Page 46 of Island Protector

“Sharon—”

Her aunt shook her head sharply. “Let me make tea.” A moment later she pushed a glass of water and a handwritten note in front of Molly.

Assume the house is bugged.

A week ago Molly might have rolled her eyes, but after those messages and pictures, she willingly embraced the paranoia. She rested her head on her hands. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Sharon declared,clear and firm. It was obvious she was trying to get her own message across. “You’re a good mother and this will work out. We need to pull ourselves together before we pick up Bryce.”

Molly nodded, in full agreement. She didn’t want any of this stress touching her son. Which meant she had to get herself under control. He was an observant little boy.

Her hands had finally stopped shaking when someone knocked loudly on the door, giving her a start. Sharon waved her back into her seat.

A moment later she heard voices at the door, coming inside. Recognizing Jess and Miles, she wondered how they made it here so fast.

They said hello and then signaled her to hush. Jess walked through the house with some kind of device. When she returned to the kitchen she spoke freely. “The agency instructed me to come check for any listening devices or surveillance equipment. Nothing in the house is sending out any signals. You’re clear.”

“Hurrah for good news,” Sharon said.

“Absolutely.” Jess watched Molly with concern in her eyes. “We’re bringing in a couple of people to help us spot whoever took those pictures,” she said.

“I’ve been thinking about the angles.” Sharon drummed her fingertips on the counter.

“I’ll pass along any insights you have to our researchers,” Jess promised. “You’ve got my number.”

“What does this mean?” Molly asked. She searched the faces of Jess and Miles. Both were too stoic for her liking.

“My guess is it’s an amateur,” Jess said. “Someone with a telephoto lens, able to stay far enough away to go unnoticed.”

Beside her, Miles nodded along. What did he know about this stuff?

“Feels like a shake down,” he added.

“What?”

Sharon scooted out of the kitchen. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to cancel my plans.”

“You will not.” Molly surged to her feet. “You go and you have fun. You said it yourself. This whole mess is a scam.” She would not allow her troubles to derail Sharon’s life.

“That doesn’t mean you should be alone,” Sharon argued gently.

“She won’t be,” Jess said. “She and Bryce will be under protection twenty-four-seven until her lawyer says otherwise.”

Molly cringed at the idea of having someone underfoot. Someone new to explain to Bryce. “Is that absolutely necessary?”

“Yes.” Miles said. His voice was as hard as steel. “You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll be here.”

“Miles,” Jess began.

He cut her off. “You won’t talk me out of it. Only Molly gets a vote.” He turned to her, his gaze pleading. “Come on. I’m a friend of the family. Everyone in town thinks we’re dating and Bryce knows me.” He took her hands. “Let Jess post whoever she wants as surveillance. I’m the immediate close contact you need.”

“Miles, that’s?—”

“Perfect!” Sharon finished for her. “I’ll feel much better knowing Molly and Bryce have you around.”

“Not just around. Close,” he clarified. “Go and enjoy your date, Sharon.” He glanced at Molly. “Unless she’s going out with a jerk?”

Molly shook her head. “Doesn’t sound that way. She put me in my place. Politely of course.”

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