Chapter 10
“She came tear-assing up the alley as I got around the corner. We slammed into each other?—”
“Damn, that had to have hurt her.”
“She just kept going after me to get to the boys.”
Oliver was in Leo’s living room, lounging on one of their comfortable chairs with a ball game on the wide-screen TV. Leo was on the sofa, his long legs stretched out with his feet resting on the coffee table. Natalie perched beside him, her shorter legs resting on Leo’s.
Oliver was in the midst of regaling the others with his escapades from the week before. Initially, he’d kept the incident a secret, especially about getting bowled over by the much smaller woman. However, with plans to return to the area with Poole and Tricia as the ongoing security installations continued, he decided to share the tale. He couldn’t help but laugh at how a slip of a woman thwarted his pursuit of the boys. Leaning forward, he rubbed his thigh.
“What was she trying to do?” Leo asked.
“Hell if I know,” he replied as his mind returned to the feel of her pressed against him. He’d been in too many battles to have felt any pain when taking her down but was man enough to immediately recognize that she was unlike any adversary he’d ever tangled with. He had admitted that he’d seen her in the restaurant but left out the part about how he was interested—well, interested until he suspected her of assisting the boys to grab the pizza and then get away.
“And your leg?” Leo asked.
“It’ll take more than a run down the street chasing a couple of teenage thieves to stop me.”
“How’s the center’s security assignment going?” Natalie asked.
“I looked at all the diagrams and just started reading more about the center.”
“You gotta learn everything you can about a place that you are planning security for,” Leo said, holding his gaze. “Whether you’re providing a security escort for someone or helping to design a security system. You need to educate yourself on exactly what they do so that you know how to take care of their needs.”
As the game held the others’ attention, Oliver’s mind stayed firmly on the woman. You should educate yourself. She had essentially said the same thing as Leo.
Determined to show his commitment to learning everything he could about the various types of assignments and missions that LSIWC was involved in, he had thrown himself into looking at the center”s blueprints and equipment installation plans. But he hadn’t looked up to see what the center did other than knowing it was a place for homeless youth to gather.
While the game continued, he pulled up his laptop and typed in Bright Futures Home. He read how they served runaways, homeless, and trafficked youth. The shelter provided residential resources, as well as crisis counseling, case management, community referrals, and coordination of services. They operated a twenty-four-hour crisis hotline, as well as anger management classes, a licensed safe place, and community outreach.
His eyebrows lifted to his forehead as he continued to read, falling down the rabbit hole of online sites that gave him more information.
He was startled when Natalie plopped her feet on the floor, stood, and stretched her hands over her head. “I’m gonna make some sandwiches and grab some chips before the next game.”
“Thanks, babe,” Leo said. “I’ll come help.”
“That’s okay, I’ve got it.”
Oliver looked up, and the expression on his face must’ve been one of incredulity because Leo stared at him and then asked, “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I’ve just been reading what the Bright Futures Home is about. I hadn’t taken the time to research what they offer, and now I feel pretty stupid.”
Leo waved his hand dismissively. “Look, little bro. You were chosen to be a Keeper because you come with a skill set from the military that’s important to Carson. But you’re in a different career now and have new things to learn. Give yourself a break.”
Oliver wasn’t content with that explanation. “It’s not just that, Leo.” He sat up straight and held his brother’s gaze, pulling his thoughts together. “I’ve had a world view based on where I was and what I was doing. You know the drill… often in places you couldn’t wait to get out of. Figured everything was better back home. But now that I’m back in California, I need to understand better what’s happening here. Right here in my own neighborhood, so to speak.”
Leo set his beer on the coffee table and held Oliver’s gaze. “What’s brought this on?”
“It was something that lady said the other night. The one who wanted the kids to get away. She told me that I needed to be more educated about what was happening around me. And you just said the same thing about becoming educated on our assignments.”
Nodding slowly, Leo looked up as Natalie came back into the room and sat on his lap. “What did you learn?”
