Page 9 of Protecting Hailey

“Yes, that’s fine. Is there anything else you’d like to see?” she asked.

“No. I think that’s everything for now. I’m going to set up some new cameras, not in any bedrooms or bathrooms, but I noticed some missing in corners of the home near windows.”

“Oh,” she looked around as though they would magically appear. “Well, that’s great. I’ll leave you to it. I’ll text you in the morning when we’re on our way back from the hospital. “

“Before you leave, which room will be mine?”

“Oh, well, the last guy stayed in the guest house. He preferred his privacy.”

I smiled. “I don’t. I prefer my client to be safe. Is there an extra bedroom close to Hailey’s?”

She watched me and perhaps wondered if I had nefarious intentions. I did not. This was strictly business.

After a quick smile, she waved to follow her. “You can take this one,” she said, pointing to a room on the opposite side of the staircase. Well, that wasn’t a good idea. “Thanks.” I would have to discuss switching bedrooms closer to an exit with Hailey in the morning.

“Well, good night.”

“Good night, Mrs. Jones. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled and leaned in for a hug. Her hands stayed on my biceps. “Oh, well, um, you are definitely equipped for the job.”

I cleared my throat, and she smiled again. “Right, sorry. I’ll be leaving now.”

I watched her leave and exhaled when she finally shut the door behind her.

I inhaled deeply with my hands on my hips, surveying the house around me, and exhaled a determined breath.

Right. Let’s get to work.

***

Standing on an aluminum ladder I found in the garage, I mounted the last camera in Hailey’s home. It was dark now, but I’d finished the outside cameras a couple of hours ago. I climbed down and walked around the house one last time, scrutinizing my work. There were cameras in every corner of the main floor and the patio outside. I added three-and-a-half-inch screws to the hinges of all the doors, preventing anyone from easily kicking them open.

After putting the ladder back inside the garage, I lingered to inspect her cars. There was a shiny red sports car beside a white Mercedes SUV. I opened the door to the Mercedes, and it was immaculately kept, with no crumbs, dust or so much as a strand of hair to be seen.

The red car was clean as well, but there was a lip gloss inside the cup holder and a hair elastic alongside it. This must be her car, or at least the one she drove herself. I smiled, once again liking her taste.

My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since this morning. I thought about making myself some eggs, but then I’d have to clean the dishes and I was too exhausted to do that. So, I ordered a pizza instead and asked the delivery person to bring it to the back door so I could test the new cameras in the backyard.

They worked beautifully. After eating my pizza, I checked my watch. It was almost midnight L.A. time, three o’clock in the morning in New York, and I was beat. I dragged my feet up the staircase and threw my suit jacket on an upholstered chair. Dropping on top of the bed, I fell into a deep sleep immediately.

What felt like only a few minutes later, a sound startled me awake. My dry eyes shot open, and I listened for it again. It was a rustling sound from downstairs, perhaps a door opening. I cursed myself for not having unpacked my gun. It was still in the suitcase downstairs. But I knew if I could sneak up on the guy, I could wrestle one off of him. Someone turned on a light downstairs and I crept toward the door. As soon as I stuck my head out, the light turned off.

Had someone seen me?

Light footsteps crept up the staircase, which I would not have heard if it wasn’t for the wood creaking. This guy was light on his feet. He was probably trying to sneak up on me. I retreated into the room and waited for him to come to me. I was ready.

But when a shadow walked past the bedroom door, I wondered if I’d been wrong. Maybe he hadn’t seen me. Well, it didn’t matter. He had his back to me now, and he was mine.

I jumped out into the hallway and wrapped my arm around his neck and stomach, pulling him against me.

My mind registered the slight figure in my grasp, and the smell of vanilla perfume, but my body wouldn’t let go.

The intruder was a woman.

She wore black tights with a black sweater, and her baseball cap was pulled down low to cover most of her face.

I squeezed tighter. “What do you want with Hailey?” I growled in her ear.

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