Page 81 of Dash

“Thanks for the assist.” I shook the hands of both assets. “Go home. We got this.”

The men walked to their vehicles, joined the rest of the operators in the trucks, and drove away. This was now Tracker Team’s show.

I turned the medieval-style round iron pull, pushed the massive door open for Thena, and followed her through the cavernous entrance hall. Richard’s armory collection flanked us on both sides. An exuberant display of medieval weapons covered the walls from floor to ceiling, and several suits of armor with weapons stood like silent sentinels as we passed.

“Well, this is spooky.” Guzman deviated to inspect one of the filigreed suits of arms at the end of the hallway.

“I remind you again.” Bozeman’s low bass reverberated against the vestibule’s barrel-shaped ceiling. “Your opinions have not been solicited.”

We passed from cavernous darkness to brilliant light. The sun poured down on us through the crystal cupola that stood like a crown far above us. Beams of light refracted over the checkered pattern of the black and white marble. We paused to take in the imposing space that anchored the house, the gilded French doors that showcased the lake view, the massive stone stairs rising at one end of the hall, and the elaborately carved stonebalustrades that surrounded the great hall on three sides.

“Holy shit.” Guzman’s hushed voice echoed. “This is huge. Grand. Baroque.”

“Miss Thena!” The tall, reedy figure of Astor House’s chief housekeeper materialized like a phantom from the past as she crossed the hall. “How wonderful to see you again!”

“Sandy.” Thena went into the other woman’s arms. “It’s been so long.”

“Too long.” Sandy pulled back and, holding Thena’s hands, took her in from top to bottom. “But now you’re here. It’s wonderful to have you home.”

Sandy was a relic of old times. She’d been Doña Lupe’s housekeeper when we were kids and became the main caretaker of Astor House after it was built. Sandy’s once raven hair had now turned gray, and wrinkles etched her long face. Time had not forgiven any of us.

Sandy turned to me and, opening her arms, offered me a hug as well.

I took her up on the offer.

Sandy and I went way back. She’d always been my quiet ally. As she embraced me, the familiar scent of freshly baked bread invaded my senses. I remembered how she’d always fed me when I was a kid sleeping at the stables and later, too, when Richard Astor brought me inside, assigned me the room next to Nix, and I grew up within the confines of these walls. After Doña Lupe died, it was Sandy who’d given us the only care we got as children and young adults.

“My sweet Dash.” She held my face between her hands and smiled. “Or is it Master Dagger these days?”

“It’s Dash.” I kissed the forehead of the woman who’d taken care of my hunger pangs and backed my cause for Thena. “For you, it will always be Dash.”

“Very well, Dash.” She clasped her hands together.“I’ve prepared your rooms and made the arrangements you requested. I’ve sent the staff away. Only Cook and I remain. I don’t know how we’ll take care of this place and all of you without the staff, but we’ll try our best.”

Even though I trusted Sandy and Cook with my life, I’d insisted they be investigated as well. Having established that they had remained in Wyoming and hadn’t seen Thena or Richard Astor for a year or more in Thena’s case, they had been cleared by our investigation early on.

Cook’s last name was really Cook, which had always been funny as hell, since he was a bald, small Englishman known for his culinary delights. He and Sandy were married. While Cook had the run of the kitchen, Sandy managed the big house.

Thena turned to me. “You sent the staff away?”

“It’s easier and safer,” I explained. “You gave me leave to secure the place. Remember?”

She nodded.

“I must remind you,” I cautioned Sandy. “You and Cook don’t have to take care of my team and me. I don’t want you to run yourself ragged. I just need you to take care of Thena and make her feel safe and comfortable.”

“We can do that and more.” Sandy’s smile shifted from Thena to me. “As you’re probably aware of, the security crew has finished their work. They did a full sweep of the house and installed all kinds of gadgets inside and out. I hope they didn’t break anything.”

“Sorry about that,” I put in. “But Thena’s safety is our priority.”

“Of course.” She agreed with a nod. “Also, that odd, pretty girl who works for you and is always plugged into her computers is here.”

“Is she talking about Mina?” When I nodded, Thena flashed a grin. “Oh, good. I get to meet her in person.”

“I assigned her to one of the guest rooms as you suggested,” Sandy reported. “She’s made herself at home.”

“Let’s make sure we’re hospitable to these folks.” Thena added her piece to my instructions. “I want to make sure everyone’s comfortable here.”

While the women talked, my cell buzzed. I took a quick look. I had a message from my cyber-hunter-in-chief. She needed to see me stat.

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