Page 30 of Special Agent Isabella

“Smartass. Okay, I do have a question.”

Bella waited. “Right. So tell me.”

“I need a dress for a date. And no smartass comments. I met a guy a few weeks ago. He’s an ordinary dude. Wants to take me out.”

“Listen my friend, you’d never go for an ordinary dude. And I’ve got all the dresses you want. Just go to my apartment and help yourself. You have a key and know where everything is.”

“You sure.”

“Of course, Demi. How many times do I have to tell you that you’re more than welcome.”

“Thanks, Bella. Have I ever told you that you suit your name.”

“Only when you’re in a sappy mood.” Bella chuckled. She heard the soft note in her friend’s voice, and her heart melted.

“Hell, I’m always in a sappy mood when I think about you. I’ll let you know which one I choose.”

Before she heard the dial tone, Bella added, “Try the little black number.”

“Haven’t got time to try on that many,” Demi teased. The following silence let her know Demi had hung up and had gotten the last word. Laughing quietly, she let herself relax and enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

Her and Demi… always fighting over Demi’s behavior. Bella would suggest clothes, and Demi would ignore her advice and hand over whatever money she had to the constant needs in her job.

Lost in thought, Bella didn’t hear the unusual clicking of footsteps until they were close. By that time, all she could do was to take her weapon from the holster and head to the half-open door to stop the person from entering where Abbie slept.

Over the time she’d been living on the premises, she’d gotten used to the sounds made by the inside workers, the slapping of the housekeeper’s clogs on the hardwood floor, and the shuffling from the cleaning woman’s slippers. This noise was different, sneaky-like and not familiar.

She waited, unwilling to leave Abbie defenseless. In time, the sounds came closer, and she stiffened. Not understanding how this person could have escaped the attention of the others, she kept her cool. Eventually, a figure appeared, sneaking around the corner, and walking straight into Bella’s waiting gun.

“Who are you?”

The woman froze, her hands flew up like a person being arrested which forced her cellphone to drop. “I’m sorry. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Then why break into the Governor’s house?”

“She’s my sister-in-law. I came to visit.”

“Isn’t it usual to call first and say you’re coming?”

“Yes. For most people, but I just landed here from England. I had no idea there would be so many people outside. I came in the back way and Nan let me in.”

Just then the housekeeper, Nan, appeared and corroborated the woman’s story. “I recognized Miss Bolden and meant to introduce you, but the phone rang, and I was held up.”

Holding out her hand, the slender intruder with mousy brown hair added, “I’m Leslie Bolden.”

Bella put her gun away and accepted the invitation. “Sorry about your welcome. I’m Special Agent Bella Mendez, on duty to watch over Abbie until the crowds are gone.”

“That’s why I’m here. I just returned from assignment in Ukraine.”

When she saw the confusion Bella didn’t hide, she added, “I’m a news reporter. After seeing the growing harassment for Stacy and my niece, I had to come and see if I could help. I used my press pass outside before coming in. I listened to the stories from a lot of the agitators, and it breaks my heart to hear the garbage that those silly folks have been fed… disgusting stories that they believe.”

Bella didn’t want to get into a discussion on semantics… maybe because the other woman’s expression didn’t quite ring true. “There’s no talking to them. Others have tried, and it turns into violence. Best to wait them out. Hopefully, another story will take over, and they’ll move on.”

“Well… I do hope so. In the meantime, my niece and Stacy have to put up with this viciousness right outside their home. It isn’t right. I wish she’d just leave or let me take Abbie back to England with me. I have a house there where she’d be safe.”

“Not sure Stacy could part from Abbie right now. They need each other. But it’s not my call.” While she talked, she led the way back into the office where Abbie had begun to wake up from her nap.

Leslie Bolden’s surprise couldn’t be faked. “Who’s this child?”

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