Czytaj książkę: «Christmas Stalking»

ONE

In the dark, Ellie St. James scanned the mountainous terrain out her bedroom window at her new client’s home in Colorado, checking the shadows for any sign of trouble before she went to sleep. The large two-story house of redwood and glass blended in well with the rugged landscape seven thousand feet above sea level. Any other time she would appreciate the beauty, but she was here to protect Mrs. Rachel Winfield.

A faint sound punched through her musing. She whirled away from the window and snatched her gun off the bedside table a few feet from her. Fitting the weapon into her right palm and finding its weight comforting, she crept toward her door and eased it open to listen. None of the guard dogs were barking. Maybe she’d imagined the noise.

A creak, like a floorboard being stepped on, drifted up the stairs. Someone was ascending to the second floor. She and her employer were the only ones in the main house. She glanced at Mrs. Winfield’s door two down from hers and noticed it was closed. Her client kept it that way only when she was in her bedroom.

So who was on the stairs? Had someone gotten past the dogs outside and the security system? And did that someone not care that he was being heard coming up the steps? Because he didn’t intend to leave any witnesses?

The latest threat against Mrs. Winfield urged her into action. She slipped out of her room and into the shadows of the long hallway that led to the staircase. Having memorized all the floorboards that squeaked, Ellie avoided the left side of the corridor as she snuck forward—past Mrs. Winfield’s door.

Another sound echoed through the hall. Whoever was on the steps was at the top. She increased her speed, probing every dark recess around her for any other persons. Near the wooden railing of the balcony that overlooked the front entrance, she found the light switch, planted her bare feet a foot apart, preparing herself to confront the intruder, and then flipped on the hall light.

Even though she expected the bright illumination, her eyes needed a few seconds to adjust to it. The large man before her lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the glare. Which gave Ellie the advantage.

“Don’t move,” she said in her toughest voice, a husky resonance she often used to her advantage.

The stranger dropped his hand to his side, his gray-blue eyes drilling into her then fixing on her Wilson combat aimed at his chest. Anger washed all surprise from his expression. “Who are you?” The question came out in a deep, booming voice, all the fury in his features reflected in it.

“You don’t get to ask the questions. Who are—”

The click of the door opening to Mrs. Winfield’s bedroom slightly behind and to the left of Ellie halted her words as she shifted her attention for an instant to make sure the man didn’t have an accomplice already with her client.

“Winnie, get back,” the intruder yelled.

By the time Ellie’s gaze reconnected with the man, he was charging toward her. She had less than a second to decide what to do. The use of her client’s nickname caused Ellie to hesitate. In that moment the stranger barreled into her, slamming her into the hardwood floor. The impact jolted her, knocking the Wilson Combat from her hand. The thud of her weapon hitting the floor behind her barely registered as she lay pinned beneath two hundred pounds of solid muscle. Pressed into her, the man robbed her of a decent breath.

Her training flooded her with extra adrenaline. Before he could capture her arms, she brought them up and struck him on the sides of his head. His light-colored gaze widened at the blow. She latched onto his face, going for his eyes with her thumbs.

“Miss St. James, stop!” Mrs. Winfield’s high-pitched voice cut into the battle between Ellie and her attacker.

The man shifted and clasped her wrists in a bone-crushing grip.

Ellie swung her attention from the brute on top of her to her employer standing over them with Ellie’s gun in her quivering hand. Pointed at her!

“He’s my grandson,” Mrs. Winfield said. “Colt, get up. She can hardly breathe.”

The man rolled off her, shaking his head as though his ears rang. After her attack they probably did.

Sitting up, he stared at his grandmother who still held the weapon. “Please give me the gun, Winnie.” His soft, calm words, interspersed with heavy pants, contradicted his earlier authoritative tone.

Ellie gulped in oxygen-rich breaths while he pushed to his feet and gently removed the weapon from Mrs. Winfield’s hand. He dwarfed his petite grandmother by over a foot.

With her gun in his grasp, he stood next to her client and glared down at Ellie. “Now I would like an answer. Who are you?” Anger still coated each word.

She slowly rose from the floor. “Ellie St. James.”

He put his arm around his grandmother, who stood there trembling, staring at Ellie as though she was trying to understand what had just happened. “What are you doing here, Miss St. James?” he asked.

With a shake of her head, Mrs. Winfield blinked then peered up at her grandson. “She’s my new assistant.”

“What in the world are you doing carrying a gun?”

