by L. T. Marie
Lee folded her arms over her chest, not particularly happy with the way Gary was staring inquisitively at her. When she asked someone a question in the service, they answered without hesitation. His scrutiny irritated her but she kept her restlessness channeled. She would appear to him as she always appeared to others—unbreakable, void of any emotion. Nothing could penetrate the barriers that had made her the soldier she used to be or the civilian she was pretending to be.
“Well.” Gary nervously cleared his throat. “Since you don’t know much about Total Femme, let me enlighten you. They’re a group of five women who made it big about two years ago. They can’t go anywhere without a mob scene. Reporters, paparazzi, and crazed fans follow them everywhere. Each band member has a minimum of three bodyguards who travel with her at all times. Security has been a nightmare and it’s only going to get worse.”
Gary handed Lee a picture of five stunning women. Each leather-clad member sported knee-high spiked boots and see-through mesh tops. One particular woman stood out among the rest because of her flawless beauty. She was the tallest of the five, with shoulder-length brown hair that surrounded the coolest, bluest eyes she’d ever seen. The contrast of light and dark only made the woman more stunning, but this woman’s looks were apparently as phony as her costume.
“Stop dickin’ around,” she said with annoyance. The photo told her nothing except that every straight man and lesbian in the country most likely had a framed copy of this exact picture on their nightstand. Hell, she couldn’t blame them. “What else you got?”
“So impatient.” Gary chuckled, the tension easing from his body as he handed her another photo.
The second picture wasn’t airbrushed. The woman in the current photo closely resembled the taller woman in the first one, but with sweeping distinctions.
She sat on a blanket with her legs curled underneath her, smiling up at the camera, her hair the color of wheat blowing in the summer breeze and a smile so genuine Lee felt the innocence touch her through the photo. The woman’s eyes were a cool Caribbean blue, but Lee picked up a hint of sadness in them immediately. “Who is she?”
“This is Jolene West. Tory West is the lead singer,” he said, pointing to the hottest woman in the first picture, “and Jolene is her identical twin and your job assignment. Unlike Tory, Jolene doesn’t sing but has always traveled with the group as Tory’s manager. At times in the past Tory also used her sister as a body double, but since Jolene’s accident, she hasn’t been able to do anything in any capacity.”
“Twin sister?” They looked nothing alike.
“Identical.”
“Then—”
Gary put up his hand. “Tory wears a wig and contacts when she performs.”
Ah. “And what about this accident?”
“It’s all there in the file. I’ve compiled—”
“Jesus, Gary, just tell me, damn it.” Lee was growing uneasy, an unfamiliar feeling in general, and not being able to instantly tell why pissed her off.
“The sisters have been fighting for years about various issues, but lately most of the fights centered around Tory not appreciating Jolene as a manager. Tory’s a control freak and has always questioned Jolene’s ability, even though she insists she doesn’t want anyone else as a manager. One night, Tory asked Jolene to fill in for her at a fund-raising event to raise money for childhood diabetes. Jolene agreed but told Tory that when she returned home, she would be resigning as her manager and moving out of the house they share. Jolene never made it home that night because someone intentionally rammed into her limo and put her in the hospital.”
For the first time in a while, Lee’s attention didn’t falter. She hated it when people got hurt, and it bothered her that the innocent-looking woman in the picture had become a victim. Movie stars and big-profile individuals always irritated her when they disregarded their own personal safety and ignorantly questioned authority. Her last job had proved that. The supposed former drug dealer gone rap star thought he was above the law. When he wanted Lee to stand by while he tried to coax some young girl into doing cocaine with him, which she clearly didn’t look interested in, Lee intervened. He’d told her to mind her own fucking business, and when she didn’t back down, he took a swing at her. He was lucky she’d only broken his arm and not strangled him with the five-pound gold cross he wore around his neck. “Did they catch the person who did it?”
