Page 32 of Wired Target

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Lono Jones lifted a hand to wave goodbye as he pulled away in the Security Solutions SUV in which he’d driven Sophie home.

She turned from the departing vehicle to greet her home security team as Bill and Clement walked toward her from the guesthouse that served as their headquarters.

Her body ached with tiredness and depression; her whole being longed to go inside the house and greet Armita and her babies.

Even so, she’d timed her arrival to occur during the children’s midday nap to create the least amount of disruption to their schedule while she dealt with security.Making sure the house was safe was the best way she could serve her family.

“Welcome home, Sophie,” Bill said.Crinkles of good humor beside his blue eyes telegraphed genuine pleasure at the sight of her.Clement, his younger partner, merely ducked his head in greeting.“We’re glad you’re back.”

“Thank you.We need to be alert for any drones or other aircraft.”Sophie described the attack as succinctly as possible.“And I’ve just been informed that the victim, who I believe was hit by a dart by accident, has died.With that in mind, I’d like to see a plan to address any aircraft approaches to the estate.”

“We’ll consult with the team at headquarters,” Bill said.Both men had gone serious at the terrible news.

“I think the camera surveillance devices embedded in the walls will help us spot incoming aircraft, but I want to know how we can disable any craft before they can get off a shot should this happen again,” Sophie said.“Any unusual activity while I was gone?Anything from the device sweeps you’ve been doing?”

After Sophie had detected a camera in an expensive stuffed toy in the children’s room, regular checks for bugging devices were done by the team as well as a manual inspection of anything coming into the house, no matter how innocuous.

“All clear so far,” Bill said.“Do you want to bring a second security team on site?”

“Yes,” Sophie said.“You both need to sleep, and I want two operatives awake and alert, on duty and around-the-clock for the foreseeable future.”

“You got it, boss.Now go get some rest yourself.You look done in,” Bill said.

Sophie nodded; she was still sweaty and sticky from her long run from the albatross sanctuary to the Maui airport, where she’d met Jones and the Security Solutions jet on the hot tarmac.“It’s been a long day.”

“We’ve got your back,” Bill said.

Clement nodded.“You can relax now.”

Sophie forced a smile and turned away.They meant well, but she wasn’t reassured.Her mother ate men like Bill and Clement for afternoon tea.

Sophie walked across the lawn and pea gravel turnaround driveway to the entrance of the Mediterranean-style house.She scanned the gracious lava stone walls and the native Hawaiian plantings that softened them.

On the other side of one of the walls, a two-story mansion overlooked her estate; she’d never paid much attention to it until now—but didn’t those windows have a good sniper angle to cover her property?The place wasn’t occupied year-round, either, except by a caretaker.

An empty house with good sighting range was just the kind of setup that would render them vulnerable.

Sophie switched direction and headed back to the guesthouse.

Clement met her at the door.“Did you think of something?”His gaze was alert and respectful.

“I did.I’d like you to find out who’s in residence next door and do a sweep through their house for any evidence of surveillance or trespass.Those upper windows could give an observer an advantage.”

“We thought of that already,” Clement said.“Bill and I have already talked to the caretaker.He’s contacted the owners on the mainland for permission to search the house for evidence of any intruders.In the meantime, he did a walk-through and said he didn’t see anything amiss.”

“Thank you.”Sophie didn’t have to force a smile this time.“I appreciate the way you took initiative.”

Her beloved nanny opened the front door as she approached.“Sophie, thank the gods,” Armita murmured in Thai.She embraced Sophie in strong, wiry arms.“I’m so glad you’re home.”

Armita was not usually so demonstrative; she must have really been alarmed.Once more a stab of guilty regret shortened Sophie’s breath.“I’m sorry to have worried you.How are the children?”

“They’re fine.”Armita released Sophie, only to grasp her by the shoulders in an almost painful grip, though she was much shorter and weighed no more than a hundred pounds.The nanny’s deep-set eyes, so dark a brown as to be almost black, were haunted as they scanned Sophie’s face.“Don’t take any more chances.I cannot replace you as their mother.”

“I know.”Sophie drew Armita close, and for just a second, let herself lean on the smaller woman.“But if I were killed, you would care for the children, wouldn’t you?You’d make sure they were safe and loved.”

“Stop it.”Armita stepped back from Sophie and flapped her hands angrily.“You may not go to that dark place in your head right now.I need you here, present, and sharp.The babies need you that way, too.When did you take your medicine last?”

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