"She's living in rural Nebraska now," Logan continued, his voice taking on the briefing tone they all recognized. "About an hour outside of Omaha. For the past few weeks, she's been experiencing what she believes is increasing surveillance and inciting fear. Someone watching her property, hang-up calls, the feeling of being followed."
Logan clicked to the next slide, showing a timeline of incidents that had escalated over the past year since she'd moved to Nebraska. "It started with gifts. Small boxes containing silk roses with romantic notes, supposedly from a fan. Initiallydelivered through normal channels but recently left directly on her property."
He paused, consulting his notes. "The content of the messages has also changed significantly. Early gifts came with generic fan appreciation. 'From a devoted fan' or simple compliments. But the recent notes have become much more personal and concerning. Messages like 'Why did you leave?' and 'You are missed' suggest someone who feels abandoned by her move. More troubling are notes saying 'I remember the real Rose' and 'I had to search for you,' which indicate someone who's remembering her teenage screen character and has actively tracked her to her current location."
Casper felt his jaw tighten as Logan continued. The progression from general fan appreciation to personal abandonment issues and active searching behavior painted a clear picture of obsessive escalation.
Logan advanced to the next screen. "Then came the surveillance. First, a white sedan following her to and from the grocery store, which she initially dismissed as a coincidence. Weeks later, the same white sedan appeared at the post office when she was picking up mail. Most recently, a dark SUV followed her from town. The pattern shows someone who stays two to three cars back, maintaining visual contact without getting close enough to be identified."
The room had grown more focused as Logan detailed the escalation. "Yesterday, the outdoor furniture on her porch had been repositioned, and she found fresh footprints beneath her office window along with a pile of rose petals. Someone has been on her property, close enough to look into her home."
"Any known threats?" Todd inquired, his expression growing more serious as he processed the systematic nature of the harassment.
"Not specifically, but she's got the usual collection of fan attention that comes with former child star status. Her old show has found new life on streaming platforms, so there's renewed interest. There's also a blogger who tracks former child stars, and she mentioned some persistent fans from her teen days."
Casper looked at the timeline more closely, noting how the incidents had progressed from anonymous gifts to direct property invasion. This wasn't random fan enthusiasm… this was organized stalking behavior that was clearly escalating toward a more dangerous endgame.
Casper studied the woman's photograph while listening to the familiar rhythm of threat assessment. She was undeniably beautiful, but there was something else in her expression. As he stared into her blue eyes, he sensed a depth that suggested she'd seen more of life than most people her age. Giving his head a shake, he wondered what bizarre rabbit hole he’d fallen down.Jesus, I’ve seen beautiful women before.Yet he found it difficult to drag his gaze away.
"Initially, she's only asking for a security system," Logan continued, "but I want a full assessment of the situation. If someone is surveilling her, we need to know who and why. If the threat is escalating, we need to get ahead of it."
He turned his attention directly to Casper. "I'm assigning you as primary on this one."
Casper felt everyone's eyes on him and couldn't shake the feeling that he was the wrong choice for this assignment. "Any particular reason you chose me?" The question came out more bluntly than he'd intended, but Logan had always preferred straight talk to diplomatic dancing.
Logan seemed to read his thoughts. "Because you're exactly what she needs. She moved to Nebraska specifically to get away from the Hollywood circus. She's not looking for someone who'll recognize her, want selfies, or treat her like a celebrity. She needs someone who can blend into the background, assess threats without drawing attention, and keep her safe without making her feel like she's living in a fishbowl."
That made perfect sense, and Casper felt some of his uncertainty fade. He'd always been most effective working from the shadows, invisible until the moment action was required.
"What's the timeline?" he asked.
"You'll fly out this morning. Cole will take you down in the plane with Timothy, then Timothy will get pilot time coming home. Mary has a rental SUV waiting at the airfield. First priority is assessing her home and designing a system. Bert will get the order sent, and I’ll contact our closest security installers." Logan's expression grew more serious. "She's got a business trip to Los Angeles in a couple of days, and if someone is watching her, being in a major metropolitan area could escalate the threat significantly."
"So I'll need to accompany her to LA," Casper said, already running through the logistics in his mind.
"Exactly. This isn't a standard bodyguard assignment where you're visible and intimidating. You'll be working in the background, close enough to respond to threats but far enough back that she doesn't feel like she's lost her independence. When you get back to Nebraska, I’m asking you to stay a few more days to accompany her to an event in Kansas City that weekend. Once back from that, her new security system should be adequate for her safety, and you’ll leave.”
Logan handed him a tablet loaded with background information. "Everything we know is in there. Study it on the flight."
Casper scrolled through the first few images as Logan continued briefing the room about other assignments. The progression was striking as he perused the photos of Willow as a cherubic child model with enormous blue eyes and golden ringlets, then as a fresh-faced teenager on what must have been the TV show everyone seemed to remember, and finally, recent photos that showed her as a stunning woman with an understated elegance that didn't rely on Hollywood glamour.
"Any questions?" Logan asked, his gaze sweeping the room.
"Rules of engagement?" Casper asked.
"Standard protocols. Priority one is her safety. Priority two is identifying and neutralizing the threat. Use whatever resources you need." Logan's expression hardened slightly. "But remember, she chose to leave Hollywood behind for a quiet life. She's not looking for drama or excitement. From what Leo said, she's looking for peace. Your job is to make sure she gets it."
"Understood."
"Good. Cole, you'll want to get the bird prepped. Flight time to Nebraska is about two and a half hours." Logan's attention shifted to the room. "Everyone else, we've got the Mexico assignment prep to finish and Frazier's Canada job to coordinate. Let's get to work."
"Lucky bastard," Timothy said with a grin. "Getting to protect a gorgeous movie star."
"She's not exactly a movie star anymore," Casper replied, still scrolling through the background information on his tablet.
Sadie added, "From what I remember, she was always one of the good ones. I used to watch the show and loved reading the gossip rags when I was a teenager. She stayed out of trouble and treated people well. You could do a lot worse for a protection assignment."
Casper nodded absently, his attention caught by something in Willow Thorton's recent photos. While many were takenof her professionally, one was taken recently when she was out with friends. No makeup. Jeans and a sweatshirt. Hair in a ponytail. And a heart-stopping smile on her face as she laughed at something one of her companions said. It was that photograph that reached out and grabbed him.
