Chapter 3
Chapter Three
“You’re off for your golf holiday in a few days, right?”
Colton nodded at the gentleman sitting opposite him in the sleek, custom-outfitted Lear jet. “Tuesday. I have to admit, flying business class to Miami will be a bit of a downer after flying around in this beauty the last six weeks.”
The other man chuckled. “I can imagine, although I’ve never had to fly commercial.”
That made sense. Ben Alderon came from old money, and Colton doubted that anybody in his family had ever flown, cruised, or driven anywhere in anything other than private transportation.
Ben stared out the window at the deepening shadows.
“I’m sure happy to be getting home. Six weeks is a long time away.
” He leaned his head to the side, his gaze directed to the woman seated farther up, a dark-headed toddler boy asleep in her arms. “I know my wife is especially eager. Sleeping in our own bed, getting back on a normal schedule with our son.”
He looked back at Colton. “I don’t like working overseas, but it’s easier with my family along. Thank you for keeping them safe.”
“Our pleasure.”
“There’ll be a little extra for you in your next paycheck from Petersen. Enough to cover half a dozen golf holidays, if you’re so inclined. It’s the least I could do. For the others, as well.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous.”
After back-to-back assignments over the past eight months, including this one abroad for the last six weeks with the high-profile CEO and family in London, it would be nice to let down until after the holidays.
He planned to take a couple of months off after seeing the Alderons home and couldn’t wait to hit the links in Miami for the entire week before Thanksgiving.
The co-pilot emerged from the cockpit and made his way past the other four bodyguards, Ben’s wife, and their sleeping son to his boss. “Ninety minutes to landing, sir. But there’s a call for Mr. Blankenship.”
“Thank you.”
With a nod, the co-pilot returned to the cockpit. Ben picked up the wireless handset embedded in the wall of the plane and gave it to Colton.
“Blankenship.”
“Colton, we have a situation.”
“Mack.” He went on instant alert at the tension in his boss’s voice. “What do you need?”
“I hate to do this, but I have a new assignment, and I need the best.”
“A two-day assignment?” His flight would leave at 7:53 a.m. on Tuesday, and he intended to be on the first course they planned to play by two o’clock Eastern with three of his college frat brothers.
“Undetermined at this time.”
Colton closed his eyes. Eight months. Six weeks in London. He needed this break like he needed twelve hours of sleep tonight.
But he couldn’t bail on Mack.
Opening his eyes, he turned to the small window as the earth tilted away from the sun. “Okay, yeah. I’ll change my plans. Report tomorrow or Monday?”
“Tonight. As soon as you land. I’ll have a car there for you. The others can see the Alderons home.”
His gut clenched. Something big had happened. Mack hadn’t pulled him in for an urgent op in over a year. Meant he’d have to cram to get up to speed. Better load up on the coffee.
“Copy that. See you in a couple of hours.”
He disconnected and handed the phone back to Ben.
“No golf holiday, I take it?”
Colton put his head back against the seat. “Undetermined at this time.”
At ten minutes to eight, Colton walked into Mack’s office at Petersen Security, the only one with any illumination.
Aside from the Tech Ops department, where staffers manned computer stations 24/7.
The same department where Colton had begun his stint with Petersen over six years ago.
A nice, safe job sitting at a computer bank gathering intel and planning operations.
Until it hadn’t mattered anymore, and he asked to be put in the field.
Mack gestured him in. “Colton, good to see you. You can put your bags there by the door. This won’t take long.”
After parking his suitcase and draping his garment bag over it, Colton took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “What’s going on?”
Mack picked up a folder and opened it. “Hudson.”
Colton pulled his head back. “As in, Hudson Financial Corporation? Andrew Hudson needs a team?”
“He does. A three-man detail, and they need the best. That’s where you come in.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Although, at the moment, his jet-lagged self felt far from the best. “Did he receive a threat?”
“Not him.”
“So, who, exactly, would this detail be for?”
“The daughter. Riley.”
An image sprang to his mind. Lovely young woman, black dress, expensive shoes. Eyes the color of emeralds.
