Page 17 of The Agent
Knowing he was focused on solving her problem loosened the knots in her shoulders. “I don’t have good news to report either. Two of the women swear they didn’t tell their ex-husbands. Two I left voice mails for. The last one I have no way of contacting because her cell phone service has been shut off, probably to avoid her husband. However, I’m almost certain she wouldn’t even tell him the time if he asked.”
“Give me her name and I’ll see if I can track her down.”
“Regina Van Houten. Married to William Van Houten. His nickname is Dobs, for some reason. She lived in Manorville, about forty-five minutes from here, although she’s originally from somewhere in Nebraska. She’s not close with her family, though, so I don’t think she’d go there. I always ask them not to tell me where they’re heading so I can’t be pressured to reveal their whereabouts.”
“You are a very smart woman. But I knew that already.”
His approval sent a glow of gratification spiraling through her.
“I’m going to check up on what’s happening in Matt’s life too,” Natalie said.
“No!” Tully’s response was emphatic. “Let me handle that. He could be your stalker, so I don’t want you going near that SOB.”
“I won’t have to. I own a beauty salon.” She smiled. “I have a web of informants I can tap at any time.”
Tully’s chuckle was a dark rumble that vibrated low in her belly. “And to think I was going to waste time by hiring a private detective.” However, there was no amusement in his voice when he said, “But that could prod him into doing something worse, so I’m asking you to leave that to me.”
He was putting a lot of resources—which cost money—into solving this. She massaged the bridge of her nose as she wondered how to repay him. Free haircuts for life as long as he trekked out to New Jersey? She dropped her hand onto the legal pad. “This stalker is jerking my chain and I’m tired of it. I’m not going to spend my days looking over my shoulder in fear.”
“That’s strong, but don’t put yourself in danger because of it. Listen to Pam when she’s with you.”
“She can’t stay with me indefinitely. It’s too much. And don’t feed me that line about the SBI covering all this.”
“Hey, Derek chartered a private jet to fly Alice to Texas when they were tracking the computer accounting fraud.”
“That affected thousands of people. This is just about me.”
“You’ve got it backward. All those people were going to lose was their money. This is about yoursafety.” His words were rock hard with conviction.
“Okay. I won’t object anymore ... for now.” His implication sent a shiver though her. Despite all the reassurances, he wasn’t sure the stalker was nonviolent.
“I’m going to come by your house later in the day to install outside security cameras on more than just your front door. That way we’ll catch him on video if he comes there again. Or scare him off with the added surveillance. Either option works for me.”
Her heart did a flip of anticipation, and she slapped her palm against her chest in a ridiculous attempt to calm it. “Remember what I said about too much? I’ll get the alarm company to do it. Just tell me where you want them.”
“I want to check on you too. See how you’re holding up.”
Now a different part of her body was doing a happy dance. “You’re coming whether I agree or not, aren’t you?”
His chuckle added the accompaniment for the pulse beating between her legs. “Now you’re getting the idea.”
She’d sworn never to have her decisions overruled by a man again. But that didn’t mean she would be stupid when Tully suggested sensible precautions.
Especially when the prospect of seeing him made her body hum like a two-thousand-watt hair dryer.
Tully walked into Leland’s computer lair, which was known as Mission Control due to its massive array of computer screens. “You should see the safe I found for the Meier house in Connecticut. It makes Fort Knox look like it’s built out of tissue paper.”
“That will make Mrs. Meier happy. All those diamonds to protect,” Leland said, just as Tully noticed there was a third person in the room.
“Hey, Tully!” Dawn swiveled her chair around, her glossy dark hair lit by the glow of the screens, and jumped up to give Tully a hug. Then she put her hands on her hips. “I’m going to stay with Natalie tonight.”
Behind her Leland shook his head. As if Tully needed that cue.
“Natalie won’t let you do that,” Tully said. “She’s concerned that you’d be in danger.”
“I’m an expert in self-defense.” Dawn was a personal trainer, but she also taught women to protect themselves from attack. “I can help.”
In addition, she was as tenacious as a bulldog.