“No. And there’s more to the story.” Gary reached into another folder and handed Lee a postmarked letter in a plain envelope.
She read the note twice, committing the words to memory. Tory West clearly had a stalker and words such as “I’m watching you” and “You’re mine” clued her in to the serious nature of the person’s obsession. The letter was written using letters or words cut out from printed pages. “When did she receive this?”
“A few weeks ago, and it’s only one of many from the same psycho.”
“And how long has she been receiving them?”
“A few months. They started out like the letter in your hand. ‘I love you. I want you,’ that sort of crap. She didn’t think anything of it at first, but then they became aggressive, threatening. She used to get one every week. Now she gets three or four a week. This is one of the earlier letters.”
“So why didn’t she do something sooner?”
“You know how it is.” Gary shrugged. “Celebrities receive letters from people all the time. Most is fan mail, but unfortunately every once in a while it’s some obsessed kook. She didn’t take it seriously until this maniac attacked Jolene and wrote her another letter claiming it was him.”
“Him? So the attacker’s definitely male?”
“Good question. We think so. Well, the profiler does anyway. Statistically speaking, eighty-seven percent of stalkers are men, so unless something suggests this wacko is a woman, we’re going with the guy probability.”
Profiler. Good. That meant Gary already had someone working on the inside.
He had a network of friends, most either current or former FBI employees. She never cared where he got his information nor did she want to know. All that mattered was that it was accurate. “And where’s the letter that stated he did it?”
“It’s being analyzed by another friend of mine. Even though this whack job cuts out letters and doesn’t write them, we were hoping for some type of DNA from saliva or something, but so far, nothing. In fact, every letter he’s ever written is clean. Believe me, I checked. I can have it for you by tonight, though, if you want to see it.”
“Do you have any other leads?”
Gary ran his hands through his sandy-colored hair. “No. Whoever hit her left the scene and the police haven’t found any incriminating evidence. Another friend of mine’s doing some tests on the sly, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.”
Lee considered the information for a moment, but something was nagging at her. “So why go after Jolene West? Why not Tory West, if that’s who he’s obsessed with?”
“According to the last letter that I’m going to get for you, she was an example. At first we thought he’d made a mistake since Tory was supposed to be at that event, not Jo pretending to be her, but it turns out he’d targeted Jo on purpose. He says he’ll take away everything Tory cares about until she realizes her love for him. Tory and the other band members have guards already, and the girls don’t have any other family left. Jolene is the only one without a bodyguard, which is why he went after her, obviously.”
“Does she know?”
“Yes. And she’s pissed.”
I bet. “So she needs protection and that’s why I’m here.”
“Yes, but…” Gary began to fidget. Something was definitely up. “She needs the protection because Tory is worried he really will go after Jolene again, but she’s refusing help.”
“Then what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Convince her.”
Oh, hell no! “This is bullshit. First you want me to babysit, and now yo
u want me to get in the middle of their family squabbles? Forget it.”
“Shit,” he mumbled as Lee got up and stepped onto the sidewalk. “Lee, wait!”
She stopped and turned. A few patrons had jumped and stared at him with shocked expressions, but no one was more surprised than Lee. Gary wouldn’t draw attention to himself unless the situation was serious. Glancing down to where his leg should have been, she remembered the last time he’d drawn fire. He’d saved one of his good friends but lost a limb for his bravery.
When he had stood tall, Gary’s six feet, four inches made him an intimidating presence. With his rugged good looks and piercing blue eyes, he’d always been labeled a ladies’ man. He was still handsome, but in that chair with the light gone from his eyes, she could tell he’d also returned home a shadow of who he used to be. She returned to her seat, nodding for him to continue. His sweaty brow and nervous fidgeting indicated that, after drawing attention to himself, he wanted to do anything but.
“Maybe we should, uh…”
“Take a walk.”
“Yeah.” Gary smiled gratefully. “But how about you walk and push?”
