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“That’s a good description. I can deal with resistance,” Thaddeus said. “It won’t scare me off, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Jana will give in. Once you’re there, she’ll have to accept the protection. I’m her grandmother. If I want you there, then that’s where you’ll be.”
Thaddeus smiled, then took a more serious view. “And do you have any idea why the harassment began?”
“I’m not positive, and Jana is confused by it. She’s a wonderful woman. There is no motive for murder that I’m aware of.”
“So, you are certain that shot was meant to kill? Was she injured?”
“Not that time, but I’d rather not give the shooter another opportunity.” Eva said. “When can you start?”
Thaddeus raised his hands. “I’m at your service.”
Eva stood and sealed the deal with a handshake. “I have a plane to catch. Your boss can give you all the particulars.” She grinned. “You’re hired.”
After Eva left, Travis leaned forward with his elbows on the desk. “She’s quite a woman, isn’t she?”
“You could say that. I wonder if her granddaughter is anything like her?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Travis said. “You’ll have your hands full.”
“No problem. Why is it the grandmother and not her parents who are concerned?”
“Jana Tomasson was born in Iceland, but her parents died in a fishing accident when she was four years old. Her grandparents raised her. The family moved to the United States for business reasons. Tomasson Ski Equipment has done well in the resort areas of Northern California.”
“I’ve heard of that company. That is her family?”
“I verified the background, and it is,” Travis said. “I received an initial report from Cooper. A few years ago, when the grandfather passed away, Jana took over the business. It appears she’s quite competent…graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a degree in engineering.”
“Not the bio of a woman being stalked.”
“Usually not, but there’s more than meets the eye.”
Travis opened a folder and shoved a photo across the desk. It was a woman in ski gear holding a rifle. There were a couple of other pictures. One was a closeup of Jana holding her skis. She had long brown hair and green eyes like Eva’s. Her stance conveyed confidence and pride. “That’s Jana Tomasson.”
“It seems she knows how to use a rifle; she could defend herself.”
“True, but that’s for sport. She competed in the biathlon, nearly made it into the Olympics.”
“But she didn’t?”
“Records show that she missed making the team by a narrow margin,” Travis said. “And Eva mentioned something interesting. It seems her granddaughter has been working on a secret project.”
“Secret…how?”
“She doesn’t want word to get out until she has the patent. I don’t understand the sport well enough to enlighten you. But in a nutshell: the competitors ski cross-country, stopping at intervals to take a rifle off their back, get in position, and shoot at a target.”
“I’m familiar with the sport. It’s rugged.”
“Exactly, and it seems that the key to getting an edge over your competition…is to control your heartbeat.”
Thaddeus was interested. He’d done similar stuff on deployment, when even breathing might have given away his position.
“The trick is to go from aerobic cross-country skiing to the stillness required to aim a rifle properly. The heart is pounding from the exertion, then the competitor shifts into a quiet mode, in order to shoot. Stilling the heart is a developed skill, I suppose.”
“And Jana has some invention that will aid in training?”
“Eva described it that way. You’ll need to find out more.”
“If that’s true…”
“Yes, my thought as well,” Travis said. “That is a tool that others would want.”
“Enough to kill for?”
“I’ll leave that to you to find out. But keep your eyes open. I don’t recommend you take Eva’s warnings lightly. Even if Jana isn’t keen on the idea of you watching over her, stick around anyway.” Travis handed the folder with the assignment details across the desk. “I have a feeling about this.”