“I thought it was just a center where kids could come and hang out if they wanted. Hell, I didn’t even think about they needed dorm rooms.” He shrugged. “I don’t know… kind of like the boys club where you and I used to play basketball after elementary school, remember?”
Leo chuckled and nodded. “When Teddy brought this assignment to Carson, I remember hearing it was for homeless youth, right?”
Oliver nodded. “Yeah. The site had previously been a private Catholic school. They have a boys’ dorm and a girls’ dorm. They offer counseling, emergency services, job training, mentoring, as well as a shit ton of other things.”
“Sounds like the kind of place that Carson would spend tens of thousands on pro bono security,” Natalie said. “I’m glad you get a chance to see the work we can do there.”
That night, Oliver lay on his bed in the guest room, unable to shake the image of the woman he’d had dinner with and then collided with. Grinning as he rolled over, he punched his pillow. Maybe spending time near the pizzeria will bring her back into my sights.
* * *
Their morning meeting began as Carson reviewed their current cases and upcoming assignments. He looked over at Oliver. “I’ll have you remain with Poole on the center’s security installment designs for a few more days. After that, Tricia will have the necessary equipment and will begin the actual installment. Then I’ll shift you to another Keeper and allow you to work with them on a bodyguard assignment.”
Oliver nodded, eager to work on anything Carson wanted to throw his way. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
After the meeting concluded, he walked over to Poole. “I’ll be ready to head out whenever you are.”
Poole glanced over and caught Tricia’s eye. “You have anything to finish before we leave?”
“No, we can leave now. That will give us time to check out a few more things before we meet with Ms. Whitlock.”
Poole and Tricia rode in Tricia’s company’s electrical van, and Oliver drove his SUV. He was quiet for most of the drive and even had the radio off. His mind was filled with the woman from the restaurant. Before he knew it, he was pulling beside Poole outside Bright Futures Home. Suddenly, he remembered something from the building’s blueprints and security plan. As they climbed from the SUV, he pointed at a door down the sidewalk from the center’s main door.
“I wondered about this. It wasn’t on our plans.”
Poole nodded. “I asked about that when we first began this project. I was told that it leads to an apartment that’s not officially part of the center.”
“So we ignore it?”
Tricia walked past him toward the front doors. “We’re going to talk to Ms. Whitlock today about it. A door leads from the center to the apartment, so we want to learn more about it. It’s not safe for the center to have someone living there who has access.”
“I wonder who lives in an apartment so close to this establishment. You’d think it would be noisy with kids all the time.”
“Maybe it’s just a really cheap rental,” Poole added as he followed Tricia through the center’s front doors. “All the more reason to find out more about it.”
Once inside, the receptionist greeted them again. “You’re Paula, right?” Tricia asked with a smile.
“Yes! Ms. Whitlock is making her rounds. The local schools have a teacher workday today, so we’ve got a full house. You’ll probably see her somewhere even before your scheduled meeting time.”
Thanking her, they walked toward the common area. Folding tables had been set up, and when Oliver glanced at the time, he realized it was almost time for lunch. Two men about the age of Teddy were setting the chairs around, and Poole called out to one of them. “Hey, George!”
The man looked up, then smiled widely and made a gesture for the other man to follow him as he walked over. “Poole, good to see you again.” He shook hands with Poole, then introduced, “This is Robert McCabe. He and his wife, Helen, live on the girls’ dorm side.”
“Nice to meet you,” Poole greeted. “This is my wife, Tricia. Her company will be completing the security installation. And this is Oliver Parker.”
Oliver remembered that George was Teddy”s friend and the originator of the request for the security installation at the center.
A man wearing a white apron over pristine white pants and a matching T-shirt emerged from the kitchen, rolling a cart containing platters of sandwiches. Two women followed him, each pushing carts filled with large bowls of fruit and cookies.
