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“I’ve hired security for you,” Eva said, and pursed her lips.
“You what?” That was too much.
“I took matters into my hands, since I knew you wouldn’t. And as evidenced by your attitude this morning, I was right.”
“Can you be more specific? What does security mean? Have you coerced the cops to stake out our house?”
“Oh, Lord, no. That wouldn’t do any good.” Eva’s lips thinned into a repressed smile. “I found a man I trust.”
“Oh, really?” Jana was astounded by her grandmother’s nerve. She wanted to go on a rampage about how this was her life. But hadn’t she done that many times before? It hadn’t done any good then, and wasn’t likely to at that moment.
Jana walked over to the window to gaze out at the wintry scene, and wished she was skiing instead of arguing. She would go skiing later to blow off some steam. The shop was in good hands, and she could drop by in the afternoon to check on things.
“Jana, are you listening to me?”
After a longing glance at the snow, Jana turned to face her grandmother. “Are you going to tell me who this man is? And where you found him?” That was going to be a good story; she could just tell.
“Don’t prejudge,” Eva said. “I can tell good character, and I’m certain I made the right decision. I hired a bodyguard for you.”
“Oh my God, that’s not going to work.” Jana lifted her hands. “You can’t be serious. I’m not some celebrity who wants to be followed around everywhere she goes.”
“You’ll have to get used to it, because I won’t take no for an answer.” Eva glanced at her hands in her lap. “You must understand that you are my only granddaughter. What would I do without you?”
Jana couldn’t argue with that. The next thing would be her grandmother telling her how much she loved her, a sentiment she valued but didn’t want to hear in the heat of the debate. It was a sure way to lose.
“Please, cancel the request.” Jana got on her knees in front of her grandmother and took her hands. “I will be fine. I promise you.” She paused. “And a bodyguard must be expensive. It’s an extravagance we can’t afford.”
“What I can’t afford,” Eva said with tears in her eyes, “is to lose you.”
Jana hugged her grandmother, at a loss as to how to undo this disaster. She worked for a living and wasn’t about to have a bodyguard tagging around behind her like a puppy dog. It would attract attention. If she wasn’t already a target, that would make her one.
But Jana had no ready solution for how to convince her. She was stubborn, but her grandmother was more so, and her overconcern had taken a step up in annoyance. But she didn’t have the heart to reject the offer of protection outright.
Possibly, Jana could broach the subject later on, before the guard showed up. Any reputable company would return the deposit. Then life could return to normal. Eva would eventually agree that a personal bodyguard wasn’t needed.
Before Jana could parry her grandmother’s comment about losing her, the doorbell rang. Eva’s face lit up, the tears gone. Jana had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
*****
Thaddeus had caught a flight to Lake Tahoe without delay. Then he’d rented a Jeep with snow tires and driven to Soda Springs. He’d been fully briefed on the situation and was expected to be on duty immediately. The length of the assignment depended on how long it took to discover if Jana was in actual danger, and to handle the situation if she was.
Recent weather had painted the landscape white, and branches of the trees were laden with snow. The area was filled with resorts, but Thaddeus wasn’t there to enjoy snow sports. He took in the environment as he drove to the Tomasson residence.
The atmosphere was placid, and about as unthreatening as it could be. But this was Northern California, full of tourists, plus residents who thrived on the nearby slopes. There were too many resorts to count and opportunities to engage in just about any snow sport imaginable.
The snowy scenery was a comfort, very much like home to Thaddeus. If any threat existed, it was connected to Jana. He was determined to find out what was going on as soon as possible. Then he could move on to another assignment.
The neighborhoods he passed were upscale, not surprising for a ski area. But he didn’t ogle the expansive homes built in an elaborate chalet style. It wouldn’t do to get distracted before he’d even arrived. That was how stupid stuff happened.
He turned onto the road and slowed to look for the home. He recognized it from photos, but it looked more striking in person. The Tomassons lived well, if the house was any indication. The structure was composed of three levels and was built tall, not wide.
The roof was slanted, and the home was made of stained wood. It was architecturally impressive, with many angles and asymmetric lines. It was partially hidden in a grove of trees. There were no cars visible, but there was a large garage attached to the home.
Thaddeus had his gear with him, but left the pack in the vehicle. It would be better to do the meet and greet before looking like he was moving in. He had his weapon under his parka. That was one item that it wasn’t smart to leave behind.
Not that he expected to need it. After a quick analysis, he deduced that the danger wasn’t on premise. But he’d double-check once he was inside the place. One couldn’t be too careful, and making assumptions could get a guy, or his client, killed.
Thaddeus scanned the property, noting that the neighboring homes weren’t too close. He didn’t see any sign of a dog or a security system of any kind. Likely, the Tomassons had lived at the residence for a while and knew their neighbors. It wasn’t like the city, where most people had alarm systems installed at home.
