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“Er, yes.” Erin said, wishing she had some more words than errr.. But she didn’t. Alexandra kept fixing her with those intense blue eyes and Erin was lost for words.
“Erin, another thing, can you ride horses? Your resume said you could, but I really need to be sure. I often ride when I can and I like to ride other places than just the palace grounds. I like to ride fast and I like to jump whatever I can. I am very limited on this if I don’t have personal security that can keep up with me. My last bodyguard had an accident falling from the horse.”
Erin smiled. For once, something she was confident at.
“Sure, I grew up riding and I actually used to work with horses before I was in the police. I worked for an Event rider. Riding horses, galloping and jumping, for me is as easy as walking on my own feet.”
Alexandra smiled widely. The smile that newspapers around the world loved to capture.
“Oh wonderful. I can’t wait to get back out there. I have some lovely horses. I’m sure you will find one that you like.”
Alexandra’s expression changed suddenly and she became serious again. “Erin, I would love to take you on to work for me. There is one more thing. I know you will be made to sign further Non Disclosure Agreements before starting with me, but there are times I will ask you for complete confidentiality on my movements. Not just regarding public disclosure but also regarding disclosure to other members of the Royal Family, my father-the king. Sometimes I will even ask you for confidentiality from the rest of the security team, from your boss, confidentiality from everyone. Can you make me that promise?” Alexandra looked earnest and almost vulnerable as she asked.
What secrets was she hiding, Erin wondered. Promising to keep secrets from the rest of the security team and her boss went against all of her training. Promising to keep too many secrets was a really bad idea. Alexandra obviously went to places she didn’t want anyone to know about. But, in reality, how much risk was attached to this?
Before she could stop herself, Erin had replied. “Sure. I promise. Whatever confidentiality you need, you have it. You have my word.”
Their eyes connected and Alexandra smiled and stood up.
“Thank you very much Erin.”
“JESS,” she called out towards the door.
The door opened and an over keen Jess practically ran into the room.
“Yes Ma’am,” said Jess quickly.
“Organise for Sergeant Kennedy’s belongings to be moved into my adjoining suite as a matter of priority.”
“Sergeant Kennedy, you will start with me tomorrow morning. My security team will brief you and give you my schedule. Jess, please show Sergeant Kennedy out.”
Just like that, Erin was given the biggest promotion there was in her line of work. Erin smiled to herself as she followed little Jess out. Protection of one of the most famous women in the world. This was exactly what she had trained for.
4
Erin was at the palace for 7am the next morning. Her clothes and belongings, not that there were a lot of them, were being moved for her. She met the rest of the Princess’s security team at the Security offices.
“Sergeant Kennedy, great to see you.” boomed the voice of a big bald headed man in a dark suit, every inch the stereotypical bodyguard image. “I’m Chief Inspector Mark Evans. I realise this is your first real Close Protection job, but we were really struggling to find a female officer that Rose would accept and that could damn well ride horses as well as she wants them to. We have better officers than you and we have tried to train them to ride to the desired standard but it seems it is a skill required over years, not something that we can get someone up to speed with in a couple of months. ”
“Rose?” Erin asked, confused.
“Rose is Princess Alexandra’s Code Name. We always refer to her as Rose internally and on phone/radio et cetera for safety.”
“Please tell me you weren’t lying or exaggerating when you said you can ride to a high level?” he said.
“Not at all,” replied Erin. “I’ve done it all my life. The riding will be no problem at all.”
“Thank fuck for that. I can’t have any more officers with broken legs. No fucking use to me with broken legs.” Erin remained reserved. She couldn’t tell if Chief Inspector Evans was serious.
“You can laugh you know. I am funny,” he said.
“Sure,” replied Erin cringing for him.
“Anyway. You weren’t my choice, but you are hers, and one way or another, she outranks me. I could list fifty male officers who would be a far better choice, however she wants a female who can ride so we are stuck with you. All we can hope is that your ineptitude doesn’t get the future queen of our country fucking killed. Capisce?”
Erin despised his use of the Italian word for effect, she hated his patronising attitude towards her, she hated his big shiny sweaty face. But she figured he would desire a response.
“Sure, I’ve got it.”
