Protecting Lulu (Global Protection Agency)

by Jeffries, J. M.

  Aiden almost blushed, time to change the subject. “Can you tell me about Benny?”

  “Benjamin Nelson McKenzie was found abandoned when he was around four years old. He was already a problem. Once in foster care he was bounced from one family to the next, never fitting in and being a general troublemaker. I’ve talked to about half the foster parents I can find. A few have moved away from Chicago, but for the most part they all agree he was a problem child. So far I haven’t found anything that could lead to him now. After all, he was a Ranger. If he doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be found.”

  “How difficult can it be to find one man? He would need a credit card, an ID, a driver’s license.”

  “It’s not impossible to live off the grid. He could have a dozen different identities set up and is using one of them. Unless we stumble on an alternate identity, he would be virtually impossible to find.”

  “I thought computers were this magical thing that could lead you to anyone. Aren’t you some kind of tech-god?”

  Mark chuckled. “I still need a starting point.” He opened a bag of chips and starting eating them. “And I’m not a tech-god, I’m the Tech-God. Get your facts right.”

  Aiden laughed. “My bad. If you can’t find him, what do you do?”

  “I’ll find him. Everything I need to know is here; I just have to put it in the right perspective.” Mark squinted at the laptop. “All the information that everyone has collected needs to be processed and put into the order and then it will start to make sense.” He sat back and looked at the wall with its bits of paper, photos, and sticky notes.

  “Well do your magic before Fashion Week; I want to show you Gay Paree.” Aiden gave him a peck on the cheek and left him studying his wall.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Noah sat in the living room with Harrison and E.J. E.J. sipped a soda while Harrison nursed a bottle of water. Noah read through the daily report and then the security detail for the charity ball. With Benny McCall still on the loose, he’d added extra security. “Nothing on Benny. This guy is a ghost.”

  “He was a Ranger,” Harrison said. “He could be standing right in front of us and we wouldn’t notice. New York is the best place to hide in plain sight.”

  E.J.’s phone rang. She answered it quietly and then disconnected. “I have a line on Benny,” she said.

  Noah frowned. “Where is he?”

  “At the Marriot in Times Square,” she answered.

  “Fancy digs for a mail room clerk,” Noah observed. The bastard was right under their nose the entire time.

  “I doubt he’s footing the bill,” E.J. said.

  “How did you find him?” Harrison asked.

  “I put Sal on it. You know he knows everything that happens on the Eastern Seaboard.”

  “We track down terrorists for a living,” Noah said, impatiently. “And a fence finds him. There is no justice in this life.” He could walk through a jungle and spot anyone hiding anywhere and walk out with them all in tow.

  E.J. laughed.

  “Harrison, you and Roman stay with Lulu. I’ll take Gideon, Dante and E.J. with me to find him.”

  E.J. said, “Any final instructions?”

  “Don’t screw up. I want him alive and unharmed.”

  “That’ll cost extra,” E.J. teased.

  E.J. called Gideon and Dante. After a few minutes Noah heard them clatter down the stairs. They walked into the living room handing E.J. and Noah their coats.

  “You want me to call John?” Harrison asked.

  “I’ll do it after we find him.” Noah shrugged into his coat.

  As Noah walked out, E.J., Gideon, and Dante trailed him.

  The Escalade was parked at the curb. Gideon drove. The city was alive at night with bright lights and almost as much traffic as during the day. Times Square bustled with energy. Noah had always liked Times Squares. When he’d first come to New York and couldn’t sleep at night, he’d walk around the Square watching the tourists and the hucksters. He’d learned every inch of the city by walking it.

  Dante pulled into the parking garage.

  “He’s in 1730,” E.J. said.

  They took the glass elevator up to the 17th floor and emerged from the elevator banks to the open center of the hotel. Sound drifted up from the lobby. As they walked down the hall, Noah glanced over the railings and down the center at all the people walking around. According the monitor in the elevator, a realtors’ convention was in town and from the noise they were having a good time.