His question thundered through the air, none of the gentle tone he’d used with his grandmother evident. He glared at her, his sharp gaze intent on Ellie’s face. Although he’d lowered the gun, Ellie didn’t think it would take much for him to aim it again. Fury was etched into his hard-planed face.

“My dear, why do you have a gun?”

Mrs. Winfield’s light, musical voice finally pulled Ellie’s attention from the man. Her employer had regained her regal bearing, her hands clasped together in front of her to control their trembling.

“I’ve lived alone for so long in a big city I’ve always had a gun for protection,” Ellie finally answered.

Although Mrs. Winfield was her client—the person she’d been assigned to guard—the older woman didn’t know it. Her lawyer and second-in-charge at Glamour Sensations, Harold Jefferson, had hired Guardians, Inc., to protect her. Ellie was undercover, posing as her new assistant. Her cover had her growing up in Chicago—the south side—and still living there. But in reality, at the first opportunity she’d had she’d hightailed it out of Chicago and enlisted in the army. When she’d left the military, she hadn’t gone back home but instead she’d gone to Dallas to work for Guardians, Inc., and Kyra Morgan—now Kyra Hunt.

“You don’t need a weapon now. This isn’t a big city. I have security around the estate. You’re safe. I prefer you do something with that gun. I don’t like weapons.” A gentle smile on her face, Mrs. Winfield moved toward her as though she were placating a gun-toting woman gone crazy.

Ellie didn’t trust anyone’s security enough to give up her gun, but she bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from voicing that thought. She would need to call Mr. Jefferson and see how he wanted to proceed. Ellie had wanted to tell Mrs. Winfield that her life was in danger, but he’d refused. Now something would have to give here.

“I’ll take care of it, Winnie. I’ll lock it in the safe until she can remove it from here.” The grandson checked the Wilson Combat, slipped out the ammo clip and ejected the bullet in the chamber, then began to turn away.

“Wait. You can’t—”

He peered over his shoulder, one brow arching. “I’m sure my grandmother will agree that this will have to be a condition of your continual employment. If I had any say in it, I’d send you packing tonight.” He rubbed his ears. “They’re still ringing. You have a mean punch. Where did you learn to take care of yourself?”

“A matter of survival in a tough neighborhood.” That was true, but she’d also had additional training in the army.

“As my grandmother said, that isn’t an issue here. We’re on a side of a mountain miles away from the nearest town. No one bothers us up here.”

If you only knew. “I’m licensed to carry—”

But Mrs. Winfield’s grandson ignored her protest and descended the staircase.

Ellie rushed to the railing overlooking the downstairs entrance. Clutching the wood, she leaned over and said, “That’s my weapon. I’ll take care of it.”

“That’s okay. I’m taking care of it.” Then he disappeared into the hallway that led to the office where the safe was.

“I certainly understand why you got scared.” Mrs. Winfield approached her at the railing and patted her back. “I did when I heard the noise from you two in the hallway. I didn’t know what was happening. I appreciate you being willing to protect me, but thank goodness, it wasn’t necessary.”

This time. Ellie swung around to face the older woman. “Yeah, but you never know.”

“The Lord watches out for His children. I’m in the best care.”

“I agree, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be proactive, Mrs. Winfield,” Ellie said, hoping to convince Mr. Jefferson to tell her about the threats tomorrow.

“Please call me Winnie. Christy, my previous assistant, did. I don’t like standing on formality since you’ll be helping me.” She smiled. “Colt gave me that name years ago, and everyone calls me that now.”

“Was he supposed to visit?”

“The last I heard he wasn’t going to come back this year for Christmas. He probably heard my disappointment when we talked on the phone a few days ago. If I had known Colt was coming, I would have said something to you.”

She’d read the dossier Kyra Hunt had given her on Colt Winfield, the only grandson Mrs. Winfield had. She should have recognized him, but with a beard and scruffy hair and disheveled clothes he’d looked like a bum who had wandered into the house intent on ill gains.

“He was supposed to be in the South Pacific on the research vessel through Christmas and the New Year.” Mrs. Winfield gave Ellie a smile, her blue eyes sparkling. “Just like him to forget to tell me he was coming home after all for Christmas. Knowing him, it could be a surprise from the very beginning. He loves doing that kind of thing. Such a sweet grandson.” She leaned close to Ellie to whisper the last because Colt Winfield was coming back up the steps.

“I wish that were the case, Winnie.” Colt paused on the top stair. “But I need to get back to the Kaleidoscope. I managed to get a few days off before we start the next phase of our project, and I know how important it is to you that we have some time together at Christmas.”

