Assignment: Bodyguard

She lifted her chin. “What do you suggest then for someone who’s got a target on her back?”

With a grunt and just a bit of sympathy in his eyes, he gently pushed her aside and started grabbing at garments. “Jeans—they’re sturdy and fit in anywhere. Some T-shirts and jackets and good walking shoes.”

She watched as he selected various items and tossed them in the open bag she’d found in the closet. But he held her cell phone out then dropped it in his pocket. “There. You’ll make a statement, I’m sure. And you’ll live to buy more clothes.”

“Can you guarantee that?” she asked, smarting from his obvious impatience and his misunderstanding of her hesitation. “Can you promise me that my presence won’t get someone else killed?”

He zipped the bag. “I can assure you that while you’re in my care, you won’t get killed.”

While you’re in my care.

His words, spoken in a low, gravelly voice, flowed through her like a gentle rain. Not “While I’m trying to protect you.” Not “While I’m trying to keep you alive.” But “While you’re in my care.” And not a promise, but an assurance. Was there a difference?

The man had a way of saying things.

“I’m ready,” she said, sending up one last prayer for hope and guidance.

They made it to the door just before it burst open.

Sally Mae Barton saw the overnight bag, and shook her head. “Oh, no. You are not taking my daughter out of here.”

“Mother—”

Sally Mae pointed at Kit. “You can’t leave. Your daddy will blow his top. He wants you here where he can keep an eye on you.”

Shane stepped forward, his stance at once protective and formidable. “I want to get her out of here because I don’t believe she’s safe here, Mrs. Barton.”

Sally Mae looked affronted, her tiny fist clenched at her side, her head held high. “This is Eagle Rock, Mr. Warwick. It’s a fortress.”

“It’s designed to be such,” Shane said, nodding his head. “But I have reason to believe your daughter might not be completely protected.”

“And I won’t put all of you in danger,” Kit added, hoping her mother would listen to reason. “If Shane isolates me, then I won’t have to worry about everyone else.”

Sally Mae shut the door then put her hands on her hips. “Are you telling me you think someone on the inside is behind this? We’ve been through that already with Devon and Lydia, remember? And with Eli and Gena. That was definitely an inside job from one of our top operatives. But he’s dead and gone and I thought it was over. Mercy, when will it end?”

Shane touched a hand to her arm. “I’m not saying that. I don’t believe this threat is coming from within CHAIM ranks. We’ve pretty much wiped that problem clean. But I do worry that someone from the outside knows Katherine is here. And that’s why I think it best to take her to an undisclosed location where few people are—the fewer people involved the better.”

Sally Mae’s shrewd gaze passed over his face. “You’re one of the best, I’ll give you that. But you can’t take her out of here without discussing this with my husband.”

Shane let out a breath. “You know that will only delay things. I don’t have time to listen to a lecture or to go over strategy by committee. My gut is telling me to get your daughter to safety immediately and worry about the details later.”

“But—”

“Mother, I’m not a prisoner here,” Kit said, using her best assertive voice. “I can leave on my own or you can let the man you hired to protect me do his job. And you can try trusting me. I won’t be responsible for someone doing harm to anyone inside Eagle Rock or out.”

Sally Mae clutched at her gold rope necklace. “I declare, I don’t know about you young folks. We had a way of doing things back in the day, but now…”

“Now threats can come from many sources,” Shane said, glancing over at Katherine. “If I can get her to a safe location, I can do some digging and get to the bottom of this. Starting with Jacob’s death and working from there.”

Sally Mae gasped. “Are you saying there was more to that? I knew it. I tried to tell your daddy—” She stopped, her expression thoughtful. Finally she said, “Okay, what’s the plan?”

Kit heard Shane’s exhaled breath. Had he been planning to take her hostage as he’d suggested earlier if her mother refused to cooperate?

“The first order of business is a means of getting us out of here,” Shane said. “We need a car.”

Sally Mae nodded. “I can help with that. We’ve got plenty of vehicles around here. Meet me in the garage in about five minutes.” She turned to Kit. “Are you sure, honey?”

Kit didn’t want to lie to her mother. She wasn’t sure but she couldn’t risk getting all of them killed. “I don’t have any other choice right now, Mother. It’s best if I distance myself from all of you—to protect you.”

“And what about you?” Sally Mae asked.

“Shane will take care of me.”

Sally Mae turned toward the door then whirled toward Shane. “You listen to me, and listen good. If anything happens to my daughter…well, you just remember I was once a CHAIM agent myself and I still know a few surefire ways of dealing with those who fail me—or make me mad.”

Shane’s eyes widened. “I understand, Mrs. Barton. And you have my word I will protect her with my very life.”

“That’s mighty reassuring,” her mother replied with all of the serenity and sweetness of someone at a country club luncheon. “Now, about that car…”

“A yellow Miata?”

Shane stared down at the toy car sitting in front of him, not sure he could get his legs to fit in the tiny thing, let alone his entire body. Even with the top down, he didn’t see how he could be comfortable, but he didn’t dare put the top down tonight.

Sally Mae shoved the keys at him. “Look, it’s the only one I can spare right now. It’s little, it’s fast and it’s bulletproof. Even the hard top, which I suggest you don’t let down. You’d be like low-hanging fruit with the top down. And it gets good gas mileage.” She shrugged. “What more could you want?”

“A real car,” Shane said on a snort. “This is like a go-cart on steroids.”

“Take it or leave it,” Sally Mae replied. “The SUVs all have the standard CHAIM GPS tracking.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Which means—”

“That your husband could track us, I know, I know,” Shane interrupted. “And you’re sure this car isn’t bugged?”

“No, it is not,” Sally Mae replied, her indignation showing in the flash in her eyes. “It has a GPS system, of course. But that’s just so I can find where I’m going when I’m shopping or lunching, you know. Woman-type stuff. I like my privacy and my husband knows I can dislodge any tracking system in about five minutes, anyway. So he indulges me now and then.”

“By allowing you to drive around in a bright yellow car that looks like a bumblebee?” Shane asked.

“Hey, it’s cute and it’s fast—I had the engine reworked to make it a little quicker,” she replied. “And you’re wasting time.”

“You’re right,” Shane said, looking over at Kit. “Get in.”

Sally Mae patted the little car. “Oh, and just so you know, it does have an emergency button. That red one on the dash. Hit that and you’ll get a secure satellite line right back to Eagle Rock. Or you can request a secure line to signal any other agent by code.”

“Good to know,” Shane said, impressed with Sally Mae’s steel magnolia calm. He handed her Kit’s cell. “We won’t need this. She’s to have no contact with anyone for the next few days, understand?”

Kit didn’t like that. “No contact? But I have obligations, calls to return. Everyone will be wondering where I am.”

“We’ll take care of all that, honey,” her mother replied, holding the phone up in the air.

Kit had remained quiet while her mother and Shane discussed their mode of transportation. But now, he saw the apprehension in her eyes. “Katherine?”