Page 39 of Dark Memories
“I’m considering my options, but I do know that Kali is safer with me than anyone else. If I do decide to hide out temporarily, does that include Delaney still being approved for protection detail?”
“That will depend on your plans.” She picked up his phone. “This needs to go to our lab on the outside chance that they can triangulate the location of the cell phone he’s using.”
“What’s the probability of that?”
“Iffy, especially if he’s using burner phones, but we have to try.”
“I need a phone, so let me keep it long enough to get a new one and have my contacts and all transferred.”
“Do it ASAP.”
“As soon as I leave here. I’ll have this one back to you in an hour.” When that was done, he was taking his girls home, locking all the doors, and then weaseling his way into their girl fort.
Chapter Twelve
Harry was catching on to how sheltered Kali’s life was. All seven-year-old girls should know about blanket forts. She decided that the kids of rich parents who sent their children to the kind of private schools no average person could afford were woefully naive. At least this one was. While she was Kali’s bodyguard, she intended to teach the girl some things.
Kali giggled. “This is so cool.”
It was. After dinner they’d built the fort in Kali’s bedroom. When Kali’s blanket and sheets hadn’t been enough, they’d filched the bedding from Zach’s room. They hadn’t needed the sheets, too. The comforter would have been enough, but Harry hadn’t had the heart to steal Kali’s fun at collecting the fort material from under her father’s nose.
Zach had lurked behind every corner, watching them—a panther stalking his prey, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Kali hadn’t noticed him, but Harry sure had. And each time her eyes had been drawn to him, there had been a promise in his that he would catch them no matter how thick they built the fort’s walls. And underneath that promise, in every look they shared, was a private message to her. He was coming for her.
She hadn’t felt this alive in eight years.
“There’s a boy out there, trying to get in,” she whispered at hearing Zach push the bedroom door open. “You have your weapon ready?”
Kali pulled the bowl of grapes—their arrows—in front of her. “I have mine, but I want to trade.”
“You got it, girlfriend.” She handed Kali the can of whipped cream in exchange for the grapes. She was a little disappointed. Spraying Zach’s face with whipped cream would be more satisfying than throwing grapes at him, but she couldn’t deny Kali the fun of doing that.
“Knock, knock,” Zach said.
“No boys, Daddy!” Kali parted the door of their fort and squeezed the button on her whipped cream, then fell over backward from laughing so hard.
Harry threw a handful of grapes at his face.
“You both are going to pay for that.”
The panther pounced. A tickle fest ensued until Kali had tears streaming down her cheeks, followed by hiccups. Ollie was right in the middle of the fray, doing his best to lick all the cream from Zach’s face, which only set Kali off more. Harry couldn’t remember ever laughing that much, to the point her sides hurt.
“Time to calm her down before she barfs on us,” Zach said. He glanced at the books they’d brought into the fort. “How about I read you two a bedtime story?”
“Harry Potter,” Kali shouted.
“Aren’t you getting tired of that one?”
“No. It’s the best book ever.”
“Harry Potter it is then.”
His voice was soft and mesmerizing as he read to them. It was a father’s practiced voice intended to put the listener to sleep, and in minutes Kali was in dreamland with her head on Harry’s lap.
“I think we wore her out.” She brushed the hair away from Kali’s face, smiling at her soft snores.
“I don’t think she’s ever had that much fun. Thank you.”
Harry lifted her gaze to Zach’s. “She’s a great kid.” One who was fast worming her way into Harry’s heart. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
