Because that was his job.
Kate needed to establish a barrier, the same barrier Red had put up between them when they left wardrobe. Only it hadn’t lasted long, it was already broken, and all she had to do was reach out and touch his soul.
“Kate. We need you on set.” The director pointed to the set which was the deck of her ruined Jaroma space cruiser. She had to battle a couple of Zengarian Flyers while protecting the Space Monkeys who were on the planet below.
“Sure.” She gave a small wave to Red before taking her position. He nodded in response and then took a couple of steps backward, his eyes scanning the set, looking out for any issues. Issues. She found it easier to call it that, than cope with the knowledge she might have attracted a lifelong stalker. Of course, she’d heard horror stories of how actors and actresses were often stalked for years.
None of which was helpful. She had to focus, immerse herself in her part. This movie had to be good, it had to be a box office smash. Then she would disappear and live in relative obscurity, writing scripts.
“One more time,” the director’s voice called as she pulled herself up to a standing position one more time.
Kate took a deep breath and centered herself. A quick glance around the set showed her how many people were watching her. It was difficult not to look at each one in turn in an attempt to figure out if they might be the person who followed her.
Yes, it could be a crazed fan, or it could be a crazed worker. Even one of the security team itself.
“Action.”
The word sparked Kate into action and she ran forward, tapping the display screen of her ship. It beeped loudly and then sparked, causing her to hold her hand as if in pain. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed hold of the workstation and pulled herself back into position. Again she tried to tap in coordinates and target the ships that were firing at her.
The set rocked, the sound of a large explosion would be added in to simulate the torpedoes being fired at her crippled ship. But her ship wasn’t crippled. Not if she could eject the damaged section of her ship, which she’d rigged with enough explosives to take out both the Zengarian ships.
Five minutes later, the director called cut and gave her a thumbs up.
The sound of clapping hands reached her. “Well done, Kate.” Carter’s voice carried over the sound of clapping and congratulations.
“Thanks.” She pulled herself up to a standing position once more and walked off the set to where Carter and Red were waiting for her. Surprisingly, there was no sign of her mom who usually showed up midmorning to see how things were going.
“You did good,” Carter told her. He was dressed in his Space Monkeys costume and looked every inch the hero.
“Thanks. You’re up next.” She glanced at the director who was watching back over the footage they’d taken this morning. “I am going to go eat and catch my breath.”
“I’ll see you in a couple of hours. We have the scene from yesterday’s rehearsals to shoot.”
“See you in a couple of hours.” Kate inclined her head toward Red. “Shall we go and find some food?”
“Sure.” Red strolled along beside her, his eyes scanning the area as they stepped outside into the bright sunlight.
“I wish I could scrub this makeup off.” Kate flexed her hands which were the same shade of blue as her face and neck. “I’ll have to eat everything with a knife and fork, so it doesn’t end up turning blue.”
Red glanced at her hands. “I could always feed you.”
She giggled. “Like a baby? My mom would fight you for that privilege.”
“She’s never learned to let you go.”
“Nope, she has not.” Kate pointed right, and they walked around the warehouse that housed the sets and across an area of concrete that was sometimes used as an open set. Following the contours of the building farther, they wound up at the dining area where food was served all day to the actors and crew.
“And how do you feel about that?” Red held the door open and they entered the dining area, the aroma of food hitting her, and her stomach gurgled in anticipation.
“That’s a difficult question.” She loved her mom. They’d been together through the good times and the bad and Kate wanted to make her proud. And make sure Marylin was secure in her life both emotionally and materially. “I love her. She loves me. But lately, we’ve been pulling in different directions.”
“My mom struggled to let go.” Red didn’t look at her, he focused on the hot plates of food as he ladled rice and pasta onto his plate. “She raised me alone from a young age. So when I told her I was joining the Army, she struggled with letting me go.”
Kate let out a sharp breath. “And I’m worried how my mom is going to cope with me leaving acting.” She sighed and helped herself to some salad and pasta, adding a slice of pizza as an afterthought. “That must have been difficult for you and your mom. But she accepted your decision.”
“She did. The most difficult part was when we said goodbye and she cried. I always hated seeing her crying. But I had to go and live my life as I wanted to.”
“Why the Army?” Kate followed Red to an empty table. Normally she would have either sat alone or perched on the end of her chair while making conversation with a member of the crew. It was early days on the movie and aside from Carter and of course, Mike, she didn’t really know anyone else. Except for Wanda and Imogen, but they were rarely in here. Their trailers were their domain and that was where they stayed like queens in their castles, sending their assistants out for anything they might need.
“My dad was a medic. He volunteered in war zones.” Red pushed his food around his plate as he formed the next words in his head. Words no child would ever want to speak. “He died while helping rescue people from an earthquake in Afghanistan.”
“I’m so sorry.” Kate reached out and touched his hand and he raised his eyes to her. She wanted to dive into the soft pools and let his love sweep her away. She swallowed down her own desire. Red was telling her about the death of his father and she was thinking of the babies she’d like to make with him.
