Chapter 5
5
Despite his earlier efforts to keep his attention elsewhere, Landon's gaze lingered on the woman sitting across from him. At the Fugates’ house, he’d tried to focus solely on the mission, but Noel Lennox’s presence was impossible to ignore. He had been caught off guard, expecting an older, more seasoned social worker for a judge to have recommended. Instead, she was young, strikingly attractive, and carried herself with a quiet confidence that hinted at depth beyond her years. Upon reflection, he realized his original assumption that she would be older was ridiculous.
Her gaze was filled with intelligent curiosity, not idle curiosity. Landon had seen that same look during his years with the Bureau, usually from the people who offered the most valuable insights. Noel was clearly more than capable, and her questions were precise, cutting to the heart of the matter.
And her question was well-founded. The demands from Pamela were being met. He was carrying the signed paperwork. A copy had already been sent to her to review. The need for the social worker made sense, considering Pamela wouldn’t allow anyone from the family to come, and they wanted to ensure the children’s emotional well-being was being met.
But Landon knew better than to underestimate human unpredictability, especially when emotions were running high. Despite getting what she wanted, Pamela had already shown herself to be manipulative and mercenary, willing to use her children as bargaining chips. That kind of unpredictability warranted extra caution.
Glancing to the other side of the plane, he spied Mike with his eyes closed and earbuds in place. The man may be listening to their conversation. Landon had sent the name and a quickly snapped photograph of Mike to the LSIMT compound. He hoped to hear back soon to confirm Mike’s story. While the reason was plausible, Landon didn’t trust the man and feared there might be another reason behind his accompanying them on the trip.
Looking across the small table at Noel, he said, “I’m here because the Fugates don’t trust Pamela and are more comfortable ensuring security on the trip.”
Her lips pressed together into a thin line. “You anticipate problems?”
“I hope not,” he replied, his tone calm but firm. “But it’s always better to be safe than sorry.” He offered a tight-lipped smile, hoping to ease her concerns, but her expression remained serious.
Noel nodded slowly but didn’t smile. Her expression vividly showed her thoughts. She was obviously pondering his words, reading between the lines. She opened her mouth as though to speak, but her gaze darted to the side. Her mouth snapped shut, and her brow lowered as she kept her attention on Mike for almost a minute. Even from the side, Landon could tell where her thoughts had gone. She was suspicious of their cabinmate.
Looking back at Landon, she mouthed, “What about him?”
He simply shrugged, giving no verbal response. She must have understood his desire not to speak in front of the unknown man. The edge of her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she nodded slowly. He had to admit that it was hard not to stare at the reddened flesh but keep his gaze squarely on her eyes.
Noel leaned back, seemingly deciding to let the topic drop for now. “I won’t keep you from your work,” she said softly. “I have some reading to catch up on, and considering my boss called in the middle of the night, I could use a bit of rest.”
She turned slightly in her chair, facing the window, and pulled out her e-reader. Landon should have felt relieved at the prospect of a quiet flight, free from further questions. But as Noel’s voice faded and she turned her attention to her book, a surprising realization settled over him—he already missed the sound of her voice.
She read for a few moments, then rested the device in her lap, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. The cabin fell into a gentle hush, the hum of the plane the only sound filling the space. And for the first time in a long while, Landon, a man who thrived in solitude, felt an unfamiliar pang of loneliness.
It didn’t take long before he received the awaited message from LSIMT. Looking down at his phone, he read the message twice. Mike Westerly. Fifty-four years old. Employed with the Fugate Ranch for almost forty years. Started as a stable boy when he was a teenager. Moved up to ranch hand. Then he continued over the years to progress until he became Thurston’s right-hand man. From all accounts, loyal. Nothing suggested he was there for any other reason than to be precisely what he said… a familiar face to the kids to make their journey back home less stressful.
Taking advantage of Noel and Mike sleeping while Jana was behind her curtain, he used his handheld device for detecting bugs. Slowly rotating the device around the interior, he looked down at the indicator, glad to discover no listening devices were planted inside the cabin of the plane. That included anything on Mike’s person.
It struck him odd that Mike wasn’t introduced to them inside the ranch home. Was there a reason Thurston wanted Mike’s presence on the trip to be unknown until they were almost in the air? He tapped out more questions to the Keepers back at the compound. While he waited for the answers, Landon’s gaze drifted to the woman sitting across from him, unable to pinpoint exactly what it was about her that commanded his attention. She wasn’t just pretty; she had a kind of understated allure, the type of beauty that sneaks up on you, familiar and comforting, like the girl next door. Yet there was more beneath the surface. She smiled easily, a warmth that seemed genuine, but he’d also seen her maintain a serious focus, the kind that suggested a mind that didn’t miss much.