  At 1730, E.J. and Gideon flanked one side of the door, Noah and Dante had the other. They held their guns tight against them to not arouse any suspicion, should someone step into the hallway. Noah rapped on the door.

  “Who’s there,” came a distant voice.

  “Room service,” Noah said. Anyone who stayed in a hotel on someone else’s dime always used room service.

  The door started to open, the man on the other side saying, “That was fast,” before he fell silent staring at Noah’s gun, Benny slowly backed up, panic on his face, his hands slowly rising.

  “Hello, Benny,” Noah said. “You’re a hard man to find.”

  Benny stared at the gun, his face pale, his lips working, “You’ve got the wrong man.”

  E.J. chuckled. “Not original, Benny.”

  Benny held his hands out. “Take me in.”

  “Sit down,” Noah said quietly. “I have some questions.”

  Benny sat on the edge of the bed and watched them all, no emotion in his eyes.

  “You tried to kill Lulu Bennington and I want to know why,” Noah asked.

  Benny said nothing for a moment. He studied them before opening his mouth. “My name is Benjamin McCall. My driver’s license number is--”

  “We already know who you are,” Noah said quietly fighting for patience. He was a trained Ranger even if he didn’t make the cut. “We want to know why Lulu Bennington.”

  “My name is Benjamin McCall.”

  “Give me a minute alone with him, Noah.” Gideon cracked his knuckles.

  Noah shook his head. “I don’t want any marks on him. The cops will wonder why.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Noah turned a speculative eye on Benny. “Benny, I want answers.”

  Benny said nothing. He simply stared unfocused at Noah, his lips pressed firmly together.

  Noah had been trained in a dozen interrogation techniques, but they all took time and he didn’t have time right now. He could feel things coming to a close.

  “Who hired you, Benny?”

  No answer. Benny relaxed as he realized they weren’t going to hurt him. A look of confidence returned to his eyes and he gave Noah a challenging glance. Noah sighed. Benny knew Noah couldn’t do much of anything.

  Reluctantly, Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. John was on speed dial. Noah pressed the phone to his ear. John answered on the first ring.

  “I have Benny McCall in custody,” Noah said quietly. “Come get him.”

  Noah returned to Lulu’s home trying to keep his disappointment under control. He really hadn’t expected Benny to give up his employer, but he had hoped that having Gideon, Dante and E.J. would intimidate him enough that he would just start talking. Benny’s training as a Ranger had been thorough.

  E.J. went to the kitchen with Gideon to get something to eat. Dante went back to his room. Noah stopped in the living room to tell Harrison he could head home.

  “Nothing?” Harrison said.

  “Nothing,” Noah said. “Not one word out of him except his name and driver’s license number. John picked him and took him to the station. I doubt John will get anything out of him either.”

  “Where’s Lulu?” Noah asked.

  “I told her what was going on. She stayed with me for a bit and when you called to tell me you were on your way back, she said she was too tired to think straight and went to bed about a half hour ago.” Harrison packed away his laptop and picked up his
coat. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” He left, the front door opening with a swirl of cold air blowing down the hall and into the living room.

  Noah ran a hand through his hair. He’d wanted to bring Lulu back the information they both wanted, but since Benny refused to cooperate, he didn’t have anything to tell her.

  He opened the door to his bedroom and stopped. Lulu sat on his bed wearing nothing but her birthday suit and the shoes he’d bought her. Her legs were crossed and her hands demurely in her lap. She smiled at him and patted the bed beside her.

  “I thought you might like to help me break in these shoes,” she said with a coy look at him.

  “Lulu, we talked about this.”

  She shifted back and reclined on her elbow. She patted the bed beside her. “Yes, we did. But you caught Benny so this will be your last night here.”

  “We caught Benny, but he’s simply the muscle. Someone is pulling his strings and he’s not telling us who.”