Great, he’ll be leaving soon.

“Just a few days?” His grandmother’s face fell, the shine in her eyes dimming. “I haven’t seen you in months. Can’t you take a couple of weeks out of your busy schedule to enjoy the holidays like we used to?”

Please don’t, Ellie thought, rolling her shoulders to ease the ache from their tussle on the hardwood floor.

He came to the older woman and drew her into his embrace. “I wish I could. Maybe at the end of January. The government on the island is allowing a limited amount of time to explore the leeward side and the underwater caves.”

Mrs. Winfield stepped away. “You aren’t the only one on the research team. Let someone else do it for a while. You’re one of three marine biologists. And the other two are married to each other. They get to spend Christmas together.”

“I need to be there. Something is happening to the sea life in that part of the ocean. It’s mutating over time. It’s affected the seal population. You know how I feel about the environment and the oceans.”

“Fine.” Mrs. Winfield fluttered her hand in the air as she swept around and headed for the door to her bedroom. “I can’t argue with you over something I taught you. Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I hope you’ll at least go for a power walk with Ellie and me. Seven o’clock sharp.”

“Yes, Winnie. I’ve brought my running shoes. I figured you’d want me to.”

When her employer shut the door to her room, Ellie immediately said, “I need my gun back.”

“You do? What part of your duties as my grandmother’s assistant requires you to have a gun?” His gaze skimmed down her length.

Ellie finally peered down at the clothes she wore—old sweats and a baggy T-shirt. With a glance at the mirror at the end of the hall, she noticed the wild disarray of her hair. She looked as scruffy as Colt Winfield. She certainly wouldn’t appear to this man as a capable and efficient bodyguard. Or a woman who knew how to use a gun when she needed to. “Ask yourself. What if you had been a burglar? Would you have wanted me to let you rob the place or do worse?”

For half a moment he just stared at her, then he started chuckling. “Since I’m not and I’ll be here for a few days, you’ll be safe. Didn’t you wonder why the three German shepherds didn’t bark?”

“I know that dogs can be good for security purposes, but they can be taken out. It shouldn’t be the only method a person uses.” Which Mr. Jefferson was changing—just not fast enough for her liking. A new alarm system for the house would be in place by the end of the week. But even that didn’t guarantee a person was totally safe. Hence the reason why Mr. Jefferson hired her to guard Mrs. Winfield—Winnie.

“So you decided to bring a gun.”

“I’m very capable. I was in the army.”

“Army? Even knowing that, I’m afraid, Miss St. James, we’re not going to see eye to eye on this.” He swiveled around and went to pick up a duffel bag by the steps. He hadn’t had that when he’d first come upstairs. He must have brought it up when he put the gun in the safe. “Good night.”

Ellie watched him stride down the corridor in the opposite direction of her bedroom. When he paused before a door at the far end, he slanted a look back at her. For a few seconds the corners of his mouth hitched up. He nodded his head once and then ducked inside.

She brought her hand up to comb her fingers through her hair and encountered a couple of tangles. “Ouch!”

Moving toward her bedroom, she kept her eye on his, half expecting him to pop back out with that gleam of humor dancing in his eyes. When he didn’t, something akin to disappointment flowed through her until she shoved it away. She would have to call Mr. Jefferson to tell him that Colt was here. From what she’d read about the man he was smart, with a doctorate in marine biology as well as a degree in chemistry. Currently he worked on a research vessel as the head marine biologist for a think tank formed to preserve the world’s oceans.

His grandmother hadn’t ever questioned why Ellie was always around, even in her lab, but she had a feeling Colt would. Then he would demand an answer.

* * *

After traveling for almost twenty-four hours the day before, Colt dragged himself out of bed at a quarter to seven in his old room where he’d grown up. Winnie hadn’t changed anything in here, and he doubted she ever would. She would always think of him as her little boy. Although Winnie was his grandmother, she’d raised him when his own mother had died from a massive infection shortly after he was born. Thinking of his past brought both heartache and joy. Heartache because he’d lost so many people he cared about. But he’d rather not dwell on his past. Besides, he had Winnie. She had given him so much.

