Page 62 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Deidre turned to Jordan. “Before last night, did you know who I was?”
“Only from Andrew’s description.”
“Who is Mr. Blake hiring to be your next bodyguard?” asked Deidre.
“I don’t know. He is flying out himself. But I don’t think he is ready, especially if someone is trying to take out my bodyguards. He might be bringing someone we’ve hired before. Where are you going with this?”
Deidre faced the laptop camera. “Mr. Blake will need backup. Dermot Security should do a bid as they are number two in Chicago. Then I work contract for them again. Jordan needs a female who can be with her 24/7. I have it on good authority that Dermot is still lacking in that area.”
“But Tonie got hurt. Aren’t you putting yourself in danger?” asked Jordan.
Deidre put an arm around Jordan’s shoulders. “Ask the boys. I need a little action now and again.”
Alan tapped away at his computer. “The video got pulled from a major viewing site. And several small sites are pulling it. Some of the British gossip sites are also pulling it.”
“How do you know Storm wasn’t the one to post it?” Andrew didn’t believe the actor wasn’t behind it.
“He was at a victory party after last night’s game. There are enough time-stamped shots to give him a tight alibi.” Alan turned from another screen. “You won’t like this. One of the major networks is running with the story. Miss Lee, I hope you have good lawyers.”
Jordan’s phone rang. The color drained from her face. She stood and left the room before answering it.
Adam pointed to Deidre to follow.
She nodded and indicated she could see Jordan from where she sat.
Mom tilted the home camera in her direction. “Ben is still with Tonie, right?”
“Yes, and the dog is still at the vet,” said Andrew.
“If it’s safe for their health, let’s get them out of there before the paparazzi descend. Did we finish the work we were contracted to do on Claire Lee’s condo?”
“Yes,” said one of the guards who came with Adam last night.
“Move Jordan there. Yes, I know Hearthfire knows the location.” Mom waved her hand dismissively. “That lets us keep September’s rental a secret. Deidre, have you already contacted Dermot about a bid?”
Deidre looked up from her phone. “Just texted Liam. They’re working on something to approach Mr. Blake with now.”
Jethro turned the camera back to face him. “Good. Andrew, stay in town as long as you can. The one thing everyone will believe at the moment is that you are the boyfriend, even if Jordan says otherwise. It’s on days like this I wished one of us had become a private investigator.”
Andrew gave a two-finger salute to his father. Staying with Jordan would be torturous given her announcement, but he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
A pale-faced Jordan walked zombie-like back into the room. Andrew ran around the couch, but Deidre beat him to Jordan. “What’s wrong?” they asked in unison.
Alan answered from the computer screen. “A fishing vessel out of Kiribati claims to have found the remains of a small passenger plane. Tentatively, it has been identified as the plane carrying Jordan’s parents.”
Jordan launched herself into Andrew’s arms. “It has to be a cruel joke.”
With one hand on her back, Andrew moved Jordan to the hallway and away from the prying eyes of his family.
23
Kiribati?The name sounded familiar. Jordan pulled away from Andrew and opened her phone. According to the map app, the island nation sat too far south of the registered flight plan. No way could it be the right plane. It wasn’t the first time a hoax finding had occurred, and it wouldn’t be the last. Someone must have realized that she was at the top of the news cycle and wanted to cash in on their five minutes of fame. The chance that it was the plane that carried her father and mother on a medical mission trip to the Philippines was minimal.
Jordan’s phone played the theme song to one of Claire Lee’s most famous movies. Jordan rushed upstairs, needing privacy before she answered. “Hello, Grandma.”
“We are not having a very good day, are we?”
Jordan sat on the end of the bed. “No. Do you think it’s Mom and Dad?”
