Christmas Bodyguard

by Margaret Daley

  “If the line was cut, you’re right that it had to have happened while your car was parked outside Joshua’s house. A bold move by this person, since it was in the middle of the afternoon and you could have come out. I couldn’t find anyone who remembers the couple you saw. No one else saw them. The house the black Taurus was parked outside had a friend visiting. Then I called Ferris Plumbing. They hadn’t sent anyone to the Hendersons’ place. The owner did say that occasionally he’s discovered an employee working for himself on the side, which might be the case here. I left a message on the Hendersons’ recorder for one of them to call me back. I haven’t heard from anyone yet. I’ll let you know when I hear back from them.”

  “So it could be the couple or the plumber?” Elizabeth took the stairs to the first floor, keeping her voice low. Although Abbey was working with Mary on her lines for the play in her grandmother’s sitting room, she didn’t want Abbey to overhear.

  “Or someone you didn’t see. You were in Joshua’s house about ten minutes and your neighbor’s house about five. Which would give someone time if he knew what he was doing. Did you see anyone following you to Joshua’s?”

  “No, but I wasn’t looking for a tail since it was only me.” She’d done her usual scan of the terrain around her and had kept track of any car that stayed right behind her for long. But she wasn’t as careful as she would have been if she’d had a client with her. She was used to protecting a charge, not herself.

  “The cut brakes change everything. Do you want me to get someone else?”

  “No.” The word was out of Elizabeth’s mouth, fast and without thought. Crossing the foyer, she started down the short hallway to Slade’s office. “Anyone in this position would be in danger. I’m not leaving this job. You bring someone else in they will have to get acclimated, which will take time. What if the person used that opportunity to do something to Abbey? I’d never forgive myself. Abbey and I are reaching an understanding. That took three full days of hard work.”

  “I had to ask, though I agree. But it will be your call always. You have to proceed as if your life is in as much danger as Abbey’s is.”

  Elizabeth stopped outside Slade’s closed office door. “I will. Danger is part of this job. I’m the best person to be here.” Because she couldn’t see walking away—not when both Abbey’s life and Slade’s were in jeopardy.

  “I’ll let you know when I hear anything new.”

  Elizabeth clicked off her cell and stuffed it into her front jean pocket, then went into the room, expecting to see her uncle with Slade. But Slade was the only one there.

  “Where’s Joshua?”

  “He’ll be here in a moment. He’s talking to his partner about Jay Wilson, the man who took plans for a new software program. How’s Bosco settling in?”

  “I can’t pry him away from Abbey. He took to her immediately, and she to him.” Elizabeth settled her tired body on the soft cushion of the wing chair across from Slade’s position on the couch. Until now she hadn’t realized how weary she was. But the aftermath of the adrenaline rush that afternoon finally hit her.

  “Which means she’ll be wanting another dog after this.” Stacks of additional personnel folders that he had had delivered that morning instead of next Monday covered the coffee table in front of Slade. He closed the file he had been reading and put it back on top of the pile. “I’m glad we have some time before Joshua joins us. I’ve decided to call Kyra and have you taken off this assignment.”

  The announcement stunned Elizabeth. Her mind blanked for a few seconds, as though someone had jumped her from behind, paralyzing her into inactivity. “Why?” She managed to keep her voice level, although she gripped the arms of the chair, her fingernails digging into the leather.

  “I can’t be responsible for something happening to you. You could have died today or been severely injured.”

  “What do you think a bodyguard’s job description is? Danger is part of every assignment I’m on.” She forced herself to ease the rigidity that held her and released her grip on the chair. Anger wouldn’t make her point. Logic would. “Abbey and I have come to an understanding. Do you really have the luxury of looking for the right new bodyguard, then going through a period of adjustment? And if someone else had been in that car today, do you think they could have done any better job at controlling the situation than I did?”

