Page 67 of Critical Mass
Hudson threw the car into Park and jumped out in a matter of seconds. He positioned himself between Natalie and the black sedan as it pulled into a spot across from them.
His hand moved to his concealed weapon.
The sedan’s doors opened, and two men stepped out. Big, professional, wearing dark suits.
Not Sigma operatives, Hudson’s instincts told him. These guys were too visible, too official.
“Mr. Shaw?” one of them called out, hands raised and non-threatening. “We’re not here to cause trouble.”
“Then why are you following us?” Hudson kept his voice level, his body angled to shield Natalie.
“We’re security.” The man made a show of carefully reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a badge reading United International Security Services. “Mr. Ravenscroft hired us to keep an eye on his daughter. Given last night’s incident, he thought additional protection was warranted.”
Hudson’s stomach sank.
Richard Ravenscroft had put surveillance on his own daughter.
Which meant every conversation they had, every place they went, every move they made would be watched and reported back.
“We were going to meet you at her house, but we arrived right as you were leaving,” the man continued. “We followed you instead.”
“Does Natalie know about this?” Hudson asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Mr. Ravenscroft felt it was better to keep things discreet.” The man’s expression remained professionally neutral. “But since you noticed us, we’re making ourselves known. We’ll be maintaining a protective detail on Ms. Ravenscroft until further notice.”
Hudson heard Natalie step out of the car and walk toward them. She’d obviously overheard part of the conversation.
“My father sent you?” Her voice was tight with barely controlled anger. “He’s having me followed?”
“Protected, ma’am. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?” Natalie stepped around Hudson, her fear apparently overridden by fury. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like surveillance.”
“Your father is concerned for your safety,” the second man said. “After last night?—”
“After last night, I told him I felt safe with Timothy.” Natalie’s voice rose. “I specifically said I didn’t want people hovering around me.”
“With all due respect, ma’am, what you want and what’s necessary for your protection aren’t always the same thing.”
Hudson watched the exchange, already calculating the complications this created. How were he and Natalie supposed to gather intelligence on Ravenscroft when security was watching their every move?
How was Natalie supposed to search her father’s files, listen to his conversations, and ask probing questions when she had constant surveillance?
This was exactly what they didn’t need.
“Gentlemen . . .” Hudson kept his voice calm but firm. “I appreciate your concern for Natalie’s safety. But having visible security following her everywhere is only going to make the people who attacked us last night more cautious. They’ll wait for a better opportunity. You’re making her a harder target but not a safer one.”
The first man considered Hudson’s words. “Mr. Ravenscroft was clear in his instructions.”
“Then perhaps we should all have a conversation with Mr. Ravenscroft,” Hudson suggested. “Together.”
The two security agents exchanged glances.
Then the first one said, “We’ll inform Mr. Ravenscroft of this discussion. But until he tells us otherwise, we maintain our position.”
The men got back in their sedan but didn’t leave. Just sat there, watching, waiting.
Hudson turned to Natalie and saw the mix of anger and fear and frustration on her face.
