Page 7 of Mistletoe and Malice
Frances. Always the collected one of the group. Barbara was the gregarious one, Riley the brainy one, and Avery … well, Avery was their drama queen.
“Thanks, Fran.” Riley sank into the chair and clasped her shaking hands in her lap, letting her gaze roam around the table.
How she loved these women of faith who had seen her through a myriad of ups and downs, hills and valleys in their two-plus-decade association. They’d been there for each other as they navigated their way through adolescence, braces, mean girls, crushes gone bad, college exams, grad school pressures, and the start of their careers. Grief over lost loved ones, joy over new successes or goals realized. Theirs was a friendship forged in iron. Unbreakable. Everlasting.
She couldn’t think of anybody she’d rather be with at this minute than these three women.
After the waiter returned with their tea, Logan walked up to their table with one female and one male officer in protective vests and the requisite cop gear strapped to their waists. Her stomach flipped. Now she would have to recount everything that had happened in the parking garage.
So much for her low-stress day.
Chapter Three
“You’re off for your golf holiday in a few days, right?”
Colton nodded at the gentleman sitting opposite him in the sleek, custom-outfitted Lear jet. “Tuesday. I have to admit, flying business class to Miami will be a bit of a downer after flying around in this beauty the last six weeks.”
The other man chuckled. “I can imagine, although I’ve never had to fly commercial.”
That made sense. Ben Alderon came fromold money,and Colton doubted that anybody in his family had ever flown, cruised, or driven anywhere in anything other than private transportation.
Ben stared out the window at the deepening shadows. “I’m sure happy to be getting home. Six weeks is a long time away.” He leaned his head to the side, his gaze directed to the woman seated farther up, a dark-headed toddler boy asleep in her arms. “I know my wife is especially eager. Sleeping in our own bed, getting back on a normal schedule with our son.”
He looked back at Colton. “I don’t like working overseas, but it’s easier with my family along. Thank you for keeping them safe.”
“Our pleasure.”
“There’ll be a little extra for you in your next paycheck from Petersen. Enough to cover half a dozen golf holidays, if you’re so inclined. It’s the least I could do. For the others, as well.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous.”
After back-to-back assignments over the past eight months, including this one abroad for the last six weeks with the high-profile CEO and family in London, it would be nice to let down until after the holidays. He planned to take a couple of months off after seeing the Alderons home and couldn’t wait to hit the links in Miami for the entire week before Thanksgiving.
The co-pilot emerged from the cockpit and made his way past the other four bodyguards, Ben’s wife, and their sleeping son to his boss. “Ninety minutes to landing, sir. But there’s a call for Mr. Blankenship.”
“Thank you.”
With a nod, the co-pilot returned to the cockpit. Ben picked up the wireless handset embedded in the wall of the plane and gave it to Colton.
“Blankenship.”
“Colton, we have a situation.”
“Mack.” He went on instant alert at the tension in his boss’s voice. “What do you need?”
“I hate to do this, but I have a new assignment, and I need the best.”
“A two-day assignment?” His flight would leave at 7:53 a.m. on Tuesday, and he intended to be on the first course they planned to play by two o’clock Eastern with three of his college frat brothers.
“Undetermined at this time.”
Colton closed his eyes. Eight months. Six weeks in London. He needed this break like he needed twelve hours of sleep tonight.
But he couldn’t bail on Mack.
Opening his eyes, he turned to the small window as the earth tilted away from the sun. “Okay, yeah. I’ll change my plans. Report tomorrow or Monday?”
“Tonight. As soon as you land. I’ll have a car there for you. The others can see the Alderons home.”
