Page 12 of Special Agent Isabella

“Hey, if she’s brought up shit about me, it isn’t because I told her. We’ve known each other a long time. And she’s crafty about gathering information.”

“Sure, blame Demi. I happen to know for a fact that you boast. I’ve heard you myself.”

“What… when?”

“After that last football game in high school when you made the touchdown to win the game. You said, I did it! Not we did it. I did it.”

Tanner looked sheepish but said nothing in his defense. Before she could rag on him further, Stacy reappeared, and the discussion changed.

ChapterTen

Once she returned to where the agents waited, Stacy walked right up to Bella and held out her hand. “We never got a chance to be properly introduced earlier. My daughter tends to take center stage. I’m Stacy Bolden, Governor of Arizona.”

Seemingly confused, yet ready to play along, Bella answered her greeting with as much formality. “How do you do? I’m Special Agent Isabella Mendez.”

“My daughter never stopped singing your praises while getting ready for bed. You’re her newest favorite person.”

When Tanner cleared his throat theatrically, Stacy added, “Next to Tanner of course. He just doesn’t have your hair. I’m afraid Abbie has become fixated on having long curls of late. Beth Anton in her class has locks to her waist and brags about it constantly. She’s the most popular girl in class and takes her position seriously. Therefore, Abbie intends for her hair to be as long. Problem is, no matter how much she measures it daily, it’s taking a long time to grow.”

Bella felt a strange sympathy begin to form. Hadn’t she been in a similar situation as a child? Wanting to have what the other kids did… mainly a family. And no matter how hard she prayed and asked God for a mother and father to adopt her, it never happened. She understood Abbie’s wanting to be like her friend.

Tanner handed Stacy a glass of wine and directed them to the sitting area. Once they were all seated, he broached the subject. “Can you show Bella the rest of the texts and emails you let me see earlier. She needs to know what we’re up against. Plus, she’s had some experience with this type of thing herself and might pick up a clue.”

Stacy went over to where her desk was against the far wall, near the bookcases, and brought back a sheath of papers that she handed over to Bella. “I printed them out so I could delete them off my phone. Abbie, like most kids, wants to play with it. And as many times as I’ve told her no, she still handles it as often as she can.”

While Bella read through the disgusting messages, Stacy furtively nodded at Tanner, knowing he’d understand her unspoken plea. When his gaze softened and he winked in return, she knew he’d picked up on her agreement for him to bring Bella into their confidence.

“Now that you can see what a sicko we’re talking about, are you still willing to work with me and Abbie?” Stacy asked first, wanting to see for herself the response Bella had to the request.

“Hey, I’ll be here too.” Tanner pretended to be aggrieved.

Grimacing, Bella spoke up, “See, that’s the one deterrent. But I can overcome it if you want me.”

She meant it as a joke… right?

“Not funny.” Tanner sipped on his glass of water and pretended to look hurt. Stacy enjoyed the repartee and thought it the first time she’d seen Tanner so reactionary with any woman.

Ignoring his joking, Bella held forth the papers now gripped so hard they were crunched. “This crap is sickening, Governor.”

“Call me Stacy.”

“Right, Stacy. Having to get on with your daily routine must be overwhelming. After things heated up in my case, I had a problem even leaving my house… and I carry a gun.”

“Then you know how difficult life is right now for me. Because I really, honestly don’t care if it’s me who’s attacked if that means he or she or… or they will leave Abbie alone. But now that they’ve brought her into this scummy situation, I have to protect her any way possible. And you’re my means of doing that.”

“I promise I’ll do everything I can. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if Tanner explained my reluctance for being around kids with you. I’ve never spent any time with the little people before.”

“In case you didn’t notice, that’s good.” Stacy huffed out an exasperating breath. “The one thing my six-year-old Abbie hates more than anything is to be treated like a child.”

ChapterEleven

Packing her belongings to go on this new adventure into bodyguarding threw Bella into a spin. What the hell was she thinking, taking on a job where she’d be spending a lot of her time with a kid smarter than her? Having no experience with little ones made her nervous as hell. On the other hand, maybe it would work as a benefit.

She’d treat the youngster as a protégé and hope for the best. In her last year in Quantico, they’d insisted she teach a class on defensive techniques in grappling and disarming. Their reasoning – that she’d aced the course faster than they’d seen anyone else do so before – had them considering her to be an effective instructor. Surprisingly, she’d quite enjoyed explaining reasons for using certain moves and how best to apply them. The bonus had been watching the others in the class grasp her directives so quickly.

What if she made a game of something similar with Abbie? Could it be a way for them to breach the uncomfortable times likely to exist? Kids enjoyed exercise and martial arts certainly fit that concept. And she enjoyed the challenge of teaching. It might give them something they could do together.

Thinking about the number of hours in a day made Bella question her decision. Christ, what was she thinking of? Her and a child…? The thought brought back anxieties she’d thought she’d finally left behind.

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