Page 83 of Trust My Bodyguard

“Did you, really?” She raises an eyebrow. “For a moment there you looked like you doubted me just a little bit.”

“Never,” I say.

“I was so convincing to the judge. Hell, he’d have agreed to provide a helicopter with state security to accompany you if I asked.”

“He would have.”

“You know me.” She pursed her lips. “I told you. I could’ve been a lawyer if...”

“If you didn’t dislike those snobbish jerks,” I join her to chorus. “Of course, Myrtle. They’ve got nothing on you.”

“You got that right.” She laughs at her own silliness. “Let’s get on with this, shall we?”

She resumes explaining the new developments in the cases I’m covering. I’ll never not be grateful for her. While nearly three decades of age and many years of work experience separate us, Myrtle has become my most trusted colleague.

It was she who took me under her wing the first day I showed up as a spirited but ill-equipped social worker and she’s never let me touch the ground since. I’d be in a shambles, even givingLenin more ammunition to take me out, if I didn’t have Myrtle on my side teaching me how not to royally fuck up.

“So, that’s all of it,” she says. “Any questions?”

“No, thank you. You have no idea how grateful I am for this.”

“I do have an idea but you’ll have to tell it to me over lunch when you get back.”

I scoff a laugh. “Sure.”

Her eyes lift and she stares outside the frame of the video. When she looks back at me, a sneer curves her lips. “Lenin is snooping around the office again. I have to get back.”

“Tell him to go fuck himself, please.”

“It seems you’re tired of working with me, huh?” She winks. “Don’t worry. You’ll tell him yourself when you get back. Let’s see how that works out.”

I giggle. “I just might. Talk later, Myrtle.”

“Stay alive, hon.”

Her face disappears from the screen as the call ends.

I can breathe just a little easier now that my appearance in court has been taken care of. Onto other matters. I rub my forehead trying to ease the tightness there. Something’s always up.

Brody is not the only one mad at me for trying to trap Luke. When Iris heard, no doubt from Callum, that I was willing to be bait, she’d called and given me the scolding of my life. Hell,I thought I was the one with the sharp tongue but the lashing I received from Iris cut deep.

I pick my phone up and toy with the dial button. I want to tell her I’m sorry, I’m not changing my mind but I need her to not be angry with me. I want her support. But it’s only been a night since we spoke. Orshespoke, and I couldn’t get a word in because of how mad she was. Is this enough time for her to have cooled off?

I put myself in her place. If she was willing to be bait for Luke, who supposedly has murder on his mind, would I… I can’t even finish that thought. I’d bundle her up and hide her away until the threat passed.

Yep, it’d be a bad idea to call her right now.

A knock sounds at the door, pulling me from my thoughts. I raise my head as it opens. A face pokes in.

“Howdy.” Cliff raises a hand.

“Cliff!” I hop to my feet as a genuine rush of joy fills me. I haven’t seen him since I came onto the resort again and we didn’t get to say goodbye before I left the last time. I cross the room to stand before him, unsure what the etiquette is when you feel grateful to someone but you’re not close enough to hug them until they can’t breathe. “Hi! I’m sorry I couldn’t see you to thank you properly before we left.” Recalling the pricelist that made me contemplate my life just puts into perspective how generous his offer of the cabin was. “I’m so grateful for your help.”

“It’s no bother, Ivy.” He pats my shoulder.

I beam. That’s more than enough coming from the kind man.

He leads me back to the sofa and directs me to sit. “A little bird told me it’s not over. Someone is still after you.”

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