“Why do you continue to search for her? This is like the fourth time since I’ve been working for your father. It’s not your responsibility.”
“She’s my sister,” I respond adamantly. “That’s reason enough, and she is partly my responsibility. It’s what sisters do.”
“You’re good to your family. I just hate to see them take advantage of that.”
I shrug. “I’m used to it.”
“I know, Alice. That makes it so much worse. You’re a good woman; you don’t deserve the headache. You should be next to your father right now. Someday you’ll be the one campaigning in his place. You have so many ideas on how to help our state, and no one gives you the respect you deserve. You’re an asset, not a private bounty hunter.”
“Someday, Richardson, maybe. Until then, I have my sister to worry about. Last time, she was shacked up with that Russian drug dealer. There’s no telling where she is now. She could be dead right now…that’s what scares me the most. I just need to find her, see that she’s all right, then I can worry about myself.”
“Yes, ma’am; we’ll find her.” He offers me a reassuring smile. His chestnut hair is all over the place from dragging his hands through it while he drives us around.
“Thanks, Richardson,” I murmur, and he speaks into his wrist, relaying the new direction to the set of guys in the car behind us. While he’s quietly conversing with them, Jenkins sends me a text with the name and zip code of the new town. I change the car’s GPS for Richardson and hit ‘go’ on the screen. It immediately sprouts off the next turn in a British accent and tells us our arrival will be at five a.m. My father had his car guy program it like that, especially for me because her slang makes me laugh.
Richardson tells his men the new location, and I close my eyes. Leaning my seat back, I allow my mind to wander. I need rest. Too much stress and worrying always wear me out. He turns on a classical piece I enjoy and keeps the volume low enough not to disturb me. The comfort from the Cadillac’s leather seats, the dark windows, and the sweet melody from the piano lull me to sleep.
“We’re here, Alice.” I’m shaken awake. That was a long, boring ride, and I must’ve dozed off again.
“Here?” I mumble, half awake. “I thought you said six more hours.”
I’m met with Richardson’s amused grin. “Yes, ma’am. We’re in the middle of Texas. To be more precise, we’re in the city of Pflugerville. We passed a cool looking water park, but you were sleeping pretty hard, so I didn’t want to wake you yet.”
“Thanks, errm, is this our hotel?” I drag my eyes around the lot, sleepily taking in my surroundings.
He nods. “Yes, and we’re all checked in.”
“Stopping last night was a good idea; I feel like I just had a power nap. You must be sick of driving, though, and sore from sitting.”
He shrugs. “I’m at your disposal. It’s my job to be here for you, so don’t hesitate if you need me to pick up something for you.”
I nod. I’ve heard it before from my father. These three guys he’s dubbed as my security team have bent over backward to make sure I have whatever I need, and I appreciate them for it. “You guys take the evening to eat, sleep, and recoup. That was a long drive.”
“I’m fine from the short nap last night.” We stopped, so he and the other driver could get a bit of sleep. They push themselves too much, in my opinion.
“Richardson…I don’t want to wear you out. You may be a highly trained bodyguard, but even the strongest guys need rest and substance.”
“But—”
I cut him off. “Don’t worry about me. I promise I’ll stay in the hotel, and if I order anything, I’ll have it sent to your room first. I know the drill.”
“Not just in the hotel, in your room.” He grows serious.
I may not be as sneaky as my sister, but my team has learned to watch my wording. By ‘in the hotel,’ I mean that I’ll go anywhere on the property. They learned it the hard way, and so did I when they called my father worried for their jobs and my safety. “I was thinking of taking a swim.”
His eyes bug. “Ma’am, then we definitely need to be present.”
“I know how to swim…well, I might add.”
“We know, Alice; we’ve seen the trophies at your father’s estate. Even with your experience, you never know when someone may’ve picked up on our trail or who might recognize you.”
“You think they’d drown me?” I ask, a bit outraged at the horror. I’m not naïve. I know not everyone cares for my father, but I’ve never wronged anyone. At least, not enough for them to attempt to viciously drown me.
“Amongst kidnapping, we have to take precaution. This is nothing new.”
“I know, but this is the first I’m hearing of this! Who wants to drown me?”
“There’ve…”
“Tell me.”
“There’ve been a few threats toward your family, all aimed at your father running for senator again.”
“Toward me?”
He nods tightly, a fierce expression plastered across his normally calm features. “I was supposed to keep this information from you, but it may be the key to saving your life. Please don’t tell Senator Compton, or you may have a new security detail flying out to take our place stat.”
“I’ll keep this to myself; you have my word.” Dad used to have a female with me at all times, but that stopped when I got older and demanded my privacy. I’m an adult, and he has no reason not to trust me. I’m not Madison. He selected these three guys, in particular. They have my best interest in mind, and I won’t jeopardize it, no matter how good a swim sounds to me right now.
I give in to the call of the water and ask, “If one of you doesn’t mind, I’d like to take a swim at some point.”
“Of course,” he immediately agrees. “I will speak to the hotel manager and see if I can get us in at ten-thirty. The pool closes at ten, so you’ll have it to yourself.”
“Thank you.” I offer a smile, though it wouldn’t be so bad if other people were around. Especially children, I love seeing their excitement when it comes to swimming and splashing around. “I’ll take my laptop inside with me and see what I can find out about this place while you all rest.”
“Sounds like a plan. If you want food, please have one of us to order it for you. The extra precaution will make me feel better.”
“Right.” I offer a tight smile because, apparently, even ordering food on the telephone with a fake name is dangerous. Why didn’t my father feel the need to bring this up if it’s so serious? This pisses me off like no other, but I respect my father, so he must have his reasons.
My detail walks me to my room, checking the inside once more before leaving me alone with my laptop and suitcase. They didn’t offer up a keycard or anything, and it has me feeling more like a prisoner than the senator’s daughter. I call my sister’s number like I do every day at this time, but Madison doesn’t answer. She never answers, and as far as I know, she doesn’t have a phone connected to the number, or else my dad would track her. I still call, just in case, and at the same time, so she can rely on me. She has access to her voicemail, so I hope she hears my messages and, at some point, calls me back.