Executive Protection

by Jennifer Morey

  Thad put the box down on the nearest table, and Edith noticed their arrival.

  “All right, everybody,” Edith said, an older, plump woman in a pink dress who was in charge of this event. She clapped her hands. “Take a seat.” Parents sat talking at one of the tables in the back. Some of them dropped their kids off and picked them up after the two-hour session was over.

  Edith was a retired schoolteacher who inherited a comfortable sum from her mother and who wasn’t ready to stop teaching.

  The yelling and running around slowly calmed. Boys and girls scurried for seats at the tables, swinging feet and fiddling with the books in front of them.

  Lucy had to stop a quick laugh when she saw how Thad stiffened and watched out for small torpedoes with feet.

  Lucy spotted seven-year-old Sophie charging toward her. She crouched for the impact of the girl’s hug.

  “Lucy! Lucy!”

  Lucy’s heart soared with affection. Why this youngster had taken to her so tightly, Lucy couldn’t guess, but it warmed her to the nth degree.

  “Hey there, Sophie.” Sophie Cambridge was a special little girl. Recently orphaned after her mother was killed in a car accident and her father hadn’t stepped forward to take responsibility for her, she’d been thrust into the hands of the state. Her studies in school had rapidly declined, as anyone would expect.

  She ruffled the child’s thick head of shoulder-length light brown hair. “How’s my girl?”

  “I read a book!” Her golden-brown eyes were alight with innocent pride.

  “You did? Which one?” Sophie reached out for approval whenever she could.

  “A red dog.”

  “A Clifford book? Good for you!” Sophie was behind the others in her class in reading. Lucy was sure she’d struggled with the book. “Did Rosanna help you with it?”

  Sophie’s face fell, and she shook her head. “She had to do dishes.”

  Housework was more important than a child’s ability to read? Rosanna seemed like a good foster mom. Lucy searched for her in the room and didn’t see her. “Where is she?”

  Sophie shrugged.

  Rosanna had dropped her off and hadn’t stayed for the program. Something must have come up. “Well, that’s okay. At least you’re here. Are you ready for a story?”

  The child’s face beamed once again, and she nodded vigorously.

  Lucy steered her to the table where Thad stood. Sophie grew shy when she saw Thad towering over her, but she sat down as Lucy guided. She’d be good for him. Nothing like a sweet seven-year-old to melt a few cubes of ice around a heart.

  “Take a seat here.” Lucy pointed to a chair and waited for Thad to register her command. He looked from the girl to the chair and then Lucy.

  “She won’t bite.” Wow. Was he really this awkward with kids? The hero cop had a handicap.

  He saw how Sophie eyed him uncertainly and sat down. “Hi.”

  Sophie glanced up at Lucy. “Thad is a police officer, Sophie. You’re safe with him.”

  Sophie wasn’t convinced, staying in her shy shell that had probably intensified since her mother had died.

  Edith came over and Lucy introduced him to her and Sophie. The old woman studied the handsome man and then turned speculative eyes to Lucy. Lucy never brought anyone to her literacy volunteer job and Edith was well aware of her hunt for a husband. Helping kids read better was a deep part of her, a part that meant a lot to her. She didn’t share her love of written words and belief that all children should be able to read them with just anyone. Reading was intelligence, and with intelligence, kids could make their dreams come true.

  Lucy held up the book to Edith. “We aren’t going to start with this. I have a story I’m going to tell first.”

  Edith smiled with her good-humored reproach. “In one of your moods, huh?”

  Every once in a while she broke free of the expected and went with whimsy. She began to pass out the box of books, and Edith helped, announcing to the room of kids, most of whom hadn’t settled down yet, “Quiet down now. It’s time to start.”

  Lucy took a seat on the stool and waited for the buzz of children’s voices to go silent.

  “Before we read from the book you each have in your hands, I’m going to tell you a story,” Lucy began, capturing the attention of ten young faces. Stirring their imagination was her favorite part. “It’s a true story about a girl from New York. She lived a long time ago, long before any of you were born. She was an orphan who wanted to learn all she could about the world.” Lucy saw Sophie listening with wide eyes, immediately connecting to the girl in Lucy’s story. It’s what Lucy had intended. “Imagene Evertine ran away from her mean stepmother and went to live in a library. At the library, she could read all the books she wanted and could learn about the world. She taught herself how to read, and read she did. She read and read and read.”

  Lucy paused and met each one of the children’s faces. “Imagene lived a long and happy life. She got married and had kids of her own, who she taught to read and took to the library where she grew up. Like all people, one day Imagene became old and, at last, God said it was time for her to come to Heaven. He had a calling for her. A job. So after she passed here on Earth, she took over as Heaven’s chief librarian. She’s still there today, happily making sure all children have books to read.” Lucy held up the one she was going to read tonight. “That’s where these came from.”

  Murmurs spread across the tables, and some of the parents exchanged knowing smiles. Thad sat back on his chair and smirked at her.

  “Did she give them to you?” one of the boys asked. He was about six.

  Lucy nodded. “Yes. I know Imagene very well.”

  “Does she really give you books for us?” a little girl asked.