George looked over his shoulder. “Sorry to cut this short, but we all jump in to help wherever possible. Usually, the kids are in school, so we only have lunch during holidays, weekends, and the summer. Today is a teacher workday for the city.” Turning, he hustled over to one of the women. “I’m sorry, honey. Let me get that for you.”
Robert followed George, and the Keepers were introduced to Mary Tobiason and Helen McCabe. As soon as the doors opened from the back hall, kids began streaming into the room.
They were exuberant but orderly as they grabbed paper plates and formed a line, eagerly piling their plates with sandwiches, chips, fruit, and milk or water.
Taking in the scene, Oliver noticed kids who appeared as young as twelve up to what he assumed was upper teens. In truth, he wasn’t sure the exact ages that the center would accept. All of these kids are homeless. Watching them eat and converse with each other, he winced, realizing that he’d never thought about homeless youth who weren’t with their families before learning about the center. The words runaways and trafficked youth became real as he tried not to stare at the faces in front of him.
A thin girl with a wide-eyed, shy expression walked into the room accompanied by a woman whose head was bent as she whispered to the young girl. Oliver”s gaze was drawn to the woman as sunlight streamed through a window, illuminating her golden hair pulled back into a ponytail. His heart raced. No way. But as the woman stood, the air rushed from his lungs as he realized who he was looking at.
George called to the woman, who turned with a radiant smile. Oliver knew the instant her gaze landed on him. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly in surprise.
“There’s Ms. Whitlock,” Poole said, inclining his head toward her.
Oliver’s head whipped around. “She’s the one who runs the center?” Incredulity dripped from his words.
“Yes, that’s our amazing Charity,” George said.
Oliver”s brow furrowed. “Charity?” He watched as she escorted the young girl to the tables to ensure she had others to sit with before walking toward them. Her gaze darted to him before she stopped in front of their group and smiled at Poole.
“Mr. Poole, it’s nice to see you again,” she said, reaching her hand out while her gaze flickered briefly to Oliver.
“It’s just Poole, ma’am. And I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Tricia, and Oliver Parker.”
She continued smiling as she shook Tricia’s hand as well. She then stepped over to Oliver. “Hello. I’m Charity Whitlock.”
“Your name is Charity?” he asked, feeling foolish. When she’d given him her name, he’d misunderstood, thinking she referred to it as charity to let the boys go.
She tilted her head to the side and scrunched her nose. “I told you that when you asked, but I guess I was too far away for you to hear me.”
“No,” he admitted honestly. “I heard you, but I… well, I’ve never met anyone whose name is Charity before, so I made the wrong assumption.”
She nodded slowly, and her lips curved softly. “Don’t worry. It’s a common mistake that lots of people make.”
He suddenly hated being grouped in a category with lots of other people. “Seeing you here… well, it makes your actions of that night understandable. I’m afraid I owe you an apology for all of my suppositions.”
“No apology is necessary, Mr. Parker?—”
“Oliver.”
She gracefully dipped her head. “All right. No apology necessary, Oliver. Given the situation, your assumption was based on observation, which made sense.”
Warmth moved through his arm, hitting him in the chest. Looking down, he realized that her hand was still in his. The feel of their touch was so natural that it never dawned on him to simply shake and let it go. As though she became aware at the same instant, they both jumped slightly, then looked around to see the other adults standing with lifted eyebrows and grins on their faces. Sure that the tips of his ears were burning, he released her hand and cleared his throat.
Thankfully, Poole jumped into the awkward abyss and said, “We’re a little early for our meeting. We can look around.”
“Yes!” she rushed out, her head bobbing as she nodded. “I need to assist with lunch?—”
“No!” Mary and Helen nearly shouted out in unison. They looked at each other, and then Mary continued, “We have lunch in hand. Why don’t you walk around with them as part of your meeting time?”
Before Poole had a chance to respond, Oliver said, “That would be helpful. I’m still learning about the security installation, and having the center”s administrator walk around with us would give me more insight.” He glanced at Poole and Tricia but ignored their wide grins and focused on Charity’s face.