  “Why would you think someone hired him?”

  She looked so delectable sitting on his bed. He loved the look of her full breasts and the tantalizing curve of her hip. He remembered the way her legs felt wrapped around him. He shuddered and stepped back to put more distance between them.

  “He doesn’t have a stalker personality. He doesn’t have any feelings for you.”

  “Maybe he’s a good actor.”

  “He acts like he’s on a mission.”

  “How would you know?”

  He kept telling himself to keep his hands off her, but he inadvertently took a couple steps toward her before he realized and stopped. “Because I’ve been on a mission, too.” Stalkers didn’t give their information with such a stoic response. “Killing you would have been the same as getting a sandwich for him.”

  “I don’t know how to feel about that,” she said with a frown.

  He wanted to cover her up with a blanket, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Maybe if he just sat down on the very edge of the mattress… He breathed in the scent of her exotic perfume.

  “Consider yourself lucky. According to his records, Benny was very good at what he did.”

  She crooked her finger. “So come over here and keep me safe.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The street in front of the Talbot Museum was lit up with huge spotlights. A red carpet led from the curb, heat lamps aimed at it to keep the attendees warm. Open doors led into a large reception area and another set of doors opened into the banquet room. Floral arrangements lined the reception area.

  Orchestra music filled the banquet room which no longer looked like a natural history exhibit. The whole room had been transformed into a ballroom. Round tables with place settings dotted the room around the dance floor. The orchestra was situated on a platform at the end of the room with a large area open for dancing. A few couples whirled around the dance floor.

  Lulu smiled at the people still pouring through the door. Wilder stood at the door, greeting people while Lulu finished the last minute decisions that always seemed to be needed.

  Lulu caught her reflection in a mirror and stopped for a moment to look herself over with her critical inner eye. She looked good, she decided. She’d pulled her hair up into a classic French twist at the back of her neck with a few tendrils falling artfully down the side of her neck. Her gown fit perfectly and showed the right amount of cleavage while the pink diamonds sparkled against her throat, setting off her smooth skin and complementing the pink shoes. A slit showed her leg almost to the top of her thigh.

  Noah shadowed her every move.

  Lulu smiled at an editor from a rival fashion magazine.

  “Lulu, dahling,” the editor gushed.

  “Susie,” Lulu said sweetly. Lulu air-kissed the woman on both cheeks.

  “You look simply ravishing, Lulu,” Susie said still gushing. “And your gala is going to be sensational. I just know it.”

  Lulu smiled and moved on.

  “She hates you,” Noah said with a slight frown.

  “Of course, she does. I’m richer, more famous, and I get to eat. From what I saw in the kitchen earlier, the food is going to be amazing.” Lulu waved at another fashion editor who simply nodded and went back to paying attention to her date, a man who looked about twenty years younger. Maybe he was her assistant, but Lulu knew the woman’s tastes ran to younger men—much younger men.

  Bethany and Jake entered the room. Bethany looked charming in a silver and white Marchessa goddess gown, setting off her heart-shaped face and tousled blond hair.

  Jake looked perfect as always in a severe black tux. Lulu was glad he’d never gone for the grunge look that too many actors affected at formal events.

  Bethany saw Lulu and rushed over. “It’s so exciting,” she said. “Look at how many people showed up. I can see this is going to be a smashing success.” Bethany rattled off her words.

  “I think it will be great,” Lulu said.

  “You’re such a trooper after what happened.” Bethany patted her arm.

  “I couldn’t disappoint people. This is just too important.” Lulu scanned the tables. “You’re sitting at table five.”

  “When we get a chance, could I have five minutes alone with you? I have some exciting news,” Bethany said a hint of laughter in her tone.

  “Of course,” Lulu said. “You’ve been such a help, I can’t say thank you enough.”

  Bethany nodded. Jake had stopped to speak to a friend and Bethany turned around, an impatient look on her face as she caught his eye. He nodded to his friend and walked over to Bethany.