  “Oh, yes.” Lucy nodded.

  “She was an orphan?” Sophie asked.

  “Yes, except she grew up in a library, not a foster home. And no one adopted her.”

  Sophie mulled over that, too serious of an issue for a child.

  “But she was very successful and happy her whole life,” Lucy said, giving the girl more to ponder.

  She didn’t let her ponder too long. She began reading from the book. On words she suspected would be difficult for this crowd to read, she spent extra time pronouncing them and used a whiteboard to write them out and explain what they meant and why they were spelled the way they were before moving on in the story.

  * * *

  Two hours later, Lucy’s mouth was dry and she sipped from a bottle of water Edith had given her. After closing the book, she looked up to see Rosanna sitting at one of the tables in the back with all the other parents. Kids dispersed, meeting up with their parent or both parents, depending on who’d brought them here. Rosanna went over to the table where Sophie sat. She hadn’t gone to her foster mom.

  Lucy went over there.

  Rosanna smiled. “You do such a fantastic job with these kids.”

  “Thank you. I enjoy teaching them.”

  Thad stood. “I especially liked the true story.”

  Lucy didn’t miss the way he said “true story” and smothered a smile and introduced him to Rosanna.

  “What do you think, Sophie, you ready to go home?” Rosanna held out her hand to the girl.

  Sophie didn’t take it and stood, turning to Lucy. “I was thinking. Imagene lived in a library, why can’t I live where I want?”

  Rosanna looked at Lucy, perplexed. She hadn’t been here when she’d told the story.

  “Where do you want to live?” Lucy asked, keeping her wariness out of her tone.

  “Well...” Sophie hedged. “I was thinking maybe I could live with you.”

  “Me?” Lucy was shocked. Where had this come from? Her story about Imagene? Lucy checked on Rosanna, who seemed
hurt.

  “The people who brought you to me won’t let her, honey,” Rosanna said. “Let’s go home and make chocolate milk.”

  That worked to lift Sophie’s spirits some.

  As Rosanna met Lucy’s gaze, Lucy wondered if she’d imagined the somber self-awareness in the foster mom. Was something bothering her and had Sophie picked up on it? Sophie had never behaved this way before, as though she dreaded going home with Rosanna.

  “Come on.” Rosanna took Sophie’s hand.

  Sophie looked sullenly back at Lucy, whose heart melted with the sight.

  Thad moved to stand beside her.

  Lucy shook her emotions back into line and gathered her purse. “Ready?”

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” Had he noticed what she had?

  “Is Sophie okay? Is there something going on with her mother?”

  “That’s not her mother. Rosanna is a foster mom. Sophie’s mother died in a car accident almost two years ago, and her father wouldn’t take responsibility for her. She doesn’t have any other family. Her mother had no siblings and her parents aren’t alive anymore.”

  Lucy waved to Edith and walked with Thad out of the room.

  “That’s tragic,” Thad finally said.

  He seemed at odds with learning that news, as though it had touched him but he wasn’t sure what to do with how it made him feel. Lucy suspected he needed to feel more when it came to kids and love. He probably hadn’t been exposed to much of either.

  “Is anyone going to adopt her?” he asked.

  “I’m sure someone will come along. She’s an adorable little girl.”

  They left the building and walked to Thad’s car. He opened the passenger side for her and she got in.

  “My mother is being released from the hospital on Monday morning,” he said when he sat behind the wheel and started driving.

  “I heard.” Why was he bringing that up now?

  “It would mean a lot to her if you’d go with her,” he said.

  Lucy wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. It wasn’t in her plans. And she never liked it when people made plans for her.

  “She talked to your boss.”

  Lucy shot a look his way. “What?” Without talking to her first?

  “He supports you helping her.”

  She was too stunned to respond right away. Of course her boss had to agree. Kate had been the vice president of the United States!

  “Your job will be waiting for you after my mother is fully recovered,” he said.

  “So I’m to report to your mother’s house and be her home care nurse? Just like that?” she finally asked.

  He glanced over at her. “No. I’m asking you. My mother spoke to your boss to help sway you to agree, that’s all. She would like you to say yes.”

  Lucy relaxed and wondered if she’d overreacted. She had a choice. She could refuse and go on with her life. Or she could agree and go on a mini adventure.

  She looked over at Thad’s profile. It was too dark in the car to see his hazel eyes, but she remembered well that they had hints of gold and green. She took in the rest of him, his messy hair that wasn’t really messy, his broad shoulders, his trim hips.

  That’s when she realized he was the only thing stopping her from saying yes. And she shouldn’t allow that. So he had an unconventional outlook on marriage and family. So she was attracted to him. She wasn’t afraid of falling in love with him...was she?

  Regardless, she refused to let that be her deciding factor. Kate needed her. “All right. I’ll do it.”

  As he pulled to a stop in front of her house, a sexy grin lifted his mouth, creasing the skin slightly on each side.

  Mesmerized, Lucy remained seated in the vehicle while Thad walked around and opened her door. When he extended his hand, she took it, and he guided her out.

  It seemed natural for that moment that he accompany her to her door. It would be old-fashioned if not for Cam’s frightening behavior.

