No one said anything but looked around at each other.
“With all due respect, Stan, I understand that this is an important case, but we do not provide protective services; we are in the recovery business,” Paul piped up first.
“Paul’s right; we don't do protective services or anything even remotely close to that.” Cat looked almost offended at the idea.
“Come on, guys,” Jake said. “Let's hear what Stan and Jane have to say before we jump to any conclusions about the job.”
Bo’s mind raced. He did not want anything to do with protecting anyone, let alone a woman. What the hell was Jake thinking, taking on an assignment like this?
“I don’t know what—” Paul started and then stopped short when Jake raised his hand.
“Stan, go on.” Jake nodded at Stan.
“Anyway, as I was saying. We need you to keep an eye on this woman for us.”
“’We’ being who?” Cat asked, eyeing Stan suspiciously.
“Me and Jane.” Stan motioned towards Jane as he spoke.
“You and Jane. Does that mean what I think that means?” Paul looked between Jake and Stan.
Bo could feel the tension rising in the room.
“Yes. It means that this is not something that the LCPD is asking for but rather something that Jane and I are asking for. A favor, if you will.”
“Great, just great. Now we're doing favors.” Cat threw her hands up in the air as she turned away from the table.
“Easy, Cat,” Jake warned.
“Seriously, Jake, no offense meant Detective Brookshire, but when did we start doing favors?”
“Since we have to.” Jake's temper was visibly rising as Cat shook her head and walked into the next room.
“I apologize, Stan.”
“No need.” Stan held up his hand to silence Jake. “I get it. It's not something you do on a regular basis and that's why everyone is grumpy.”
“’Grumpy’ isn't quite the word I'd use for Cat,” Rudy said, shaking his head.
“Well whatever we call it, we are taking the case.” Jake leaned on the edge of the conference table.
“Know what, I get that you all have some things to discuss, so we will leave you to it.” Then he turned and Jane followed.
“I'll call you,” Jake promised, walking Stan and Jane of the door.
Chapter 2
Jake followed the two detectives out of the room.
“Well, this is interesting,” Rudy remarked, as soon as the door closed behind the trio.
“You can say that again,” Cat agreed, joining the group. “Glad to see you coming back to the table, Cat,” Paul welcomed, picking up the file and leafing through it.
“I'm only coming back because I want to talk to you guys about this and hopefully talk some sense into you.”
“Great, now it's nonsense.” Paul rolled his eyes. “Bo, you haven't said much this whole time - what do you think about the assignment? Is it really that bad?”
Bo didn’t respond. He was trying to remain non-committal but he wasn't entirely on board with the assignment; it wasn't his ideal situation.
“See, even Bo thinks this assignment is a crock,” Cat waved her hands in the air.
“Bo?” Paul raised his eyebrows, waiting.
“I'm not entirely sure that we, as a company, should start branching out into protective detail. We could be sitting setting ourselves up for some tough calls down the road that we might not want to make. Money is always going to be tight.”
“See?” Cat waved her hand again before turning away.
“I didn't finish,” he started again, pausing to wait until everyone was paying attention before continuing. “Given the scenario of the case and that the person asking is someone who not only provides us with a steady stream of revenue but also someone who has been there for us on a regular to back us up, I think we should take this case on if only to keep our relationship with the detectives strong.”
“That is logical,” Rudy agreed as Jake walked back into the room trailed, by a very disheveled looking Sebastian.
“Good of you to join us, Sebastian.” Paul shook his head.
“Late night with Daria again?” chuckled Cat.
“Don't. Okay?” Sebastian grumbled
“Guys, leave the man be.” Jake called everyone back to the table. “I brought Sebastian up to speed on where we are with this thing.”
“So, it's settled then?” Cat crossed her arms clearly unimpressed.
“Yes, we are taking the case. And yes, everyone is going to help out as much as is needed.”
“So who gets to play babysitter?” Sebastian piped up, putting down the picture of Olivia he had picked up a moment before.
“It sure isn't going to be me,” Cat mumbled
“No Cat, it's not going to be you. Bo,” Jake drew a breath, “is going to handle the client’s safety. The rest of us will be there to support him and Stan’s investigation in any way necessary.”
Bo started to protest, “Why me?”
“Your military background makes you ideal for the job,” Jake said, making notes on a sheet of paper from the file.
“But Jake, wouldn't Sebastian be better? His people skills are far better than mine.” He had a feeling that he was fighting a losing battle.
He didn't want to be in charge of protecting anything or anyone.
“If we needed someone to seduce someone else, Sebastian would fit that bill. We need the best protection; you fit that bill.”
“But Cat also fits that bill. She's got just as much skill as I—”
“Bo, that's enough. You're going to be the one who takes protective detail for Olivia Woods and that is final.”
Cat snickered and Bo felt his irritation rise.
“Leave it alone, Cat,” Bo growled and idly picked at the file on the table.
“I'll be cleaning and oiling gear if you need me,” Cat smiled sweetly. “Good luck babysitting.”
