Page 28 of Taming His Honeydoll
Nat frowned. “Someone is watching her, which means they know about the babysitter. April and I will do some investigating into the babysitter too. If you’ll give me your address, I’ll call my guy and get this security job set up for tomorrow.”
Sawyer sighed in relief. “Thanks, I do appreciate it. I’ll let my mom know in case they get there ahead of us tomorrow, but I want to be there too.”
Nat nodded. “Good idea. They can show both of you how to set the security codes and install the app on everyone’s phone. The app will have a camera so you can see who breaches your security perimeter if they come close enough to the house, even when you aren’t home.”
“Any time frame on how soon Emma can get back into her house for salvage?”
“Not yet. Maybe the middle of next week?” He sighed. “I’m afraid Emma is going to be very disappointed—there’s just not much left. The firemen are going to climb ladders and enter through windows to get to the bedroom and attic contents around the outer walls. Everything else fell through to the middle of the house—what burned before it fell or even after it fell. It’s mostly a big, watery, sooty mess. Do you know if she had a safe?”
“I don’t know, I’ll have to ask her that,” Sawyer replied.
“I’m going to warn you, I will be running a check on you,” Nat stated baldly. “I do with all my clients, even though you’re not officially a client because I’m not charging you for this.”
Sawyer narrowed his eyes. “I can pay for the security equipment. I’m not asking for a handout.”
Nat waved his hand. “Oliver and I go way back. He and Emma fall under my protection not a gratuity. This is for them, no offense intended.”
Sawyer grunted. “None taken. Now, I’ll give you fair warning. If you dive deep, you will run into security blocks. Don’t be hacking them unless you want to alert government handlers. And what you do find, if you’re good enough, is restricted information. Watch out for red flags.”
Nat gaped at him. “Are you in a classified folder in Uncle Sam’s pocket?”
“You could say that. Let’s just say that like you I know a lot about stealth and spyware and leave it at that.”
“You ever heard ofThe Wind?” Nat asked, impressed. April’s father had been a famous FBI hacker calledThe Wind,and April had inherited his skills. Shewasgood enough to find Sawyer’s red flags.
“I’ve heard of him—I’m just not on the same end of the spectrum. I fall into thefile-getting-hackedcategory,” Sawyer replied with a chuckle, “which would make a lot of people unhappy. I spent over four years in the military technology development unit of the Armed Services.”
Nat visibly relaxed with a whistle. “The MTD unit is a restricted file with heavy security alerts. Don’t worry, I don’t want them knocking on my door.”
Sawyer’s eyes gleamed. “Other than that, I’m an open book.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll let Oliver give you the big brother once over himself, but I think you’ll pass muster. Just don’t hurt our girl.”
Sawyer took note of the friendly warning in Nat’s eyes and decided he wouldn’t want him for an enemy. “I have no intention of it. I plan to do everything I can to convince her to let me keep her.”
Nat laughed out loud. “You’re on your own there. Little Emma has always had a mind of her own. She’s turned Oliver inside out a time or two after their parents died. He might even have a few early gray hairs to prove it.”
“I bet.”
Sawyer smiled as Nat turned around and headed towards the front deck. He was amused to see Oliver coming out of the door when Nat put his foot on the first step. It was as if they were in harmony in theirgrill-the-strangerroutine.
Oliver stopped in front of him. “You want to run into Revere with me and get Emma’s pain pill prescription filled?” His sharp gaze wandered up and down Sawyer as if he hadn’t really had time to study him thoroughly yet and was finally making up for lost time.
“Sure,” Sawyer replied easily.
“We’ll take my Escalade.” Oliver turned with an easy stride and headed towards the black vehicle with the window tinting.
“Nice car,” Sawyer commented, falling in step beside Oliver.
“It should be,” Oliver enthused. “It has all the right equipment for what I need.”
Sawyer grinned wider. “You mean perfect comfort while driving?”
Oliver flushed slightly. “Yeah, that too. But I was referring to a family.”
“You got more kids?”
Oliver’s glance turned sheepish. “Only one coming so far, but I’m hoping for more.”