  “No, but—”

  “I want to stay. I’ve never backed down from a challenge. You need to face the fact that it makes sense to keep me in place. We don’t know what this person has planned. You can’t afford to risk a change at this time.”

  With each logical reason she gave him, Slade’s frown deepened until a nerve in his jawline twitched.

  She leaned forward, her gaze drilling into his. “I’m good. Give me a chance.”

  He wrenched his look away, staring at the closed blinds over the large window in the office. Behind the slats was a wall of darkness. That wall reminded him of how he’d felt when Catherine had died. He hadn’t been able to protect her. He was concerned about his ability to protect his daughter and now Elizabeth, as well.

  Lord, why are You doing this? What have I done wrong?

  The office door opened, and Joshua entered. Surely her uncle would agree with him, but before he could put the question to the man, Elizabeth said, “Slade wants to remove me from this assignment because I might be in danger.”

  Joshua took the other wing chair. “I’d advise against it. It would be a disruption in what we’ve done so far. We now know that Elizabeth and I aren’t safe from an attempt so we’ll be prepared. Besides, I taught my niece a lot of what she knows. She’s capable of dealing with this situation in a professional way.”

  “Every precaution has to be taken,” Slade said. He could never forgive himself if something happened to Elizabeth. Being attracted to her had complicated this. He needed to shut down his feelings for her.

  “Of course. She’s my niece.”

  “Who happens to be in the same room.” Elizabeth crossed her legs, her mouth a tight slit.

  “Point taken,” Joshua said with a chuckle. “I just got information about Jay Wilson’s death. It looks like an accident when he was cleaning his gun. There were some questions—murder was considered, and so was suicide. I’ve got a call in to the detective who investigated the death. He’s gone for Thanksgiving and won’t be back until Wednesday. I’d like to get his take on what happened. I’m having a hard time believing he had an accident while awaiting trial.”

  “How about the others on the list?” Elizabeth bounced her leg, drawing Slade’s attention. For a moment he didn’t hear what Joshua was saying. Finally Slade dragged his gaze away from her and focused on Joshua.

  “With Paula Addison still in prison, I think the only good suspect on that list we started with is Kevin Sharpe. His parents reported him a runaway a month ago.”

  “We’ll need a picture of him.” Elizabeth put both feet on the floor and rolled her shoulders.

  “Done. I’ll distribute the photo to all the security personnel at the ranch as well as your employees.”

  “How’s the search through these files going?”

  Elizabeth’s question drew Slade’s attention to her again. A softness in her green eyes reminded him of new, tender leaves on a tree, something he always looked forward to in the spring. “Slow. Copies are with the police. Maybe they can come up with a suspect. I feel like I’m missing something.”

  Elizabeth exchanged a look with Joshua. “We can help this evening, and anyone we single out, Joshua can pass on to Ted. He’ll make sure attention is given to this case.”

  Slade scooted forward and took a stack of folders, then passed them to Elizabeth. After giving Joshua his own pile, he said, “I think I’ll put a pot of coffee on. This may take a while.”

  “Sounds perfect to me.” Elizabeth rose. “And while you are handling that, I’ll go let Mary and Abbey know where I am.”

  She walked beside him as he l
eft his office. Images of what could have happened to her today taunted him as he watched her go up the staircase. At the top she glanced back at him, and his heartbeat kicked up a notch. The grin that flirted with the corners of her mouth underscored what he found so attractive about her. She had the most beautiful smile. It showed deep in her eyes and touched the cold place in his heart.

  Hurrying toward the kitchen, he shook his head as though that would rid him of thoughts of the woman. Ever since he’d met her on Tuesday in Kyra’s office, he hadn’t been able to forget Elizabeth.

  Five minutes later, he came into the foyer as Elizabeth descended the staircase, talking on her cell. Her face darkened with a frown as she listened to the caller. After she thanked Kyra for the information, she slid her phone back into her pocket. She looked up, her gaze homing in on him. The tiny lines between her eyebrows highlighted her concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “The Hendersons, who live across the street from Joshua, didn’t have a plumber coming to their house today. In fact, they weren’t even home.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “That the person in the Ferris Plumbing truck was probably the one who tampered with my car.”