With her eyes closed and her face softened in sleep, Landon allowed himself to observe her without interruption. Her features were delicate yet strong—an intriguing contrast. The faint lines at the corners of her eyes, barely noticeable, spoke of experience, not just years.
Subtly, he tapped into his phone, waiting for the information he’d requested. It didn’t take long for Sadie to respond.
Noel Lennox. Thirty-two years old. Single, never married. Born and raised in Billings, Montana. Parents still living, one brother. Graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in psychology, and then earned a master’s degree in social work. Employed by the Helena Department of Social Services for nine years. Lives alone in a small apartment. Pays her bills on time, no criminal record—not even a parking ticket.
A faint smile tugged at Landon’s lips. A spotless record wasn’t unexpected for someone in her profession, but not even a parking ticket? That hinted at someone who played by the rules. He couldn’t help but wonder how she’d react to the kind of rules his line of work often required him to bend—or break.
Strangely, as he stared at her gentle features as she slept, he wished she had been the one to reveal her background to him. Digging into her life felt invasive even though it was standard procedure. Knowing all the players was essential for any mission, but something about prying into her life left a sour taste.
Shifting his focus, he skimmed over the details Sadie had sent about Mike. A few run-ins with the law—bar fights, public intoxication—all handled discreetly by the Fugates’ attorney, Roy Barton. Nothing that raised any red flags. Ranch life was tough, and Thurston Fugate likely saw no harm in a man blowing off steam now and then as long as he remained fiercely loyal to the family. Landon could understand why Thurston trusted Mike enough to send him along.
Satisfied for now, Landon leaned back in his seat. So far, nothing alarming had come up. Maybe, just maybe, this mission would go smoothly. In and out. A clean retrieval.
Yet as his gaze drifted back to Noel’s serene face, a niggling feeling lingered. Missions like these rarely remained simple.
Noel stirred in her seat and lifted her head, blinking as she looked around, confusion written on her face. She met his gaze, and a blush rose from her blouse to her neck before settling over her cheeks. “Oh God, I hope I didn’t drool.”
His lips twitched as he shook his head. “No drooling noted.”
“Good.” She sat up and smiled at him. “How long was I out?”
“About thirty minutes.”
She blinked again, her mouth dropping open. “No way. Seriously? I thought we must be almost to Jamaica by now.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but we still have about five hours to go.”
Noel blew out a soft breath, a playful smile curving her lips. “I’ve been a rather boring flight partner so far, haven’t I?” she said, her tone light and teasing. Before Landon could respond, she tilted her head, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “But you probably don’t need someone prattling while plotting and planning.”
His brows shot upward. “Prattling. Plotting. Planning. That was a mouthful for someone who just woke up.”
Her laughter rang out, and he couldn’t hold back a smile. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and he immediately adopted a severe expression.
“Are you afraid of smiling?” she asked, a crinkle forming between her brows.
Surprised, he jerked slightly. “No.”
“Hmm,” she murmured.
If she was going to say something else, their attention was diverted by Jana returning to the cabin. She placed a tray of fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies, and various other delights onto the table between Landon and Noel. “What would you like to drink?”
“Just another water for me,” he replied.
“Do you have cranberry juice?” Noel asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I’d like cranberry juice and ginger ale, please.”
“Of course,” Jana said, smiling. She disappeared and soon arrived with two more cut-glass tumblers filled with their drinks.
Jana glanced at the other side of the plane before disappearing again. Noel swiveled her seat from facing the window to face Landon and looked over to see Mike still sleeping.
Noel grinned, plucking up a grape. “I guess he’ll miss the snack. Maybe he’s waiting for the main course.” She popped the fruit into her mouth, her lips still curving.
Landon followed her lead, and they soon nibbled their way through the food.
“Tell me about this security company you work for. Thurston mentioned Lighthouse Security. That’s a rather fascinating name for a company in Montana.”
“The original company was located near a lighthouse in Maine.”
She continued to hold his gaze, waiting as though his lone sentence explanation wasn’t enough.
“Another one is located on the coast of California. And while we are in Montana, where there are no lighthouses, there are light towers.”
Her eyes widened, and so did her smile. “Guiding to safety. I get it.”
It took a lot for Landon to be surprised, but for her to so quickly understand the meaning of the LSI company's name caught him off guard. And once again, in her presence, his lips curved. “You’re right. Different places, but essentially the same mission.”
“You asked me if this was a usual job for me. What about you? I know your assignments are probably private, but is this normally what you do?”
He hesitated, the instinct to deflect rising to the surface. But something about the way she looked at him—her eyes bright with genuine curiosity—made him want to share more than he usually would. “No, this isn’t usual for me,” he admitted. “Though my job covers a wide range of tasks.”