  “Hello Lulu,” he said politely as Bethany twined her arm around his.

  “Hello, Jake,” Lulu returned.

  Bethany’s mouth tightened. “We’re at table five,” she said. “Let’s sit and you can get me a drink.” She pulled Jake away toward the tangle of people surrounding the bar.

  Noah put a hand on Lulu’s elbow. “Don’t be alone with him.”

  “Who?” she asked.

  “Jake,” he replied.

  “Why?” she asked curiously.

  “I don’t like him and I don’t want him being alone with you.”

  “Don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic? I’ve known Jake for years. But if it eases your mind, I will not be alone with him even though he’s perfectly safe.” Jake was a kitty cat, Lulu thought. She didn’t really believe he’d be behind any reason to hurt her.

  “Thank you,” Noah said looking slightly relieved.

  “As much as it pains me, I have to mingle and rob some people,” she said.

  Noah smiled at her. “I think coax, manipulate, or seduce would be better words, but let’s face it, you just hold out your hand and people give you their wallets.”

  “It’s for a good cause. People like to please me, they can’t help themselves.”

  “Yeah,” he mumbled.

  She slanted a coy glance at him. “You at least try to put up a good fight. I admire that about you.”

  “I find it’s a lot more fun when you win than it is when I win.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “I try to be a generous winner.”

  “You’re not always going to win.”

  She tilted her head. “Mr. Callahan, that statement implies that you and I have a future.”

  He leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, “I’m not implying anything.”

  She looked down at her hands, feeling a warm blush steal across her cheeks. She couldn’t remember the last time a man made her feel giddy. Just the thought of his promise made her go all warm and fuzzy inside. Yes, she loved him. He made her tingle with desire and longing. Not even Jake had accomplished that with her.

  She touched his hand gently. “I have to go to the restroom for a minute. I’ll be right back.”

  “Let me call E.J.”

  “I don’t know if I can wait. Look, there’s Bethany. If anything happens I’ll throw her in front of the stalker. She barely weights anything and I’m s
tronger than I look.”

  “Lucinda,” Noah started to object. He spoke into the tiny microphone on his collar calling for E.J.

  “Just send her in when she gets here,” Lulu said heading for the restroom knowing she was perfectly fine.

  Aiden stood near the bar, a glass of champagne in his hand, as he surveyed the room. He kept one eye on the restroom where Mark had disappeared to take a phone call. He thought about the last few weeks and how things had worked out. Lulu was in love. Aiden was in love. The only bad part was someone trying to kill Lulu. Life was almost perfect.

  As always, Lulu’s gala was a huge success. Every A-lister in New York was at the ball. The paparazzi stood outside on the sidewalk waiting for the next celebrity to arrive. The ballroom was absolutely perfect.

  Mark exited the bathroom, an odd look on his face. Something was wrong. Mark held his phone in his hand. Aiden rushed to Mark’s side.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I need to find Noah.” He pulled his arm up. “Noah,” Mark said, “I need to speak to you immediately.”

  Noah answered and Mark started pushing through the crowd, searching for him.

  “What’s wrong?” Aiden rushed to keep up.

  “I just got a phone call from one of Benny’s foster mothers.” Mark increased his stride. “I need to find Noah.”

  “I think I see him,” Aiden stood on tiptoe and glanced around. “He’s over by the women’s restroom.”

  Lulu stood in front of the mirror tucking an errant strand of hair back into her French twist. She had a sparkle in her eyes and though her blush had finally faded, her cheeks felt heated. Love became her, she thought, securing the strand of hair.

  The stall behind her opened and Bethany stepped out.

  “The attendant went to get more towels,” Lulu said as she turned. Lulu’s throat went dry. She stared first at the gun in Bethany’s hand and then at Bethany.

  “You know,” Bethany said conversationally, “I just can’t rely on other people. If I want something done, I have to do it myself.”