They maneuvered safely through the crowded patio and headed toward Gary’s car. The second they were alone his anxiety quieted. “The situation is complicated, Lee.”
Like she hadn’t heard that before. Of course it was complicated. Why else would they pay that kind of money for protection and have someone like Gary search out someone like her?
“Even though he’s claiming it was him, we have no way to know it’s the truth,” he said. “This guy is smart, and if Jolene doesn’t take the protection seriously this could turn out bad. Tory’s worried that whoever it is won’t just injure Jo the next time. It’s obvious this maniac could have killed her and, according to my sources, he’ll escalate the violence. That’s apparent in the frequency of his letter writing. Supposedly, he was only trying to prove a point. For now. Besides being intelligent he’s resourceful. Jolene is aware that she was the intended target, but she’s stubborn and, well, proud.”
“I don’t care about any of that. How am I supposed to protect someone who doesn’t want protecting?”
“Jolene doesn’t want it because she always tries to prove to everyone she’s not Tory. She’s lived in Tory’s shadow most of her life, and once Tory became famous, it only got worse. In her mind, accepting a bodyguard makes her look like her sister, yet again.”
Lee sighed, shaking her head. This was the kind of shit that made her miss the military. In the service things were cut and dried. You were either told what to do or you ordered someone to do it—period—no questions asked. You never had to explain your actions to anyone. People’s feelings were never an issue. “You know, I don’t really give a fuck about this domestic crap. Besides, I’m still not understanding how you’re going to get Jolene West to accept my help if she doesn’t want it.”
“Tory talked with Jolene about having a bodyguard yesterday. She’s agreed to work with a female shadow, but only in limited capacities until she’s healed. Since all Tory’s bodyguards are male and Jolene doesn’t want a male shadow, I suggested you. Oh, and by the way, she likes the word shadow because bodyguard makes her feel claustrophobic.”
Lee continued to process the information but still couldn’t account for a piece of the puzzle. She wouldn’t accept the job until she knew every detail. “What else?”
“There is one more thing. Jolene West has certain tastes.”
She stared at him, not following. “You’ve got ten seconds or I’m walking.”
“She’s…Oh, hell. She’s gay.”
“So? When has that ever mattered…” Lee hesitated. Suddenly the picture became clearer. “Wait a second. Is that why I’m getting this job?”
“That’s part of it.” He shrugged. “In my experience, men seem to have more of a problem with this kind of thing than someone with your background.”
“My background?” If Gary hadn’t been confined to a wheelchair Lee would probably have hit him. Yes, she preferred women, but her limited experience in the past didn’t make her an expert.
“Be reasonable,” he said. “If she does want to date or go out eventually, she’ll want privacy, and no one blends into different environments better than you. I mean, look at you.” He pointed at her, making her look down at her clothes. “Shaggy hair, jeans and boots. You don’t look anything like a bodyguard. You can successfully blend into civilian life, which is one reason I picked you for the job. Not that I need to tell you this, but frankly you’re the best. And Tory wants the best for her sister.”
She had made a great squad leader partially because she could teach the younger recruits the art of blending into all types of surroundings. If she didn’t want to be seen, then she wouldn’t be. She truly was the best of the best—a person who would cast no shadow, able to live in the dark until she chose to reveal herself. It was also why she’d been the only woman ever accepted into the elite Rangers’ program, only to have lost that opportunity the day she was injured. Rangers were known for their skill at remaining undetected in a war. In a combat situation if you saw a Ranger, it was probably too late. She sighed. Gary’s reasons for picking her were valid, but they still rankled her. Jolene West didn’t mind having a shadow as long as she kept to the shadows. But to protect Jolene West, Lee would have to be within a certain range at all times.
“As I said before, this is bullshit. You think you can throw out a few compliments and I’ll cave? You can forget it. Since when has my personal life ever had any bearing on my work?”