“Thanks.” He nodded and then began to eat as if the conversation was over.
Searching for something to say, not wanting silence to put distance between them, she ate her pasta and salad, the pizza would wait until last. But before she got that far in her meal, her cell phone rang.
“Great, it’s my mom.” She tapped the screen and her mom’s voice, strained and hushed, spoke.
“Can we talk?” Marylin asked quickly.
“Sure, I thought we were having dinner together.”
“I need to see you now. I’m in your dressing room.” Something about her mom’s voice filled her with concern.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes, we’re just eating.” She looked down at her plate of half-eaten food. Perhaps she should leave it and go see her mom right away.
“Who is we?” Marylin asked. “Are you with Carter? I thought he was on set.”
“Carter is on set.” She looked across the table to where Red sat eating his food, while conspicuously not listening to her conversation. Although his admission that his hearing was enhanced left her with no doubt he could hear every word she and her mom said.
“So who are you with?” Marylin’s suspicions were raised.
“I’ll introduce you to him when I get there. Ten minutes. See you then.” Kate ended the call and shoved her phone back into her purse.
“Everything all right?” Red asked.
“I don’t know.” Kate lifted a forkful of food to her mouth and forced herself to eat. She needed energy to get her through the day. But as her mind turned over her mom’s words in her head, she wondered what was going to drain her more, her job, or her mom.
Soon she would find out. A sliver of fear traveled down her spine, and she shivered. What if her mom was responsible for the events of last night? It was a crazy idea, but something about her conversation with Marylin over breakfast made the ide
a a little less crazy the more Kate thought about it.
And if she was responsible? What then?
Chapter Ten – Red
Red wasn’t sure exactly what had been said between Kate and Marylin. Although he could have overheard their conversation, he had instead tuned it out and focused on the chatter of the three people who ran the dining facilities. He didn’t want to eavesdrop on his mate.
“My mom wants to talk to me.” Kate speared a piece of cucumber and ate it, crunching it with her back teeth with more force than was needed. Whatever the conversation was about, it had left Kate in an unsettled mood.
“Do you want me to come, too?” Red asked as he finished his food. It was good and if they were not in a hurry he would have gone back for seconds, as it was he focused on drinking his coffee while Kate ate.
“Yes.” She fixed him with a look that revealed the woman beneath the movie actress exterior. Kate might be friendly and appear soft and feminine, but when her back was against the wall she would come out fighting like a real mama bear. His mate might not want to hear it, but he was certain she was more like her mom than she realized.
“You think she has something to do with what happened?” Red studied his mate carefully, wanting to know everything there was to know about her. Often, it was the small things, the little details that told him the most about a person.
Kate swallowed, but when she spoke she was open and honest, she wasn’t going to hide anything from him, even if it incriminated her own mom. “She knows something.” Kate ran her finger up and down the smooth surface of the plastic table. “Even if she doesn’t know the whole truth.”
“Would your mom hire someone to follow you?” Red didn’t like asking his mate tough questions, but sometimes those were the exact questions you had to ask.
Kate watched her finger as it slid up and down the table. “I’d like to say no.”
“But you can’t.”
She shook her head and raised her eyes to meet his. “She thinks, or thought, I’m seeing someone. Someone who is pulling me away from her.” She sighed. “I know she only wants the best for me, but it’s stifling.”
Red stood up. “Let’s go find out what she knows.”
Kate pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. “There’s no point putting it off, is there?”
“No.” He sauntered to the door and held it open for her, after giving a cursory glance outside. Since leaving the Army, his survival instincts had become blunted as he slipped back into civilian life. But with his mate’s life under threat, they were sharpening up just fine.
Kate passed through the door and led him back around the building to another section of the outside lot where larger trailers were parked. Security guards patrolled the area but didn’t approach Kate as she walked toward a trailer that had her name along the side.
“They know who I am and I’m guessing word has gotten to them that you are watching over me.” Kate pulled open the door of the trailer and stepped inside.
It was a lot nicer than he envisaged. The furniture was like a home away from home, with soft squishy sofas and a dining area for eating and entertaining. A door to the rear of the trailer stood open and he caught a glimpse of a bed. Red quickly turned away from that room and focused on the woman who he’d seen last night in the hotel. She was seated in one of the squishy sofas looking nervous.
Kate was correct, her mom did know something. But would she have the guts to admit to everything she knew?
“Hey, Mom. What couldn’t wait until tonight?” Kate asked. She leaned down and kissed her mom on both cheeks.
“I was worried about you.” Marylin kissed her daughter’s cheek and then fixed a stare on Red.
He returned her stare. If she were behind what happened to Kate, he sure would be giving her a piece of his mind.
Let Kate handle this, his bear told him. It’s her mom, and if you come between them now it might drive a wedge down the middle of your relationship that will always keep you apart.
Agreed. Unless she needs me, Red said in return.
She won’t, she’s fierce and brave, did you see her on that movie set? His bear’s admiration for their mate was heartwarming, but did he know the difference between real life and the movies?