The blush deepened on Charity’s cheeks, but she nodded her agreement. “If I can be of help, then, of course, I’ll be glad to walk with you.” She waved her hand to indicate they should proceed. “I’ll let you lead since you know specifically what you might be looking for when it comes to security.”
Poole and Tricia started down the hallway leading to the girls’ dorm while Oliver stepped behind them and walked beside Charity. Knowing she championed the teens in need, he still couldn’t reconcile why she allowed the boys to get away even though he no longer suspected her of being an accomplice. Keeping quiet, he hoped to gain more insight as they walked around.
Poole turned around and said, “Tricia will be here for all of the installation, but she’s the only female electrician in her company. She has one other who’s interning, but the others are male.”
Tricia turned toward Charity and said, “What conditions do we need to work around, or what schedules should we be aware of?”
“As you can imagine, we need to be able to see what is going on in our center. I’m in the process of hiring a female security person full-time. She’s worked for us part-time, but I’m hoping I can move her to full-time with the new funding.
“The kids are all expected to be up every morning, dressed and ready to go by breakfast. George and Robert check the boys’ dorm rooms, and Helen and Mary check the girls’. After breakfast, they get on the buses to go to the local high school, middle school, vocational training, or GED tutoring. So from breakfast on, the electricians will have full use of the dorm halls to handle the installations. Some of the older kids may be in one of our classrooms for money management, counseling, looking for affordable housing, and job applications. The buses bring the kids back by three thirty, and then they are in the common room to use it as a gym, for crafts, and for games. There’s also a lounge with TVs and computers, and counseling groups are meeting in the conference rooms. Our security and the house parents make rounds to ensure everyone is safe.”
Tricia nodded and made notes on her tablet.
She shrugged. “So basically, your installers can work freely wherever they need to. When the kids are here, plenty of people will be around during the day. All I ask is that you let me know each day where they’ll be, and then I can have our security keep an extra eye out in case something is needed.” Shaking her head, Charity winced. “I’ve given you so much more information than you asked for.”
Tricia smiled warmly. “Not at all. It’s good for me to know all this so I can schedule my guys” work times appropriately.”
They stopped outside a door with no identification plate on the outside.
Poole inclined his head toward the door. “We know you lease a small apartment through here. It’s our understanding that it stays locked and isn’t part of the security installation.”
A blush graced Charity”s cheeks once again. “Actually, that’s my apartment.”
Oliver startled and quickly shot his gaze toward Poole and Tricia, discerning from their expressions that her response was a surprise for them, too.
“Oh!” Tricia exclaimed. “I was under the impression that no security was needed for that.”
“There’s not!” Charity rushed. “It was originally part of the school years ago. I think one of the administrators lived there. But since I’m the only one who lives there, even though it’s part of the building and could be considered part of the center, it didn’t feel right for me to have security out of the grants and donations.”
Oliver wanted to demand that she be as protected as anyone else in the building but didn’t feel like it was his place to say so. But lifting his gaze to Poole, he offered a wide-eyed look, hoping the other Keeper felt the same.
“Ms. Whitlock,” Poole began.
“Charity.”
“Right, sorry. Look, Charity, if you live here, in what is essentially part of the building, you need to have the same security,” Poole continued.
Charity stopped in the middle of the hall and dragged her tongue over her lips before pressing them together, rubbing them back and forth. “I don’t feel like I’m in danger, and it seems excessive.”
Poole rubbed his chin. “Would it be okay if one of us took a look at the apartment to see what could be added?”
She lifted her arms and nodded. “Sure.”
Oliver’s gaze shot to Poole again, but he hid his grin as Tricia said, “Why don’t you go, Oliver? It will give you a chance to map it out, and then we can review it together.”
Poole ducked his head as he also tried to hide his grin. “We’ll check out the classrooms and then come to your apartment.”