After dressing in his sweats to power walk in the crisp December air in the Colorado mountains, he made his way toward the kitchen and the scent of coffee. Just its aroma made his body crave caffeine. He’d need it if he was going to keep up with Winnie. At seventy-three, she was an amazing woman, owner of Glamour Sensations and creator of both women’s and men’s fragrances. Not to mention her latest development—a line of antiaging products rumored to revolutionize the cosmetic industry. This had been a dream of Winnie and his granddad for fifteen years. Although his grandfather was dead, Winnie was close to completing their vision with the development of a cream that faded scars and lines as though they had never been there in the first place.

Clean-shaven, Colt came into the kitchen to find his grandmother and her new assistant sitting at the table drinking mugs of coffee. “I thought you would be gone for your power walk by now, leaving me with the whole pot of coffee.”

His grandmother glanced at the clock on the wall. “As usual, ten minutes late. Did I not tell you we would have to wait on him, Ellie?”

The pretty assistant, dressed in a navy blue jogging suit with her long curly blond hair tamed into a ponytail, gave him a sugary sweet smile, a sparkle in her brown eyes. “I tried to talk her into leaving without you, but she insisted on waiting.”

He made his way to his grandmother, kissed her cheek then headed for the pot to pour some coffee.

“You won’t have time for that. I have a meeting with Harold at eight-thirty, and I’m sure he would want me to shower and change before we meet in the lab.” Winnie rose and took a last swallow from her mug before setting it on the table. “You can have some later.”

“What if I walk off the side of the mountain because I fell asleep?” He put his empty cup on the counter.

“Dear, if you manage to fall asleep while power walking with me, I’ll be surprised. Besides, we’re walking inside the fence. It would stop your fall.”

“Your power walking is grueling.” Taking up the rear, he followed the two women out onto the wooden deck along the back of the redwood and glass house that sat in a meadow with a high fence around the premises.

As though expecting Winnie at that time of the day, the three German shepherds sat near the door, their tails wagging. Rocket, the white one, barked his greeting.

His grandmother stooped over and patted each one, saying, “I’ve got a treat for you later today. A juicy bone. I know how much you like that.”

Lady, the only female, nudged his grandmother’s hand for more scratches behind the ear. Winnie laughed. “You always demand more attention than the boys here. They may be larger, but I have a feeling they do whatever you want.”

Standing next to Ellie and watching the exchange between his grandmother and the guard dogs, Colt said, “My grandfather bought Rocket and Gabe to be company and guard the place seven years ago. He was very attached to them. Winnie went out and purchased Lady from the same trainer. She wanted female representation. They love staying outside, but whenever the weather gets bad, she brings them inside, even though they have a top-of-the-line dog structure.”

“I’ve seen it. It isn’t your ordinary doghouse. I thought it might be a storage shed until I saw them going in and out.”

“That’s because nothing is too good for her dogs. When Granddad died, Winnie took over all three dogs’ care with her caretaker’s help.”

When she finished greeting each pet, Winnie went through some stretches. “Colt, I don’t want to hear any complaining on my walk. You’re in perfectly good shape.”

“I don’t complain. I tease.”

“I have a feeling you swim every day you have a chance on the job. Ellie, he can swim ten miles without tiring. Not to mention he can hold his breath underwater for two minutes. I think that’s from growing up here in the mountains. Great lung capacity.”

His grandmother’s remark to her assistant slid his attention to the tall woman who lunged to the left then right. “So you’re into power walking, too?”

Ellie brought her feet together, raised one leg behind her and clasped her ankle. “When I can get the chance, I usually jog, but I’ve been enjoying our early morning jaunts.”

“Who did you work for before this?”

Pausing, she stretched her other leg. “A small company,” she said finally.

Winnie didn’t seem to notice the slight hesitation in Ellie’s reply, but he did. Was something going on? When he got back from his power walk, he would catch Harold before he talked with Winnie. He didn’t want to upset his grandmother unless there was a good reason, but who exactly was Ellie St. James? A woman who carried a gun and, based on last night, wasn’t afraid to use it.

* * *

“I’m glad I caught you before you talked with Winnie.” Ellie shut the library door after the lawyer entered.

“Ah, I see you’ve made good progress with Winnie,” Harold Jefferson said. “She doesn’t usually have someone call her Winnie unless she likes you.”

“I think that’s because she appreciated my attempt to protect her last night.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Someone got in the house? Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because it turned out to be her grandson.”

His forehead wrinkled. “Colt’s here?”

“Yes, for a few days. I thought he was an intruder and I pulled my gun on him in the upstairs hallway. Without her knowing why I’m here, she doesn’t understand why I would have a gun. It’s now sitting in her safe in her office. That ties my hands protecting her. She needs to be told.”