His bear muttered something unintelligible and walked off, leaving Red to concentrate on the conversation between Kate and her mom. Red would not interfere unless Kate needed him or asked for his help or opinion. His bear was right, she did know how to look after herself. There was no way she’d have lasted so long in an acting career if she couldn’t make her opinion known or stand up for herself.
“Mom, what’s this all about?” Kate went to sit by the side of her mom while Red hung back out of the way. This was a private moment between the two women and Marylin might be more open about what happened if she forgot she had an audience.
“It’s about last night.” Marylin dabbed her eyes with a crumpled tissue she had in her hand. “I want to explain.”
“Explain what?” Kate passed her hand over her face. Her blue face. This was the most surreal conversation Red had witnessed, and he’d had his fair share of strange occurrences in the Army.
Marylin lifted her hand and stroked Kate’s blue cheek. “Look at you.”
“Mom, I’m fine, we talked about this. Anyway, I’m enjoying the challenge and it’s fun.” She looked down at her blue hands. “I’m actually enjoying acting again.”
“You weren’t enjoying it before?” Marylin asked, surprise crossing her face.
“Not for a while, no.” She lifted her head and inhaled deeply. “So about last night?”
“Yes.” It was Marylin’s turn to look down at her hands. “You know how much I love you. You know how much you mean to me.”
“Mom, what’s going on?” Kate’s voice was tinged with panic. Red could understand her concern. If her mom had done something terrible, they would all have to live with the consequences.
“I was worried you’d fallen under the influence of someone…a man…I don’t know. And I overreacted.” Marylin’s confession was only just beginning. “I wanted to know who it was. I wanted to know if you were okay.”
“And you couldn’t just ask?” Kate’s question was met with tears from Marylin.
“I wanted to. But…I was scared you would lie to me.”
“Mom, what did you do?” Kate’s tone became more forceful as Marylin skirted around the question.
“I hired someone. A private investigator.” Marylin said the words quickly, as if she was glad to finally confess, then she held her breath waiting for her daughter’s reaction.
“A private investigator.” Kate let go of her mom’s hand and stood up abruptly. Marylin reeled backward as if she’d been struck.
“I did it for you. I wanted to make sure you were safe, and no one was coercing you.”
“Why would you even think that?” Kate asked.
“Because of your recent behavior.” Marylin looked over her shoulder at Red.
“What about my recent behavior?” Kate asked. “This is because I chose to take the part in Space Monkeys instead of A Place for Us.”
“We had a plan,” Marylin insisted.
“You had a plan,” Kate said in return. She dragged her blue hand through her hair and let out an exasperated sigh. “We went over this earlier. We were going to discuss it this evening. So what changed?”
“I finally spoke to the private investigator.”
“That you hired to follow me.” Kate hammered home the words and Marylin paled. “And what did he say? Hey, yeah, I followed her through the park and then chased her?”
Marylin dabbed her eyes with her tissue again and took a trembling breath. “No, that’s just it. He did follow you, but he wasn’t the one that chased you. He said it was someone else.”
“How convenient,” Kate’s caustic reply held an undercurrent of fear. “So if it wasn’t him, who was it? He must have gotten a good look at the person.”
Red listened to Marylin’s words. Were they true? He thought back over his encounter at the restaurant with the person he was sure was a shifter. Was that the private investigator or was that the stalker who had followed Kate? He needed to know.
“Does this private investigator of yours have a name?” Red asked, stepping forward.
“Of course he has a name,” Marylin answered. “But I don’t see what business it is of yours.” Her eyes narrowed. “You were at the hotel this morning.” She stood up, her shoulders thrust back. “So you do have a man in your life, Kate. I was right.”
“Mom, I met Red yesterday, he was the one who rescued me from the stalker in the park.” Kate's face was set firm as Marylin opened her mouth to protest. “Don’t you dare place this on me or Red.”
Marylin’s mouth snapped shut and she took a moment to compose herself. “I’ll give you the name of the private investigator I used.” She took a small notebook from her bag and then rummaged around for a pen. “He was recommended to me.” She looked up at her daughter and her lip trembled. “He has a special ability.”
Kate frowned, while Red’s heart raced. He was certain the private investigator was a shifter. Marylin must’ve known this. Did that mean Kate already knew about shifters? And if she didn’t, what would her reaction be?
“What kind of special ability?” Kate folded her arms across her chest, her weight shifted to one foot as she leaned away from her mom. Whatever Marylin’s intention when she came here today, all she had managed to do was alienate her daughter. The damage to the relationship between mother and daughter was done.
As if a knife twisted in Red’s heart, sorrow spiked through him. With the loss of his own mother so fresh in his mind, he didn’t want to stand back and watch Kate lose the one person who had been there for her, her whole life. Whatever reasons Marylin had for hiring the private investigator, Red wanted to believe none of them were malicious, she had simply become an overbearing mother.
Bodyguard Bear (Bear Creek Protectors Book 1) Page 8