  “And you didn’t see him.”

  “No. I didn’t even get a good look when he passed me on the street. The tinted glass hid a lot of him from view. I glimpsed a dark baseball cap, but that’s all. It happened so fast.” Elizabeth finished descending the stairs. “Kyra called a contact at the police precinct and discovered the owner had just called in one of his trucks as stolen. They haven’t found it yet, but hopefully they will soon. She’s having her friend check into it for any clues as to who might have stolen it. If she hears something back on that, she’ll let me know.”

  “Wouldn’t it be nice if the person left a couple of fingerprints on the steering wheel—or, better yet, lost his wallet in the truck?”

  Elizabeth laughed. “You’re a dreamer. I should have realized that.”

  “Why?” Her vanilla scent teased his senses, and it took all his concentration to focus on her answer.

  “Because you started your company with a revolutionized computer chip that you came up with. You had a vision and made it a reality.”

  “I never thought of it that way.”

  “I’m a much more concrete person. I believe in facts.”

  At the door into his office he turned toward her. “So I won’t catch you dreaming?”

  “No, wasted time.”

  “You’ve never dreamed?”

  “Sure, as a child. But I learned not to.” She pushed the door open and entered.

  Her last statement sparked more questions, but one look at Elizabeth as she spoke to her uncle made it clear Slade wouldn’t get any answers.

  EIGHT

  “That’s it for today. You all did great.” Spread out before Elizabeth in the exercise room were five teenage girls from the cheerleading squad and Abbey. Sweat beaded Elizabeth’s forehead, and she took the towel slung around her neck to wipe it away. “Any questions?”

  “When can we do this again?” Lily, breathing hard, brushed her long brown hair away from her face.

  “Yeah,” several of the girls chimed in.

  Elizabeth peered at Abbey. “That’s your call.”

  “I’ve got play practice after school all next week. How about next Sunday afternoon after the play is over with?”

  “And in the meantime, you all can practice the moves I taught you.”

  “I’m just glad to know what I can do if someone attacks me.” Lily ambled to her bag and picked up her bottled water next to it, then took a swig.

  “Me, too,” Lindsay added, getting her drink.

  “How many want to go riding?” Abbey asked, avoiding eye contact with Elizabeth.

  Three of the girls declined because of other commitments, but Lindsay and Lily wanted to.

  After the three teens grabbed their gear and left, Elizabeth pulled Abbey to the side. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Why not? Your uncle has finished making this place like a prison. Guards are everywhere on the ranch. No one is expecting us to go riding. It wasn’t planned. So what can go wrong? Today is beautiful, and I need to be outside in the fresh air.”

  For a few seconds her brave front fell, and Elizabeth glimpsed a scared, vulnerable young woman. “We need to run this by your dad.”

  “Please make him understand I need this. I haven’t been out this whole holiday weekend, except to ride in the training ring. I didn’t even go to church this morning. I want at least a little of my life back.”

  The plea in her voice hammered at Elizabeth. She knew how hard all of this was for Abbey. “School is tomorrow. You’ll be going there and to play practice afterwards.”

  “Please talk to him about letting us ride today. We don’t have to be gone long.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk with him.”

  Elizabeth headed to the door. She knew how hard it was for someone to stay inside a house for days and days, especially a teenager who was used to doing a lot of activities. That was one of the reasons Joshua had expanded out from the house to secure the ranch as much as possible.

  She found Slade on the couch in the den, reading some reports. She paused in the doorway, noting the tiny furrows between his eyebrows as he concentrated on what he was going over. His mouth formed a neutral slash. He jotted something down on the paper before him, then looked up.

  His gray eyes brightened. “How was the tae kwon do lesson?”