“Damn it, Lee!” Gary said, his composure gone. “She’s in serious trouble and we don’t know any woman with your type of experience that can help. Please.”
Please? Gary didn’t beg. First calling attention to himself and now begging? Another piece of the puzzle was still missing. “What else?”
“That’s it. You have everything,” he said, avoiding eye contact with her for the first time.
She didn’t work this way. No information—no job. That’s how it had always been, and she wasn’t about to bend her rules just because money was involved. “No, I don’t. See ya around.” She turned but was quickly stopped. She glanced at his trembling hand on her arm before meeting his barren eyes and whispered, “What else?”
Gary bowed his head, speaking just above a hoarse whisper. “Tory and I were…engaged…to be married. It was before I was shipped off to Iraq. When I returned, my leg was gone and so was Tory. I couldn’t let her live with only parts of me left, and I don’t just mean the physical parts. Mentally, I’ve changed too. You know.”
Engaged? Her mind reeled with the new information. She thought back to when they served. They’d hung out numerous times after a mission and she seemed to recall Gary bragging about a woman, but why couldn’t she remember the conversations? Could the PTSD be blocking some of these memories? The doctors said that could happen. But maybe she’d been so focused on her missions she hadn’t cared to hear about other people’s personal lives. When she’d had something to carry out, nothing could distract her. Ever. But here was one time when she wished she’d paid more attention to Gary’s constant ramblings. It pained her as she watched the once-proud boulder of a man sitting before her shrink to the size of a pebble. Even though she was surprised by his admission, she couldn’t offer him comfort by divulging her own pain. Some things were better left buried.
“We tried working things out when I returned, but between my disabilities and her career, we decided it was best to stop seeing each other. When she contacted me about the stalker, she knew I could help. I told her about friends, like you, who can deal with all types of situations off the radar. She doesn’t want to involve the authorities and draw attention to herself, and she’s asked me to do this favor. I can’t let her down. Not again.”
Lee stared into the distance, the sounds of everything around her fading like the late morning sun behind the clouds. She’d only ever had one weakness, and t
hat was helping a fellow soldier in need. She couldn’t say no to him and live with herself. “Okay, I’ll do it, but I have some stipulations.”
“Name it.”
“First, I don’t take orders from anyone. That includes Tory West, her bodyguards, or God himself. I may be accepting a job as a bodyguard, but I’m no grunt. If I see something I don’t like and want it changed, it gets done. Period. No questions asked. If anyone undermines my authority or decisions, I walk. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” he said, smiling. Obviously he expected nothing less from her.
“Good. When do I start?”
“Tomorrow, 0700,” he said, a spark back in his eyes. “And, Lee—thanks.”
Lee retrieved the folder from him and tucked it under her arm. “Don’t thank me yet. She hasn’t met me. And from the sound of it, I probably won’t last a day.”
Chapter Two
Jo opened her eyes cautiously, afraid that the Richter-scale-sized headache she’d suffered in the past week would still rock her fragile state. Her concussion had been worse than the doctors anticipated, but as each day passed the fogginess had begun to abate, leaving behind pounding pain. Grimacing as she shifted onto her side, she was reminded of the cracked ribs that would take weeks to heal.
“Ow, damn.” She moaned and collapsed back onto the bed. Getting into a comfortable position was impossible due to the fluorescent-pink fiberglass cast that extended from her foot to just below her knee. The doctors had explained that her ankle had shattered in three places—the extensive surgery had required plates and screws to keep the bones firmly in place. The healing time was unknown due to the nature of the injury, but she would have a cast for at least eight weeks, with a full round of physical therapy to follow.
She hated feeling helpless, and between the cracked ribs, broken ankle, and raging headache it was hard to feel anything but. Added to all the other symptoms, nausea made her want to remain inert most of the time, a side effect of the concussion. Bright lights only intensified the nausea. Photo something or other, the doctors called it. Whatever, the name didn’t matter as long as it went away.