Page 53 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
“I’m not too sure. This chair is nice.” She snuggled into his side.
The pilot’s voice came over the intercom advising them to check their seat belts. Alex looked to make sure Kimberly’s was secure.
She patted his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m safe.”
He was glad she thought so.
Three government-issue SUVs waited at the end of the tarmac. Alex looped Kimberly’s arm through his.
Agent Danes came forward to meet them. “Mrs. Hastings.”
Alex stopped short. They had discussed this less than twenty-four hours ago. “Remember, it is Mrs. Thompson or Kimberly while we are here.”
“Then you might want to act more like a bodyguard and less like a husband.” Agent Garcia joined them.
Kimberly slipped her arm out of his. “Mr. Alexander was helping me cross the tarmac.” She raised her chin. “What is first on your agenda for me?”
“We would like you to look around your house. I’ll go with you in plain clothes, along with her.” Agent Garcia pointed to Elle. “It will look like we are just three friends.”
Adam looked at Alex over Elle’s head. The numbers weren’t good—two armed women and Kimberly against any number of bodyguards. “Don’t you have a warrant?”
“The judge doesn’t feel we have enough evidence for one. Most of our evidence is from what Jeremy gave us.” Agent Danes crossed his arms.
“Do you know how many guards are at the house? There used to be three plus the staff. There was a reason I eluded them and disappeared. I don’t think the three of us are safe. My father-in-law will be notified the moment I try to enter. Do you really think he will let me leave? After all, he owns the house.”
“What?” asked the agents.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that? I didn’t know it until after Jeremy died. I’d assumed it was his. Hawthorn pointed out that he didn’t have to let me live there at least a dozen times and showed me the deed. I thought your accountants would have known that by now.” Kimberly crossed her arms.
Agent Danes stepped forward. “You aren’t willing to go in? You said you would yesterday.”
Alex tried to step between Danes and Kimberly, but Kimberly nudged him out of the way. “Yesterday, I thought we would all be going in. My four trusted bodyguards and you. I’ll try it, but only if they are all included.”
Agent Garcia frowned. “I guess they could pass for some concerned cousins. Very buff concerned cousins.”
“Maybe. Check the feed from Mrs. Ha—Thompson’s press conference. If Mr. Hastings is in the background, that might not work.” Agent Danes gave the command to one of the other FBI agents standing near the cars.
Alex prayed his face wasn’t on the screen.
* * *
The rental minivan smelled like cheap pine air-freshener and stale cheese curds. Only Kimberly noticed. “Pregnancy nose” was what Elle called it. Andrew drove. Unfortunately, Alex could be seen in one of the cable news feeds, and Adam looked too much like Alex, but Andrew’s darker wavy hair and five-o’clock shadow set him apart from his brothers enough that Agent Danes agreed he could go. Agents Danes and Garcia sat in the second-row captain’s chairs, Elle and another agent in the back seat. They’d practiced emptying the van in an airport hangar until both Danes and Alex were satisfied Kimberly could be protected in an emergency.
Kimberly adjusted her maternity blouse where it had gotten stuck on the protective vest absolutely everyone insisted she wear, necessitating a change of clothing. At only six pounds, it was lighter than she thought it would be, though far from being a comfortable fit. Elle tried to console her by pointing out they weren’t exactly comfortable on a nonpregnant body either.
At the last turn, the SUV behind them pulled over. Kimberly tried to catch a glimpse of Alex through the side mirror, but the windows were too dark.
Andrew turned into the drive of Kimberly’s old house, stopped at the closed gate, then rolled down his window and punched in the code Kimberly gave him. The driveway gate didn’t open, but the smaller sidewalk gate did. Jax and another bodyguard came out.
Jax approached the driver’s-side window. “Mrs. Thompson. So nice to see you. Unfortunately, I have orders not to allow you in. Especially with so many friends.”
“Jax, I’m here for my mother’s funeral. All I want is a photo and some memorabilia. Please let me in.”
“Who are all your friends? I was unaware you had so many.” Jax leaned into Andrew’s window.
Kimberly assumed he was stalling for time. It would take her father-in-law at least seven minutes to get to the gate if he was home. Longer if he was farther. “This is Drew. He is Elle’s brother. Elle, wave at Jax.” Elle waved from the back seat. “Elle and I are staying in the same house. Over there is her boyfriend, Alan.” Since it was easier to keep the lie closest to the truth, Kimberly called the agent whose name she’d forgotten by Alan Hastings’s name. “Elle’s never been to California. I told her we could see the beach and the Golden Gate after the funeral. Then my friend Maria and her husband, Danes. Andrew came along to even out the numbers and to drive. As you know, I’ve never been fond of driving in California traffic.”
Jax turned his attention to Andrew. “Do you like to drive?”