“Wait a minute. You’re pulling my much-needed vacation to babysit a spoiled heiress? Really, Mack. The last thing I want to do is shop all day and lunch with the girls with some society princess. Can’t you use someone else?”
Mack sat up and folded his hands on the desk.
“There was a kidnapping attempt made this morning that almost succeeded. A witness intervened, but the guy got away. Now, we don’t know exactly what we’re looking at here.
Could be random. Could be targeted. Regardless, whoever did this is bold.
A detective is heading to the estate to interview her tonight. ”
“Where was she when this took place?”
“Shopping. River Oaks. And on her way to meet friends for lunch.”
Colton bit back a word that would’ve shocked his mother.
“Listen, I know I’m asking a lot.” A grimace crossed Mack’s tired features.
“Expecting you to put your plans on hold. But this girl needs you, Colton. She’s scared and bewildered and needs to feel safe again.
She doesn’t want to be shut inside constantly, and her father is frantic.
Called me in a panic this afternoon and insisted I send him my best. That’s you.
Jamison and Paxton are on stand-by, along with one of the new Navigators.
All the bells and whistles. And I think her file might surprise you. ”
Colton accepted the folder from his boss but didn’t open it.
He’d go through it later, when his eyelids didn’t feel like sandpaper inside.
Couldn’t be too much to read up on, anyhow.
And tomorrow being Sunday, she’d probably sleep in.
Then they could go over whatever her schedule for the week might entail.
“Sounds sloppy, making a move in a public place like that. On a Saturday, no less.”
“It does, so it could’ve been random and there won’t be any other threats. And you can start your holiday vacation. You deserve it.”
One could hope. “Copy that. Paul Jamison’s the best driver we have, and Trevor and I work well together.”
Disappointment warred with exhaustion, and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep until he had to leave Tuesday morning.
But he’d need to adjust his attitude since this operation clearly weighed heavily on Mack, even if he hadn’t been assigned a babysitting op since his first year in the field.
He dreaded standing around through shopping trips, spa days, and late-night clubbing.
But if Drew Hudson wanted the best for his little girl, he would get nothing less.
Then he’d take a couple of months off to reacquaint himself with his golf clubs. In Hawaii. With his bonus from Alderon.
“When do we report?”
Mack consulted his watch. “Meet at the Hudson estate at ten. I’ll text you the address.”
“Ten hundred hours tomorrow, you mean.”
“I mean twenty-two hundred. Tonight.”
He released a heavy sigh. “I was afraid that’s what you meant.”
Guess that twelve hours of sleep would have to wait, like his golf trip.
He called the guys with his regrets and retrieved his black Jeep Grand Cherokee from the secure parking garage.
After grabbing a quick burger and fries, he drove home to the Houston suburb he and Theresa had thought would be the perfect place to grow their family.
Another lifetime ago, when dreams still existed.
When he still believed God actually listened.
Inside the kitchen, he dropped the file marked Hudson, Riley C.
on the table. Weary to the bone, he lugged his suitcase up the stairs and dumped the contents on his closet floor so he could repack it.
Laundry would have to wait. As would the pleasure of sleeping under this roof for the first time in six weeks.
As lead agent on an op like this, he would be on the job 24/7, stationed in the principal’s home and on their hip every time they left the premises.
If he were lucky, Miss Hudson would be a lover of daytime soaps or game shows and not want to be out and about until she had an appointment or a little shopping to do. Lunch with friends or a dinner date. Nothing that would require hours of prep work.
To keep from nodding off until he had to report for duty at the Hudsons’ River Oaks mansion, he decided on a shower. Maybe the police would resolve her case quickly, and he could finally sleep in his own bed. Alone. As he had the last four years, ever since Theresa … left.
Thank goodness for Petersen Security. Throwing himself into his work had been the perfect remedy, not allowing himself to dwell on the loneliness, the sense of betrayal, the loss of all he’d ever believed in. Home, family, love … faith.
At least the job had never let him down.