“Club Bandit is a well-run club,” Zee bristled.
“I’m not saying it isn’t.You asked us here to identify some security shortcomings.That’s all we’re doing.”River’s cool voice soothed Zee’s anxiety again.
“I guess all of this has shaken me more than I realized,” Zee said through gritted teeth.
“Yeah, would shake anyone,” River continued.“I want you to add lights to the back of Club Bandit.Carter, get the team we use out to do that tonight.I’m going to park bodies in your parking lot every night you are open to watch for this van.I would lock the front gates to your property and close the gates at the back, the ones we came up from.”
“The garden,” Carter said, glancing up from his screen.“That’s a wide-open area that has no fence, and someone could get through it to the house, bypassing the gates completely.”
The garden stretched around the back gate of the house and reached the edge of a ravine, overgrown with trees.
They never bothered adding a fence back there with it because their neighbours on that side were on the other side of the ravine, and it was secluded.
“Not touching the garden,” Zee said.“It’s a forest back there, and it’s Ella’s.”
“It’s your weakest point from a security standpoint,” Carter said, and stood, closing his laptop.“The crew will be here in an hour to do the lights.”
“Anything else?”Zee asked.
“Yep, we’re going to get our IT people to go over these emails for a look and ask you to change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication,” River said.
“That’s a pain,” Zee said.
“It’s a precaution.I also want you to give us a list of any companies that have come to the property since you first saw this van.I want to rule them out,” River said.
“We have a new contract with a cleaning company.”Zee stood and paced, trying to recall who else had been at his house.Ella loved hosting and taking on projects.She sometimes used a courier that came by the house to deliver her corsets.
“Anything like that, I want those contact details,” River said.
“Anything else?”
“I know you don’t want to raise the alarm and freak your people out, but everyone could be extra vigilant.Make sure your staff are escorted to their cars.We’ll ask our guys to put in more lights in Club Bandit’s parking lot, too.”River said.
“That’s overdue anyway,” Zee said.
“The emails and the van could be two separate things,” Carter said.“We’ll rule that out as quickly as possible.Are there any staff members you’ve let go recently?Anyone in the club having a problem with their ex?”
“Nothing comes to mind, but I’ll think about it.”
“Glad to hear you’re not resisting us,” River said.
“That’s why I called the experts.I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about this to anyone but me.”He didn’t want Ella finding out from someone other than him.
“We won’t breathe a word about this to anyone.Our team is solid.You can trust us, Zee.We’re on it.”
“Keep me updated.”
“As soon as we know something, you’ll be hearing from me.”River extended his hand and Zee shook it.
“We know how much you care about your people, your community.You did the right thing by reaching out to us,” Carter said.
“It was hard.I have a lot of pride.”Zee admitted.
“I understand that,” River grinned.“I’ve always liked you, Zee.”
Zee laughed and walked the guys out.“Thanks, guys.”
“Talk to you later, Zee,” River said.
