch money,” Ari said, her voice taking Quinn by surprise.
Quinn hadn’t heard her come in, but he couldn’t deny the leap of joy his heart took on seeing her.
“Hey, I gave it back!” Sam said, calling his attention back to the situation at hand.
“That isn’t the point and you know it,” Elena said, shaking her finger at the teen.
Nicholas stepped up to face Quinn. “You do not need to worry. I gave her a lecture on honesty and values,” he said, putting an arm around Sam’s shoulders. “And you can be sure that the next incident will result in punishment.”
Ari cleared her throat while Quinn rolled his eyes. Did nobody but the two of them see the obvious? Quinn said, “Then I suggest you all start with setting the right example. How the hell do you expect Sam to straighten out if you don’t?”
Nicholas and Elena hung their heads low. “You’re right,” they said together.
“He
So was he.
“It’s true,” Sam said as she yanked on Quinn’s sleeve. “Nicholas said if I stole again he’d lock me in the monkey’s cage.” Then she turned to Ari. “I’m so glad to see you!” Despite the fact that Ari had just ratted Sam out to Quinn, the teen ran to hug Ari tight.
Quinn wanted to pull Ari into his arms, too, but he could see from her posture and taut expression that not much had changed. Being alone had merely let her pull further away.
“I’m glad to see you, too, Squirt. I needed to talk to you all, but I didn’t realize you had company.” Ari glanced at Quinn through lowered lashes, her cool tone all but telling him that unlike the rest of the family, she resented his presence.
Though Quinn hurt looking at her, there was nothing he could do to help her. She had ghosts in this house that