Bo glared at her as she left the room. As much as he appreciated her humor, it didn't always feel great to be on the receiving end of it.
“Alright, alright. Get your gear together, Bo and head over to the hospital,” Jake ordered, handing Bo the slip of paper he had copied things on to. “Here is the room number.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled stuffing the paper in his pocket without looking at it.
*****
Olivia closed her eyes and rested her head back on the pillow. The pain coming and going in waves was emanating from her shoulder.
The painkillers they had given her earlier were starting to wear off, but as much as it was starting to hurt again, she didn't enjoy the funky feeling in her mind.
She needed to have all her faculties if she was going to figure out who was behind this.
Opening her eyes, she stared at the ceiling trying to fight back the tears. There was any number of people who could have wanted her dead. It was her job to prosecute any number of the negative elements that called Lake City their home. Any number them could want her dead. Finding out exactly who did this was going to take an extremely long amount of time and a lot of resources. Leaving whomever was behind it, time to come back and finish the job.
Tears built up in the corners of her eyes before making their way down her cheeks.
The door opened suddenly, snapping her out of it. She hurriedly wiped the tears away before the curtains around her bed parted and two people stepped in.
“Good afternoon. Olivia Woods?” The dark haired man started, reaching out his hand. “I'm Detective Stan Brookshire and this here is my partner, Detective Jane Trinity.”
"Detectives." She nodded then winced; the movement had caused the pain to radiate from her shoulder.
“Don't move, Miss Woods, we wouldn't want you to hurt yourself on account of us.”
The woman, Jane, smiled warmly at her and she pulled out her notepad and pen.
“I know you two.” Their faces were familiar but the lingering fog in her head
was making it hard to focus.
“Yes, Miss Woods, we have probably met at some point in our careers.” Detective Brookshire shuffled uncomfortably, “We need to go over a few things together.”
Olivia nodded, her mind still trying to make the connection of how she knew them. It was frustrating to know that her mind wasn't up to the usual. She never forgot a face but the meds were clouding her mind.
“Miss Woods?” Detective Trinity was looking at her intensely.
“I'm sorry, my mind was wandering a little bit.” She tried to smile but it felt fake. “What was the question?”
“We are trying to think of a list of people that would want to hurt you or want you dead,” Detective Brookshire repeated the question.
“To be quite honest, Detective, I was asking myself the same question as you were walking into my room.”
“Did you come up with any names?” The man moved forward to the edge of his seat, listening.
“Detectives, I am Crown prosecutor. There is a list a mile long of people who would love to do me harm.”
“Anyone that stands out as a prime suspect?”
“Not particularly.”
“Has anyone made any threats against you or your office recently?” The detective Trinity asked, without looking up from the note she was making.
“You have to speak with my clerks, they would know better than I would.”
“Do they handle your incoming mail?” he asked.
“Yes, most of it. The only time I would hear about something of that nature would be if there was an imminent threat to my safety.” She sighed. “But I will tell you from what I understand there are any number of lunatics that have had their objections to my existence.”
“Any particular reason that stands out?” The man smiled at her description of the situation.
“Because I dress too nicely, my house is too tidy. Because I put Big Brother, Little Sister, Mom. Daughter, Son, Father in jail. Because I drank my latte this morning from a disposable cup,” she laughed quietly.
“So... nothing in particular.”
“Not really any one thing, no. I'm sorry, Detective. I wish I was more help but truthfully I'm at a loss.” She sighed heavily and went on, “Somehow I think this will be easier to come to terms with if I could understand the reason it happened in the first place.”
“I wish I had an answer for you right now. We are still taking to some of the witnesses who were at the scene. For now, we don't think there is an immediate threat to your life.”
“I noticed the guard standing outside my door, thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome, however, we do have a solution for you when you're ready to leave the hospital which from what the doctors have told me, could be any day now.”
“Oh God. I hope you're not going to have one of those creepy undercover cops follow me around, are you?” She groaned outwardly. The very thought of someone following her around the city gave her the creeps. Not to mention how her family and friends would react to being followed wherever they went with her.
“No, Miss Woods, given that the police department’s budget isn't what is supposed to be at, we can't spare as many Undercovers as we might have been able to in the past. The Justice Department is, however, able to take care of the bill for any expenses for whatever we decide. Besides that, any criminal worth his salt would be able to spot an unmarked car a mile away and find a way around it.”
“Just what do you propose?” She eyed the detective suspiciously.
“We have a team of professionals who will be able to see to your protection.”
“Professional bodyguards?” She inwardly groaned and rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she tried to sink deeper into her pillow.
She liked this idea even less than the unmarked undercover officer she'd just been refused. A bodyguard would be worse by far, they were allowed to go anywhere or do anything. Her freedoms would be even more limited.
“It’s not forever, Miss Woods,” the woman detective said soothingly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“There is so much for me to do every day; how can I possibly get someone to run through the chaos with me?”
