“You ready?”
He jerked slightly, looking up to see Cole at the door. Nodding, he slid his tablet into a leather case and fell into step beside Cole and Timothy as they headed to the equipment room. There, Bert made sure he had what he might need, filling another duffel with a handgun, ammunition, night goggles, a body vest, and other items that Keepers always took on assignments.
As they walked toward the hangar where Cole and Timothy would prep the plane, Casper was genuinely curious about the woman he'd be protecting. He had no idea what to expect when he met her, but he was determined to make sure she got to keep the peaceful life she'd built for herself in Nebraska. He, more than many, appreciated the quiet serenity needed to keep the chaos of life at bay.
7
Willow rose early, anxious about the security person who would be arriving before lunch. She quickly dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt over a cotton T-shirt, and thick socks. After breakfast, like most mornings when the weather allowed, she took her coffee cup to her back deck. She had pulled on a heavy, furry-lined jacket, knowing that the early morning temperatures were dropping. She craved the brisk autumn air but wanted to be wrapped up for warmth. The Nebraska sky stretched endlessly above her, painted in soft shades of pink and gold as the sun climbed higher.
Her phone rang, and she smiled seeing Aaliyah's name on the caller ID. "Good morning."
"Good morning to you, too," Aaliyah replied, her voice carrying its usual professional warmth. "How are you feeling today? Any better after talking to that security company?"
Willow settled deeper into her chair, cradling the warm mug between her palms. "A little. They took my fears and didn’t act as though I was losing my mind or being overly dramatic. He even said that what I described was escalating behavior. Plus, I can breathe easier knowing help is actually coming, and I will have a security system." She paused, watching a hawk circle lazilyin the distance. "The security specialist should be arriving this morning."
"That's good. What did his boss tell you about him?"
"His name is Mr. Caspani. Leo told me that he was former military. He should be very experienced, and his boss said he would be good at staying in the background." Willow took a sip of her coffee, trying to imagine what this man would be like. "Mr. Bishop seemed confident he was sending the right person for the situation."
"I wish we could figure out who's doing this to you," Aaliyah said, her voice tight with concern. "But with so many possible people wanting to grab onto a little bit of fame by association, the best we can hope for is just to keep you safe."
"That's exactly what I want," Willow admitted, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her mug. "When I bought this house, I knew it didn’t have a security system. The windows and doors don’t have alarms, but I didn’t think about that when I moved in."
"Well, when you moved there, you also didn’t think anyone would bother following you to the middle of Nebraska."
"That's right. I just hoped that getting out of LA and finding somewhere with wide open spaces would let me stay creative while keeping me out of the spotlight." Willow's gaze swept across the prairie that stretched to the horizon, the place that had felt like a sanctuary until recently.
"What about those hang-up calls? Do you want to consider getting a new phone number?"
"Maybe, but I think I should see what the security specialist recommends first. If he thinks it's necessary, I'll certainly follow his advice." She groaned softly, her head falling back against the chair. "What a pain in the ass, though. I hate the idea of having to change my phone number. It would have to be shared with somany people for business reasons, and then how secure would that really be?"
"I wonder what this security person will look like?" Aaliyah mused, her tone shifting to a more playful one.
Willow laughed despite her anxiety. "Looks like? I'm more concerned with how competent he is and whether he'll completely disrupt my writing routine."
"Well, you know how those romance novels always feature the former military bodyguard who's devastatingly handsome..."
"Aaliyah! It sounds like you've been reading too many romance novels and thinking the heroes actually exist in real life. I'm afraid that's pure fiction. I should know… I create them!"
"Hey, I've seen some bodyguards in LA who were definitely easy on the eyes," Aaliyah protested with mock indignation.
"I honestly don't care what he looks like as long as he's good at his job and doesn't try to take over my entire house while he's figuring out what needs to be upgraded." Willow stood and walked to the deck railing, her free hand gripping the weathered wood. "I just want my peace back."
"Will he be going with you to LA next week?"
"I think so. Mr. Bishop asked specifically about any upcoming travel plans, so I assume that's part of the package."
After spending a few more minutes reviewing her agenda for the Los Angeles trip and confirming some meeting times, they ended the call. Willow remained on the deck for another moment, breathing deeply of the crisp air and trying to calm the butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach. She felt nervous about someone coming to stay in her house, invading the sanctuary she'd worked so hard to create. But underneath the anxiety was a thread of excitement. The possibility of feeling completely secure in her home again would make any temporary inconvenience worthwhile.
Later in the morning, the distant sound of tires crunching over gravel made her heart skip. She hurried to peer through the front window, watching as a dark SUV approached down her long driveway. For a moment, her chest tightened with the old fear.What if this wasn't the person from the security company? What if this was the person who had been watching her?
The vehicle came to a stop in front of her house, and she watched as a man climbed from the driver's seat. Even from a distance, she could tell he was much larger than she’d imagined and felt her pulse quicken as she hurried to the front door.
The doorbell chimed, and she pressed the intercom button with a slightly trembling finger. "Yes?"
"Ms. Thorton? I'm Aldo Caspani from Lighthouse Security Investigations."
His deep, calm voice had a quiet authority that immediately relaxed her shoulders slightly. "Could I see some identification, please?"
