Page 6 of Some Like It Deadly
Security finally arrived and the two men helped Benedict to his feet—he seemed familiar with both. One of the pair glanced past her to Richard. “Our apologies, Mr. Prentiss. We have a new man on the front desk and he didn’t realize protocol.”
Richard’s gaze never left his father. “Please send a memo around to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” The security guard nodded and they hustled Benedict out. After they closedthe door, Richard glanced at her. “Cancel my five o’clock call. I think I’ll have that break after I talk to Frankie.”
Kate nodded, she approved but had to maintain her professional demeanor. An assistant wasn’t a bodyguard, but her first priority remained his safety—even from himself. “Absolutely, Mr. Prentiss. Can I get you anything else?”
“No and skip the coffee. I’m awake now.” His tone made a lie of the words, but he retreated to his office and closed the door.
Kate waited until the light on her phone indicated he was already returning the call to Francesca Grace before pulling out her cell. Dialing a ten-digit number, she waited for the tones to answer and then put in her code. Twenty seconds later a secure operator came on the line. “This is Braddock. I need an expedited background on Prentiss, Benedict, and any open cases, warrants, or judgments.”
“Standby.” Phone sitting in the cradle of her shoulder, Kate returned to her desk and checked the camera she’d put in Richard’s office. The angle was decent and he had a phone pressed to his ear and his mouth moved indicating he spoke, but his head was back and his eyes closed. Shrinking the window and moving it to the upper right-hand corner of her screen, she pulled up the word program and typed in the letters while she waited.
“No open cases or warrants. Several judgments dating back to the early-to mid-90s including three indictments for Ponzi schemes, jail time served from 1994 to 1999, released on parole. Later divorced. Two children from the marriage—Richard Prentiss, attorney, and Barbara, an actress based in London. No close ties to family and at least one, no, make that three open restraining orders.”
“From?”
“The children and the ex-wife.”
“Understood. Wipe the request, authorization four-alpha-foxtrot-four-two.”
“Yes, ma’am. Can I help you with anything else?”
“No.” She hung up, rescheduled his five o’clock call, finished the last letter, and printed them. Her cell phone rang—Peterson’s name and face flashed up from the screen—and she checked the monitor before answering. “Braddock.”
“You put in a request for background information on Benedict Prentiss?” Clipped disapproval hung between every word. Of course, he’d receive notification of every request, even if she had them wiped.
“Yes, sir.” She hadn’t expected the man to put in an appearance, and she needed more information to make sure she did her job effectively. One day at the office, and she’d already realized that she didn’t know near enough about Prentiss’s colleagues, clients, and daily interactions. The man headed a law firm with more than two dozen other attorneys.
“He’s not involved, leave it alone.” Peterson didn’t try to explain it.
“Okay, maybe not with the issue at hand, sir, but?—”
“Braddock, your assignment is to keep Mr. Prentiss secure. We already know everything we need to about his father. Leave it alone. That’s an order.”
“Of course, sir.” But Peterson had already disconnected the call. Kate pursed her lips. The chain of command existed for a reason—but she was on this assignment alone for the most part. Playing a part was one thing, but protecting him and playing the part required she think ahead. Miranda Keen had provided her with a great deal of information on how to manage Richard’s schedule, and his health since apparently he didn’t pay as much attention to it as he should.
Classic workaholic.Still, it seemed obtuse to think the only threats to him came from his association with the royal family. Better to be thorough and wrong, than overlook the real threat.
Checking Richard on the monitor, she reached for the phone on her desk and dialed security. “Good afternoon, this is Kate Braddock in Mr. Prentiss’s office. We need to conduct a full review of the security protocols governing visitors to the building in general and Mr. Prentiss’s floor in particular.”
One eye on the screen, she waited to be connected to the head of security. The upgrades couldn’t wait and she’d have to apply a little judicious pressure to get the changes she wanted in place before Richard arrived in the office the next day.
He was far too exposed here.
Instead of thirty minutes,she gave Richard an hour. He’d abandoned his desk and stretched out on the sofa in his oversized office. Shutting off his phone from her desk took three commands. The man’s previous PA had a rigid set of useful protocols in place and the detail sheet she’d provided included tips on some of Richard’s habits. Switching screens, Kate pulled up a web browser and keyed in the address for a local dress shop.
Finding a dress, shoes and accessories set she liked, she put in a phone call and ordered everything in her size. An extra fee hired a messenger to run it down to the building. Fortunately, she’d been born lucky—store sizes fit exactly as they were supposed to if she stuck to similarly styled outfits. In this case, an off the shoulder sheath that would hit her at mid-thigh. She’d found the invitation for the six-thirty event, two blocks over at a very nice corporate ballroom. Private security would handle admittance and they would have metal detectors. She had alicense to carry, but she’d have to leave her gun in the car safe if she didn’t want to have to explain the weapon to her protectee. He was far too sharp to just accept on face value she happened to carry a .45.
Mace would be more easily accepted and so would a taser. After all, she was a single woman and lived in a big city.
It would be so much easier if Richard were aware of her assignment, but she’d simply have to muddle through and be creative. Reviewing the rest of Richard’s calendar, she checked every event they were scheduled to attend and changed his RSVP on the charity dinner for Thursday to a yes and included a plus one. By the time the messenger arrived, she’d given Richard another twenty minutes to sleep. According to the delightful Miranda’s notes, he kept clean shirts, ties and at least one tuxedo in a closet in the private bathroom off his office.
Locking her outer office door and advising the receptionist to divert all but the most pressing of calls to the answering service, Kate changed in her office and used a small mirror to touch up her makeup. Her cell phone buzzed at the ten-minute mark and she checked the message—an advertisement for a twenty percent off deal on all sales made after 6:00 p.m. and before 10:00 p.m.
Familiar with the code, she dialed in then waited.
“He wants to see you this evening,” Peterson answered without preamble. “With a report.”
“It’ll be late. We have an event to attend and a meeting afterward.” She kept her gaze on the surveillance camera. Richard was still asleep, an arm slung across his eyes.