“We’ve spoken to the DA and he's modifying your schedule-“ Stan started, and she could feel her blood pressure rising as she found herself tuning out the actual words he was speaking.
How dare he? Who did this man think he was?
“Stop. Just stop.” She raised her right hand to silence him. “Miss Wood-“ the other woman started, but she only had to flip her hand again in her direction to silence her too.
“Detectives, I understand you both have a job to do, and I understand that part of that includes ensuring that I am no longer in danger.” She paused to catch her breath; the ache in her shoulders and head had increased to throbbing as her blood pressure had risen. “However, I too have a job to do and one that also includes making sure those responsible for doing things like this to me and others are thrown behind bars so they can't hurt anyone else. I cannot do my job if I am tethered to another person or anchored in one spot, unable to move for fear I might be hurt.”
“We understand that, Ma’am and that is precisely why we opted for a twenty-four-hour bodyguard versus the city owned and operated security detail.” Stan nodded as he spoke, “We had a feeling that you would not want to be stuck in one spot and unable to do things that are important to you.”
“And what, you think an overgrown babysitter will do the trick?” She snorted. “You are kidding, right?”
The look on the man's face told her otherwise. He was not kidding.
“I am truly sorry but this isn't up for debate, Miss Woods,” Jane told her softly.
Olivia bit back the tears; her shoulder started to throb again. Her anger at her own weakness became overwhelming and bile began rising up in her throat.
“I know it's not what you want to hear right-“ the other woman started before Olivia cut her off.
“Really? Do you know? Do you understand what I'm going through?” She fired at the woman enough to make her jump.
Jane started to open her mouth but Olivia had had enough.
“No, Detective. You. Don’t. Know,” she spat. “You have the training and the means to protect yourself while I am now going to have to rely on some rent-a-cop to follow me around.”
She paused to catch her breath; neither detective made a move or uttered a word. They were waiting for her.
“And what is that going to look like to my peers? Or worse yet, to the criminals that I am set to prosecute? The only thing they are going to see is weakness. The defense attorneys are going to jump all over this like flies to shit.”
“I get it, Miss Woods. But there is no other option for us. We have a duty to keep you safe and that is what we are intent on doing. I am sorry if that is not something you'd like to consider, but at this point, you have no choice,” Stan said, rising.
His partner stood up, too.
“So that's it then?” Olivia huffed.
“For now,” the man replied.
“Why, what else have you up your sleeve?”
“I will want to discuss the events of that morning but not today. You need your rest.” He smiled.
She could tell he was really trying to be fair but she wasn't ready to admit defeat yet.
“Fine then,” she mumbled as the detectives walked out of the room.
As the door shut behind them, the floodgates opened and she started to cry.
*****
Bo grabbed his bag as he stormed out of D.O.T.. He had spent the last ten minutes in his jeep going over each of the items in his pack.
He never left base without double-checking his gear. He never wanted to be in a situation where he didn’t have what he needed.
He had been there once before and it had cost him dearly. He wasn’t about to allow himself to be in that vulnerable position again any time soon. Not if he could help it anyway.
Putting the car into reverse
, he backed out of his spot and started to make his way downtown to the hospital, silently cursing the rest of the team for foisting this on him in the first place. He did not want to be protecting anyone.
That wasn’t what he had signed up for.
His phone rang and he glanced down at it before he accepted the call.
“Yes, Cat,” he spoke.
“Hi Bo,” Cat’s voice came through the car’s speakers.
“What would you like, Cat?” He turned onto the main highway.
“I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Really? Seemed like you were of the same opinion as everyone else in there just a few short minutes ago.”
“Yeah, about that—” she started and then trailed off.
“Don’t worry about it, Cat.”
“I am sorry, Bo. I guess I just got carried away in the moment like everyone else.” She really did sound sincere.
She had, after all, called to make sure he was okay.
“It’s fine, Cat, really., he sighed as he responded. He really didn’t have the heart to be mad at his best friend.
“No, it isn’t alright, Bo. They shouldn’t be putting you in a situation where you are not comfortable. It’s really not fair.”
“Well, maybe they are right this time. Maybe it is time I put the past in the past and moved on with things. I mean, there isn’t a way for me to change the past so I might as well let it go.”
“Everyone deals with things in different ways, Bo. You have to deal with your things in the way or ways that make sense to you. If you aren’t ready for something like this, there should be no one out there who will force you to be ready when you aren’t.” He could hear the concern in her voice.
“I am fine, Cat, really I am.”
“If you aren’t up to it, Bo, I will just tell Paul and Jake that I will do it. You don’t have to. Really.”
“Cat.” He knew she was only trying to help him but at the same time he was starting to think that maybe it was time for him to move on and let the past stay in the past where it belonged.
“If you’re sure, Bo.”
“Yes, I am sure, Cat.”
“You will tell me if it turns out to be too much for you, right?”
Bodyguard (Den of Thieves, #2) Page 2