Page 8 of Mistletoe and Malice
His gut clenched. Something big had happened. Mack hadn’t pulled him in for an urgent op in over a year. Meant he’d have to cram to get up to speed. Better load up on the coffee.
“Copy that. See you in a couple of hours.”
He disconnected and handed the phone back to Ben.
“No golf holiday, I take it?”
Colton put his head back against the seat. “Undetermined at this time.”
At ten minutes to eight, Colton walked into Mack’s office at Petersen Security, the only one with any illumination. Aside from the Tech Ops department, where staffers manned computer stations 24/7. The same department where Colton had begun his stint with Petersen over six years ago. A nice, safe job sitting at a computer bank gathering intel and planning operations.
Until it hadn’t mattered anymore, and he asked to be put in the field.
Mack gestured him in. “Colton, good to see you. You can put your bags there by the door. This won’t take long.”
After parking his suitcase and draping his garment bag over it, Colton took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “What’s going on?”
Mack picked up a folder and opened it. “Hudson.”
Colton pulled his head back. “As in, Hudson Financial Corporation? Andrew Hudson needs a team?”
“He does. A three-man detail, and they need the best. That’s where you come in.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Although, at the moment, his jet-lagged self felt far fromthe best.“Did he receive a threat?”
“Not him.”
“So, who, exactly, would this detail be for?”
“The daughter. Riley.”
An image sprang to his mind. Lovely young woman, black dress, expensive shoes. Eyes the color of emeralds.
“Wait a minute. You’re pulling my much-needed vacation to babysit a spoiled heiress? Really, Mack. The last thing I want to do is shop all day and lunch with the girls with some society princess. Can’t you use someone else?”
Mack sat up and folded his hands on the desk. “There was a kidnapping attempt made this morning that almost succeeded. A witness intervened, but the guy got away. Now, we don’t know exactly what we’re looking at here. Could be random. Could be targeted. Regardless, whoever did this is bold. A detective is heading to the estate to interview her tonight.”
“Where was she when this took place?”
“Shopping. River Oaks. And on her way to meet friends for lunch.”
Colton bit back a word that would’ve shocked his mother.
“Listen, I know I’m asking a lot.” A grimace crossed Mack’s tired features. “Expecting you to put your plans on hold. But this girl needs you, Colton. She’s scared and bewildered and needsto feel safe again. She doesn’t want to be shut inside constantly, and her father is frantic. Called me in a panic this afternoon and insisted I send him my best. That’s you. Jamison and Paxton are on stand-by, along with one of the new Navigators. All the bells and whistles. And I think her file might surprise you.”
Colton accepted the folder from his boss but didn’t open it. He’d go through it later, when his eyelids didn’t feel like sandpaper inside. Couldn’t be too much to read up on, anyhow. And tomorrow being Sunday, she’d probably sleep in. Then they could go over whatever her schedule for the week might entail.
“Sounds sloppy, making a move in a public place like that. On a Saturday, no less.”
“It does, so it could’ve been random and there won’t be any other threats. And you can start your holiday vacation. You deserve it.”
One could hope. “Copy that. Paul Jamison’s the best driver we have, and Trevor and I work well together.”
Disappointment warred with exhaustion, and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep until he had to leave Tuesday morning. But he’d need to adjust his attitude since this operation clearly weighed heavily on Mack, even if he hadn’t been assigned a babysitting op since his first year in the field. He dreaded standing around through shopping trips, spa days, and late-night clubbing. But if Drew Hudson wanted the best for his little girl, he would get nothing less.
Then he’d take a couple of months off to reacquaint himself with his golf clubs. In Hawaii. With his bonus from Alderon.
“When do we report?”