“That’s fine,” she agreed easily as her gaze and smile settled on Oliver’s face.
As Poole and Tricia walked back down the hall, Oliver inclined his head toward the door and waited as she pulled out a key from her pocket and unlocked it. Stepping through, she said, “I use this entrance when going to and coming from the school. Otherwise, I use the outside entrance for my personal use.”
They stepped inside a small hall with another door that he assumed led to the outside and a staircase that led upward. He followed her as she ascended the stairs and tried to keep his eyes off her ass. She wore navy pants and a pale blue blouse. Neither would have been noteworthy on their own, but on her, the outfit couldn’t hide her curves. She used a key at the top of the stairs and opened the door leading into her apartment.
“Do you always lock the outside door and this one, too?”
“Yes. I’m very careful about that. I would never want to leave any part of the building at risk, so I lock the outside door, the door to the school, and the door to my apartment.”
“Good,” he said, noting her smile as she peered up at him.
Her clear eyes held his gaze, and he had to forcibly divert his attention before he committed a completely unprofessional act, like leaning down to see if her lips were as soft as they appeared.
Clearing his throat, he forced his body to turn and allowed his curiosity to roam freely through her apartment. Small but neat. Simple but complete. The small living room featured a worn but comfortable-looking green sofa that faced a brick wall with a modest flat-screen TV. A dark red armchair sat at an angle. He caught a glimpse of the kitchen through a wide, arched doorway. A hall extended past the kitchen, and he assumed a bedroom and bathroom lay at the other end of the apartment.
“It’s small, but it’s home.”
Her words broke his silent perusal, drawing his gaze back to her. Her eyes held a glint of uncertainty, and he chuckled. “It’s great. Hell, it’s more than I have.”
Surprised, she blinked as she stared up at him.
Running a hand over his beard, he confessed, “I live with my brother and sister-in-law. I’ve only been out of the military for a short while and working for LSI for a few weeks. So bumming a room is a lot less than what you have here. This is nice.”
A smile tugged at her lips as she nodded. “Thanks. I like it, and it suits my needs for now. Do you need to look around?”
He had glanced at it on the blueprints but hadn’t paid attention to it at the time since it wasn’t part of the original security plan. Now, he found that he not only wanted to look for security issues, he wanted to see more of her home. Her beauty had caught and held his attention, but today, his interest was based on more. He was curious about the woman who ran a center for homeless youth, raced after two kids who’d stolen pizza, and tackled him to keep him from interfering with their getaway.
She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as she looked around as though trying to see her place through the eyes of a stranger. “Well, this is obviously the living room. The place isn’t very big, so I’m unsure what security it would need. As you can see, it’s on the second floor, with only a window in the kitchen and another in the bedroom.”
Images of many missions he’d undertaken as a Ranger where he’d scaled buildings easily to get in through windows crossed his mind. While he didn’t want to scare her, he felt compelled to warn her of the dangers. “Windows can always be a point of entry, even on the second floor.”
“Oh… yes, I’m sure… I just never thought about it.” Her brow furrowed, then she quickly added, “I also keep them locked.”
A grin slipped across his face. “Good. Sounds like you’re very security conscious.” Suddenly, her safety felt like it was of utmost importance. Before she had a chance to respond, he continued. “But, you need your windows to be alarmed just like the rest of the center. If not, then you’re leaving a potential weak spot in the entire building.”
She nodded slowly, her gaze never wavering from him. “Okay. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll let you do whatever needs to be done here.”
He understood her intention, but her words ignited images of what he’d like to do to her here. And it would start with a kiss. They stood with their bodies close, surrounded by a charged current that swirled around.
“Hey, Oliver!” Poole called from the bottom of the stairs. “Are you good up there?”
Startled, both Oliver and Charity jumped back. Her cheeks pinkened with a rosy hue, but as an embarrassed smile crossed her lips, all he could think of was that he was definitely good up here with her.