  “Would you like me to take a look inside?” he asked.

  She’d locked everything tight before leaving. But the assurance would be nice so she said yes.

  Unlocking the door, she felt him touch her hand when she reached to turn the knob.

  “Me first,” he said in that deep, gravelly voice that shouldn’t be doing hot things to her.

  She stepped aside, and he entered. Following, she watched him check her living room, opening closets and turning on more lights than she’d left on before leaving. All of the rooms were small in her old house, but the previous owners had renovated the kitchen and opened the space. Her long and narrow kitchen was visible over the snack bar. Pendant and recessed lighting illuminated white cabinets and dark granite countertops.

  Lucy waited in the living room for him to finish his search. It didn’t take long. When he returned downstairs, he came to stop before her.

  “Did you scare the boogeyman away for me?”

  “No boogeyman. Not under your bed. Not in any closet. You’re safe.”

  There was that sexy grin again. He liked being with her as much as she liked being with him right now. That indelible energy wouldn’t cool.

  His grin faded as they continued to stand close and look at each other, the consequences of allowing passion to take flight settling in. As with her, temptation made him yearn for him to stay, but leaving was the smart action.

  “I should go,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  Neither one of them moved.

  Lucy breathed a wry, awkward laugh. He reacted with more heat going into his eyes. The awkwardness fell away and suddenly it became incredibly important to her to explore where this would lead.

  He took a single step toward her. She lifted her face so that it was just beneath his, anticipation building. Her skin flushed and a shaky breath eased out of her. His face lowered, maybe an inch. His gaze fluttered from her mouth to her eyes, where it stayed. And then as quickly as the heat had rushed upon them, he withdrew and stepped back.

  “Good night,” he said, and walked out the door.

  Lucy went there and turned the dead bolt, resting her forehead against the wood, unanswered and unsatisfied desire churning inside of her.

  Chapter 5

  It was late and the bar was closing. Darcy Jenkins walked there with his partner, knowing the bartender was finishing up for the night. They’d been there earlier when it was busy and had spoken with a few regulars and waitstaff. The bartender was the last one they needed to talk to.

  “Time to lock the doors, gents,” the man said. He was tall and skinny with thin brown hair that would fall straight to his shoulders if it wasn’t tied back in a ponytail.

  Darcy and his partner, Kyle, showed him their badges, which the bartender looked at without reaction. But he stopped wiping the bar surface.

  “Detective Jenkins and Detective Morrison,” Darcy said.

  “Yeah,” the bartender said. “I heard you were here asking questions. Something about a woman who was murdered?”

  Kyle took out a notepad and a pen.

  “Yes,” Darcy said. “She was killed two nights ago and was last seen here with a man.” Kyle showed the bartender pictures of the woman. “Do you recognize her?”

  The bartender shook his head. “Naw, man. I was working that night, but I serve a lot of people in here.”

  “We’re trying to find out the name of the man she was with.” Beside him, Kyle jotted a note down. Probably something like “another dead end.”

  “Her sister said she’d gone on a date but couldn’t tell us the man’s name,” Kyle said. “They’d just met. Are you sure you don’t recognize her?”

  His partner didn’t talk much, but he was getting frustrated w
ith this investigation. Both of them feared it would wind up in the cold case files. Kyle had moved here from Detroit to get away from his ex-wife.

  The bartender shook his head and resumed wiping down the bar. “Sorry, man. I wish I did. There is someone who might be able to help you, though. You haven’t talked to her yet. She’s a regular here and sat at the table next to the couple you’re talking about. The waitress for that section told me after you questioned her. She didn’t think it was important or she would have mentioned it to you. When we talked, I realized who sat at the table next to the couple.”

  Darcy nodded, a new glimmer of hope emerging. Maybe the woman had heard something.

  Right after the bartender said the woman’s name, a high-pitched scream penetrated the walls. It came from above, on the second level.

  Darcy looked with the other two toward the sound. There was a doorway beyond the end of the bar that must lead to the second level.

  “What’s upstairs?” Darcy asked.

  “Owner lives up there.”

  Another scream followed by something crashing to the floor propelled Darcy into motion. The door was metal and locked.

  The bartender knew where the owner kept a spare key and gave it to Darcy, who unlocked it and ran up a narrow, filthy stairway that turned at a landing and ended at another door. It, too, was locked. Still holding the key ring from the other door, Darcy tried the other keys. The last of the remaining two unlocked the door.

  Dropping the keys, Darcy took out his gun and followed his partner inside. The upper-level apartment was warehouse-style. A large open space accommodated all of the rooms. The kitchen was adjacent to where he and his partner entered, living room to the right. Ahead was a bedroom and a closed-off area where the bathroom must be.

  “Get off me!” a woman shouted.

  Near the king-sized bed covered with a leopard print comforter, the blond-haired woman struggled beneath a big man on a bearskin rug.

  “Stop!” she screamed.

  The man had her pinned to the floor. A lamp lay broken at their feet. There was a torn red blouse on the bed, a jean skirt next to it. The man had just removed her bra and all that remained were her underwear.