  “Productive.”

  “Good. I liked your suggestion to teach Abbey and her girlfriends how to protect themselves. The more she knows, the better this dad is going to feel even after the scumbag threatening us is caught.”

  Elizabeth crossed the den and sat in a chair near Slade. “Abbey wants to go riding with Lily and Lindsay. I told her I would ask you.”

  “I’m gathering not in the training ring.”

  She nodded.

  “What do you think?”

  Leaning forward, she rubbed her hands together. “That’s a tough one. If I had my preference, she’d never leave this house, but I also know how hard that would be, especially with a headstrong teen like Abbey.” Behind her she heard someone coming into the room and twisted about to see Joshua entering.

  “Abbey wants to go for a ride with her friends. What do you think, Joshua?” Slade placed his report on the coffee table in front of him and rose.

  “It should be okay. All points along the exterior fence are being monitored.”

  “Then, yes, Abbey can go, and I think I’ll go along, too. A ride sounds good. I have to admit getting out of this house would be nice.” He slid his gaze from Joshua to her.

  “How are you two on horses?”

  “I was born in Texas. I learned to ride a horse before a bike,” Joshua said with a grin.

  “Me, too.” Elizabeth pushed to her feet, actually glad they were all going on a ride.

  “Then we’ll meet in the foyer in fifteen.” Slade strode toward the exit, a spring to his gait.

  “Are you okay with this?” Joshua asked after Slade disappeared from the den.

  “Yeah. I have to admit that I’m looking forward to it, too, and I know one young girl who will be ecstatic. I’d better go tell her the good news.”

  But when she arrived at the exercise room, Slade had just finished telling Abbey, Lily and Lindsay. The smile that graced Abbey’s face wiped any apprehension away for a few seconds. Then when Abbey threw her arms around her father and he hugged her, Elizabeth felt his decision had been right. Desperate people did stupid things. This would help Abbey deal some with her curtailed life.

  “Dad, you’re the best. We’ll be ready.” Abbey spun on her heel toward her friends. “I’ve got some clothes you two can wear.”

  En masse, the teens left the exercise room. Slade turned toward Elizabeth, his expression of joy melting her heart. “I wish I had my camera to capture that smile.” The distanc
e between them shrank. “I can’t believe I’m becoming as excited as my daughter. I haven’t ridden in months. It’ll be good to do it again.”

  She started toward the hallway. “You live on a beautiful ranch and you haven’t ridden lately? I’d be out there every day if possible.”

  “Yeah, put that way it’s kinda hard to believe. Working all the time has carried its price.”

  Elizabeth slowed her pace and looked sideways at him. “Is that regret I’m hearing in your voice?”

  “When Abbey was hurt in the car wreck and I was trying to help her, all I could think about was the time I’d wasted working and not getting to know my child.” He stopped at the bottom of the staircase and faced her. “You know, this situation has made me take a good, hard look at what my life has made me become.”

  “And what is that?”

  “A workaholic living in the past.” He put his foot on the first step. “When all this is over with, I have some making up to do with my daughter.”

  “Why wait?”

  He halted, rotating enough so that his arm brushed against her. “You’re right. There’s no reason. We’re largely confined to the house, the ranch.”

  “You really are going to work here?”

  “I thought I would go into the office at odd times—nothing scheduled—but mostly work from here. This past week, I’ve managed. I have good people in place over the different divisions of my company.”

  “So you’re going to rely on them.”

  Surprise flitted across his face. “I guess I am.”

  “Will that be easy for you?”

  “No. I’ve always been a hands-on employer, but I’m finding I can’t do it all. Other areas of my life suffer when I totally focus on my business.”

  “I have a feeling your daughter will appreciate the shift.” She would have if her father had given her the love she’d wanted.

  “I hope I’m not too late.”

  She smiled. “It may not be a smooth road, but I don’t think you’re too late. I saw how Abbey responded in the exercise room.”