“She will stress and shut down. She’s under a tight deadline with this new product she’s coming up with. That’s why I’m here to talk to her about the publicity campaign now that her former assistant, Christy, has agreed to be the new face for the company.”

“The Winnie I’ve seen this past week is tough when she needs to be.”

“It’s all a show. I’ve been through a lot with her. Years ago her company nearly fell apart because of her son’s death. Then she had a heart attack ten years ago, and we went through another rough patch. That was followed by her husband passing away five Christmases ago. Finally she’s close to going public with Glamour Sensations and offering stock as she brings out her new line, Endless Youth. She’s been working toward this for years. She feels she needs to fulfill her late husband’s vision for the business.”

Ellie placed her hand on her waist, trying to control her frustration and impatience. “If she is dead, she won’t be able to fulfill his vision.”

“That’s why you’re here. To keep her alive. The fewer people who know someone has sent her threats the better. She is the company. The brains and creative force behind it. We need the infusion of money to make a successful campaign for the new products in the spring that will lead up to the unveiling of the signature cream next Christmas.”

“If the company is going public, don’t you have to disclose the threats?”

“Yes. When we reach that part of the process, we’ll have to disclose the threats to the investment banker and lawyers. Fortunately, we have until right after Christmas to take care of the problem.”

“I can’t protect her without my weapon. It’s that simple.”

“What if we tell Colt and have him get the gun for you? She rarely goes into the safe. I imagine she’s too busy in the lab downstairs.”

Ellie looked out the floor-to-ceiling window across the back at the stand of pine trees. “Yes, but what if she does?”

She’d never liked the fact that Mrs. Winfield didn’t know about the threats and the danger her life was in. The former assistant had given Mr. Jefferson each threatening letter. They had become more serious over the past month, and one also included a photo of Mrs. Winfield out power walking. That was when he had contacted Guardians, Inc. He was hoping nothing would come of the letters, but he knew he had to put some kind of protection in place. That was when Ellie had entered as the new assistant to replace Christy Boland, who was going to be the spokesperson for Glamour Sensations’ Endless Youth line.

“On second thought, we probably shouldn’t tell Colt. I don’t want anyone else to know if possible. He might let something slip to his grandmother. It’s probably better that he returns to the research ship.” Mr. Jefferson snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. I’ll get you a gun to use. I can come back out here this afternoon with whatever you want. Maybe a smaller gun that you can keep concealed.”

“Fine, unless I think there’s a direct threat.”

“I’m hoping I can catch the person behind the letters before then. The Bakersville police chief is working on the case personally, as well as a P.I. I hired. Winnie received another letter at headquarters yesterday.”

“Another picture in it?”

“No, just threats of what the person is going to do to her.”

Ellie thought of the sweet lady she’d spent the past week with—a woman who toiled long hours because she knew a lot of people who worked for her counted on her. “What in the world has she done to anger someone?”

“We’re looking into disgruntled employees, but she was never directly responsible for firing anyone. If she had her way, everyone would still be working for her no matter if they didn’t do their job. Thankfully I run that part of the business.”

Ellie sighed. “I’ll need you to bring me a Glock G27. It’s smaller and easily concealed. It will have to do, even though I prefer my own weapon. At least you were able to get Winnie to stay and work from home this month. That will help the situation, but this home isn’t secure.”

“Is any place?”

“No, but there are some things we can do.”

“Like what? I’m working on a better security system.”

“That’s good because the one she has is at least ten years old.” Ellie paced the large room with bookcases full of books. “We could use bulletproof windows. Security guards to patrol the grounds and posted at the gate. Also cameras all over the house and the property being monitored 24/7.”

“She won’t go for anything else. She didn’t even understand why I wanted to upgrade her security system. Told me the Lord was looking out for her and that’s all she needs.”

Ellie believed in the power of God, but Winnie was being naive. “What if someone gets to her? I’ve convinced her that I enjoy power walking, and she has graciously asked me to come with her, but she likes her independence. I’m running out of reasons to tag along with her when she leaves this house.”

“It’s only for a couple of more weeks at best. The P.I. on the case is tracking down some promising leads. If nothing changes after she has completed the last product for this new line, I’ll tell her. She’s fragile when she’s in her creative mode. Easily distracted. Even Colt’s visit will strain her schedule.”

“And Christmas won’t? I get the impression she enjoys the holiday.” The wide-open space outside the window made her tense. Someone could be out there right now watching their every move.