Chapter 9
After rinsing off the lunch dishes and putting them away, Willow stood near the counter, her hands clasped in front of her in a gesture that struck Casper as both polite and slightly uncertain.
She held his gaze steadily, then glanced around the room as if seeing it through his eyes for the first time.
"What would you like to do next? A tour of the house? "
"That would be good," he replied, appreciating her straightforward approach.
"I wasn't sure what the protocol should be," she said with a little shrug that made her seem more approachable and less like the polished celebrity he'd been expecting.
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "There's no specific protocol for you to follow.
If the house were empty, I'd assess it alone, but since you're here, I'll let you give me the tour.
I'll evaluate everything as we go." He gestured toward the front door.
"I just need to run back to my vehicle and get my tablet and equipment. "
"If you'd like, you can bring in whatever luggage you have with you," she offered, her tone genuinely accommodating.
"That would be helpful." Her politeness and consideration steadily dismantled whatever concerns he'd harbored about working with a former Hollywood star.
He slipped his boots back on and jogged out to the rental SUV, retrieving his duffel bag, briefcase, and the specialized equipment bag that Bert had prepared for him.
Looking around, he appreciated the vast openness of the landscape surrounding her property.
Back inside, he went through the now-familiar ritual of removing his boots, setting his luggage neatly near the door, and pulling out his tablet. "Ready when you are," he said, stylus poised over the tablet screen.
She lifted her hands in an encompassing gesture as she glanced around the space. "As you can see, this is the living room. Overall, the house isn't very large, but since I live alone, I don't need a lot of space to entertain."
He caught something in her tone that wasn’t embarrassment, exactly, but perhaps a subtle defensiveness.
He wondered if she felt the need to explain why she didn't live in the kind of mansion people might expect from someone with her background and success.
He wanted to tell her that he lived in a bunkhouse with three other grown men and thought her home was perfectly proportioned and infinitely more welcoming, but he kept that observation to himself.
Instead, he walked methodically around the living room, his trained eye cataloging details while his tablet recorded measurements and notes.
The large window facing the front would be ideal for security monitoring equipment.
He paused to appreciate the rustic stone fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases, noting how the entire space felt genuinely lived-in rather than staged for photographs.
What struck him most were the personal touches that revealed the woman behind the public persona.
The paintings were all landscapes with rolling hills and mountain vistas.
There was nothing flashy or expensive-looking, just scenes that spoke of someone who found peace in natural beauty.
The framed photographs scattered around the room appeared to be candid shots of friends and informal gatherings, not the glossy publicity photos he might have expected.
Notably absent were any images from award shows, Hollywood premieres, or her modeling days.
He remembered reading in the briefing materials that she was estranged from her parents, so he assumed the smiling faces in the pictures were friends who'd earned their place in her sanctuary through genuine connection rather than professional obligation.
The room felt like a comfortable space where someone actually lived, not a showpiece designed to impress visitors.
The kitchen tour was brief since they'd just spent time there, but he made careful notes about the sliding glass door and the window over the sink, both of which he'd already flagged as potential security concerns.
A sturdy door led to the attached garage, and when he stuck his head through to survey the space, he was pleased to note the absence of windows that might provide unauthorized access.
A small powder room and coat closet completed the main living area, both easily secured and monitored.
She led him down the hallway, pausing to open a louvered door that revealed a compact laundry area with a stackable washer and dryer.
With a self-deprecating chuckle that made her seem even more approachable, she added, "I don't have a dedicated laundry room, but then again, it's just me.
I promise it will handle anything you need washed while you're here. "
"It'll be fine," he assured her, touched by her consideration for his practical needs. The gesture was small but appreciated.
The next door opened into a small bedroom that had been converted into an office space.
He stepped inside and looked around carefully, noting the single window as the room's only potential exterior access point.
She'd set up a simple desk arrangement and lined one wall with bookshelves that held an impressive collection of reference books, novels, and what appeared to be research materials.
His attention was drawn to several prestigious awards displayed with understated pride among the books.
He recognized an Oscar that caught the afternoon light streaming through the window.
A few photographs showed her in elegant evening gowns at what were clearly industry events, surrounded by people he assumed were other celebrities and industry professionals.
Even in this room that showcased her considerable professional achievements, everything felt tasteful and warm rather than boastful or ostentatious.
He moved to the window, pulled open the blinds, and looked out and down.
There were the shoe prints in the soft dirt.
She hadn’t touched the silk roses, but the wind had blown them around.
He sucked in a quick breath in an attempt to calm his ire.
The idea that someone was that close to her made his heart race.
Surprised by his reaction, he let out a long, slow breath and continued his tour of the house.
An ensuite bathroom contained a small window that would require special consideration. Small bathroom windows were often overlooked in security assessments but could provide easy access for determined intruders.
Another almost identical bedroom and bathroom were next, and he carefully noted the windows.
Across the hall was the owner’s suite, noticeably larger than the other bedrooms and clearly her personal retreat. The windows offered what he imagined would be a spectacular view of the prairie during sunset. The attached bathroom had no exterior windows, a security advantage he appreciated.
They made their way back to the living room, where he settled onto the comfortable sofa while she chose an overstuffed chair positioned to face him. The furniture arrangement felt conducive to conversation, another indication of someone who valued genuine human connection over formal entertaining.
He lifted his gaze from the tablet and met her interested blue eyes.
"Let me review what we're working with. One large window in the living room, a window over the kitchen sink, and a sliding glass door.
The garage door provides another access point, but no windows there, which is good.
Each bedroom has a window, with your primary bedroom featuring a wider double window setup.
The hallway bathroom has a small window that we'll need to address. "
She nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that covers everything." Her eyes were bright with curiosity rather than concern. "Can I ask what you'll use that information for? I'm genuinely interested in understanding what needs to happen."
"Willow, you can ask me anything you want, anytime you want,” he offered with a dip of his chin.
“This is your house, and you have every right to know what I'm doing and why.
" He turned the tablet toward her so she could see his preliminary layout.
"I'll compile all this information and send it to my company tonight.
Tomorrow, they'll ship the security equipment to the local installation company that Logan has already contracted with, who will get to work immediately. "
He stood and walked to the window, gesturing toward different areas as he explained his process.
"In a few minutes, I'll go back around and take precise measurements of all the windows and doors.
My program will create a detailed layout of your property so we'll know every possible entrance point.
Then I'll walk around the outside perimeter to determine optimal placement for security lighting and cameras.
You can stay inside while I do the exterior assessment. "
He paused, consulting his notes. "After that, I'll walk the entire perimeter of your property. According to the information I have, you've got about six and a half acres here?"
"That's right," she confirmed. "It's large enough to provide real privacy, but I do have neighbors. There's one family just down the road, and another across the way, though their house is set back far enough that you can't see it from here."
"Good to know." He laced up his boots again and reached for his jacket. "I'll start with the exterior evaluation now."
Walking around the outside of her house, Casper was impressed by both the property's natural defensibility and its aesthetic appeal.
The architecture was refreshingly uncomplicated, with a deep front porch, a spacious back deck for enjoying prairie views, and a straightforward rectangular layout, with the garage strategically positioned on one side.
No unnecessary architectural flourishes or blind spots that might complicate security coverage.