CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
The dog took off like a rocket, kicking up tufts of grass with each step. He grabbed the hedgehog in his mouth, and it squeaked when he tightened his jaw. He let out a throaty growl and shook it around as he jogged back to Caleb, then plopped down on the grass and held the toy in his mouth.
“The camera mounts are there and there.” He pointed at each corner of the house. “I’ll be putting the cameras up tomorrow.”
“I don’t see them.” She held her hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun.
“That’s the idea. The cameras are low-profile and very state-of-the-art.” One corner of his mouth tilted up. “If you can’t see them, neither can anyone else.”
He explained how they were motion-activated and pointed out the high-power floodlights mounted on the house.
“Those will light up your entire backyard like it’s the middle of the day,” Caleb said.
“I spoke to Bart about the lights, since they would light up a portion of his yard, too. He had zero problem with them and was actually glad to see we were doing something to make sure you and Isabella are safe in your home.”
“He’s a great guy.” Eddie liked knowing he was there and that he cared so much about them.
“Follow me, and I’ll show you that fun surprise I mentioned.” Caleb headed back inside and made a beeline toward the door leading to the basement.
Clunk clunk clunk, their footsteps rang hollow on the wooden stairs heading down to a decent-size unfinished basement.
The floor was bare concrete, and there were two narrow, horizontal ground-level windows.
One above the washer and dryer and utility sink looked out onto the front yard.
The other was on the opposite wall and showed the backyard.
Against one wall, there were two shelving units holding several plastic storage bins. On the front of each bin was a neatly printed label listing what was inside: Christmas Decorations, School Supplies, Isabella’s Artwork & Projects, Baby Clothes.
“Back around here, behind the stairs, we’ve installed a little something for you.” Caleb ducked his head to keep from hitting a pipe overhead. He tugged on a string, and a single light bulb installed on the concrete wall lit up.
There was a fifteen-square-foot, dark-gray steel box that almost looked like a large safe wedged into the back corner of the basement.
“What in the world is that?” Lucia approached it slowly, like it was a snake.
“It’s a safe room,” Eddie said. “It’s similar to the one I have at my place in Virginia.”
His was much larger and had a gun cabinet inside.
“A safe room?” She gave it a good once-over. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“Yes,” Eddie and Caleb replied simultaneously.
“I spent three very long years as a part of that family’s inner circle and have seen what they’re willing to do to protect their interests and family name.
” Eddie didn’t want to freak her out, but she needed to know who they were dealing with.
“Trust me, if something goes down, this safe room will be very necessary.”
“How in the world did you get this thing down here anyway?” Lucia glanced up at the opening at the top of the stairs, then back at the box.
“It’s modular and designed to be built in place.
We were able to bring the sections through the door up there.
” Caleb showed her the connection points.
“You can see right here where the slabs lock together using heavy-duty steel brackets that are actually inside the structure.” He swung open the heavy steel door, and an overhead light flashed on.
“See? By having them on the interior of the room, they can’t be tampered with from outside.
And, as I’m sure you’ve figured out, the light comes on automatically when you enter the room. ”
“Good thing I’m not claustrophobic.” She looked around the small space. “What about an air supply?”
“It has a built-in air filtration system.” Eddie walked over to a small panel on the wall and opened it. “When you first enter the space, and after you’ve secured the door, flip this switch and the system will come on.”
“This looks like the gizmo you put in my closet.” Lucia walked over to a small table and leaned down to look at a box with some buttons and monitors like the one upstairs.
“Gizmo. That’s funny.” Caleb chuckled. “It’s basically the same system but on a smaller scale. And if you lose power to the house, this room has a self-contained generator backup.”
He stepped out, and the space felt suddenly larger.
Like all of the O’Halleran brothers—and their father—he was a big guy, and with Eddie in there, too, it felt a bit cramped. In an emergency, it would be perfect for Lucia and Isabella, though.
“This one works the same way as the other one?” Lucia leaned forward and looked at the screens.
“It does.” Caleb stood at the doorway.
“The walls are four-inch-thick steel.” Eddie took her hand and led her out of the room. “No one can get in once you’re secured inside.”
Eddie pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the screen. “Looks like Isabella and the rest of her club are here.”
Earlier, as they were loading her into the car, Isabella told his teammates they were all part of her new private club.
“We’ll be the Sparkle Club.” She’d made the announcement with all the excitement of an eight-year-old girl and then tapped each one of them on the arm when she gave them their club names. “You’ll be Sparkle Hawk. You’re Sparkle Lucas. And you’re Sparkle Viking. And you get to be Sparkle Calliope.”
The guys weren’t sure how they felt about their new monikers, but Calliope was thrilled.
“Heck, yeah!” She’d high-fived Isabella. “Sparkle Club rules.”
Caleb walked toward the stairs. “I’m looking forward to meeting your little one.”
“Do you have children, Caleb?” Lucia followed him.
“I have a little boy,” he said. “His name is Cade, and he is a very precocious three-year-old.”
“Gee, wonder where he got that from?” Eddie mumbled as he followed them up to the kitchen.
“Yeah, he’s definitely a chip off the old block.” His smile beamed with pride. “And he loves his momma almost as much as I do.”
“Do you have a picture of him in your wallet?” she asked.
“We don’t carry any personal items.” He walked through the kitchen and into the front room.
Lucia gave Eddie a confused look.
“If something happens to us, we don’t want to be carrying anything that might endanger someone we care about.”
“I never thought about that.” She pulled him to a stop. “Thank you for taking such good care of Isabella and me.”
“I love you.” Eddie gave her a quick kiss. “Both of you.”