“Vague answer, but I get it,” she said with a soft chuckle, her smile inviting him to continue.
He considered her for a moment longer, then decided to give her a glimpse into his world. “The tasks can be anything from designing intricate security systems to escorting high-profile clients out of the country and conducting investigations. We work with government contracts as well as private clients.”
“Like the Fugates.”
“Yes.” He nodded.
She studied him, her gaze searching but not invasive. “You like what you do.”
It wasn’t a question, just a quiet observation, but it hit him with surprising accuracy. He realized she had been reading him, peeling back the layers with a perceptiveness that felt both unsettling and oddly comforting. For a man used to being the one observing, being on the other side was a rare experience.
Staring into her eyes, he felt an unexpected sense of ease. She didn’t press him for details he couldn’t share nor did she make assumptions about his work—no clichéd ideas of glamorous bodyguarding or action-packed missions. She simply saw him, and that recognition stirred something deep within him.
Jana came back around with dinner trays. He grinned as Noel’s eyes widened at the fare. “Better than the meals served when squished in your seat?”
Laughter burst forth from her. “I’ve never flown far enough to get a meal on an airplane. I always had to buy my snacks from the airport before the flight. But then, I often didn’t have any room to get them out of my bag. This is… well, let’s just say I’ve never had a case where I was offered this treatment. I might get spoiled.”
Mike had woken up, and though they sat on opposite sides of the plane, he followed Noel’s lead by swiveling his seat toward the center, making conversation easier for the three of them. Landon leaned back, opting to mostly listen as Mike launched into a series of animated ranching stories.
Noel, ever the gracious conversationalist, smiled warmly, asking thoughtful questions about the ranch and showing genuine interest in the details Mike shared. Her eyes sparkled as she listened, her soft laughter punctuating his more humorous anecdotes. Landon admired her ability to engage, even as Mike’s tales grew more repetitive and overly enthusiastic.
After finishing his meal, Landon grew weary of Mike’s effusive chatter. Thankfully, the older man finally leaned back and soon drifted off to sleep, his snores filling the cabin.
Despite the tediousness of Mike’s stories, Landon had managed to glean a few valuable insights about the Fugates that could impact the mission. Mike had been summoned to the ranch house in the middle of the night and had been present for the family discussions about Pamela’s latest manipulative scheme—holding her own children hostage to extract more from Stan. It struck Landon as peculiar that the head ranch manager would be involved in such a sensitive, personal matter.
Mike’s familiarity with Tad and Penny was evident. He had known them since birth and clearly cared for them. But his loathing for Pamela was equally palpable. His face twisted with a sneer every time her name was mentioned, the disdain in his voice unmistakable.
Landon couldn’t help but question how impartial Mike could be when they eventually faced Pamela. The family might have intended to send a familiar face to comfort the kids, but Mike’s personal feelings could easily complicate things. Landon glanced across the cabin at the snoring man, and his mind churned with possibilities. He needed this mission to go smoothly—no unexpected confrontations or emotional outbursts.
But as he watched Mike, sprawled out and oblivious to the world, Landon couldn’t shake the unease settling in his gut. He had seen too many missions take unexpected turns when emotions ran high, and Mike was a wild card he couldn’t fully predict.
Noel’s eyes were closed, and he heard the slow, rhythmic breathing of sleep and smiled. He quietly stood and then walked toward the front of the plane. After using the restroom, he stepped out to see Jana putting away some of the food.
She twisted her head and smiled. “Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Sommers?”
“I wondered if you knew anything about the storm approaching?”
“I’m afraid not, but I can have the pilot talk to you. I know we’re supposed to have a quick turnaround in Jamaica.”
“I’d appreciate any information the pilot can offer. That will help with my planning to know how much time we’ll have on the ground before we need to get back into the air.”
Jana contacted the cockpit, and momentarily, a woman in a pilot uniform stepped out. “Hello, Mr. Sommers. I’m the copilot. I was going to talk to you when we were closer, but now is a good time. I’m sure you’re aware of the hurricane approaching the Caribbean. The worst should be north of Jamaica. We hope that the time you will need to get from the airport to where you’ll take charge of the children won’t be more than three hours. That will give you time to return to the airport, and we can safely get into the air ahead of the storm. If not, we may have to depart to safety and come back to pick you up later.”
He nodded, glad to hear they would have that much time. “Okay, that should be doable. The children’s mother is supposed to have everything ready. I don’t know what the internet will be like for electronic documents, so I’ll need a few minutes with her, but then we should be ready for you to take off well within your timeframe.”
“Excellent, sir.”
He thanked the copilot and Jana, then returned to his seat. For the next few hours, he tried to focus on the upcoming transaction but found his attention continually glancing over to see Noel sleeping peacefully.