Clay nodded. “Yeah, we didn’t have security placed there. At the time, Congressman Bennett simply wanted the main family home to be wired for security. None of the servants’ houses or guesthouses were involved.” Turning his attention from the screen back to Mace, he asked, “What’s the assignment?”
“Our security is already set up so that we can see what’s going on. I want to get eyes and ears on the guesthouse. The FBI has the boathouse monitored, but we don’t have the same limitations they do for getting into the guesthouse.”
Rank grinned and shot a raised-brow expression toward Clay. “Hell, Mace, you should send in a SEAL, not a Ranger.”
“Right, like you know what kind of security to lay down,” Clay fired back, his lips quirking upward.
“Before we get into a pissing contest about which former military career had the biggest dicks, let’s get back to what we need.” Mace glanced toward Sylvie, mumbling, “Sorry, babe.”
She laughed, shook her head, and continued typing on her keyboard. Babs rolled her eyes, grinning as well.
“When do you want me to go in?” Clay asked.
“Congressman Bennett, his family, and Jerry are all going down to the Hamptons on Friday. Once we confirm their itinerary, we’ll get you in.”
Clay nodded his acquiescence, then moved to Josh’s station with Blake, Levi, and Tate to plan.
Tate clapped him on the back. “Sorry, man. That’ll cut into your Friday night with your girl.”
Shrugging, he replied, “I’ll see if she can get together a different day next weekend.”
“A month of Friday night orchestra concerts… that’s dedication,” Josh laughed. “She must be something else.”
“She is, believe me. Pretty. Sweet. A fuckin’ talented musician.”
“So, is it getting serious?” Tate asked, bringing up the congressman’s security on his tablet.
“Not yet, but I’m hopeful. With her schedule and mine, it gets hard to squeeze in more dates than just the orchestra and dinner afterwards.” He smiled at the thought of their more-frequent late-night calls and texts over the past several weeks.
“That grin says she’s something special,” Blake said, walking over.
Turning back to the screen in front of him, he murmured, “Yeah, she is.”
Christina rushed through the door, crying out, “I hope you’re finished in the bathroom! Sorry I’m late!”
Her roommate and best friend, Amy, laughed. “No worries. I’m ready, so you jump in and do what you need to do.”
Throwing off her clothes, she grabbed the long, black dress that Amy had laid out for her. “I couldn’t believe the studio was backed up, and of course, my student was the one whose parents insist that they get their full hour. Even when I cut it short five minutes to tell her that I had to get home for the concert, she rolled her eyes as though that was the biggest inconvenience she’d had all week.”
“Is that gorgeous boyfriend of yours coming again tonight?”
Christina looked over at Amy and smiled. She was already in her dress, hair pulled back into a bun, and was slicking on the barest hint of lip gloss. Turning back to stare at her reflection in the mirror, Christina tucked one more bobby pin into her own hair, making sure no strand was out of place.
Amy was right about Clay being gorgeous. The first time she stood near him in the lobby of the concert hall, she had been struck with his square jaw, piercing eyes, and tall, muscular body in the perfectly fitting suit. Standing near him made her feel even more petite, but he was so careful with her, she felt protected. And every time since that first moment, her knowledge of him had confirmed her first impression—gorgeous, inside and out.
“First of all, he’s not my boyfriend—”
“Well, he’s been waiting for you after every concert and taking you to dinner afterwards. In my book, I’d say that makes him your boyfriend.”
She sighed. “He won’t be there tonight. He said he had business to attend to.”
“Business? On a Friday night? Are you sure that’s legit?” Amy walked into the living room, grabbing her instrument case.
Checking her appearance one last time, Christina adjusted her black orchestra dress. Her hair was slicked back away from her face and her makeup was minimal, two things the conductor preferred for all the women in the orchestra. He wanted everyone in the audience to focus on the music and not the individuals playing instruments. Following Amy into the living room, she picked up her violin case and checked her slim leather bag to make sure she had the music she needed.
“Again, he’s not my boyfriend so it doesn’t matter if it’s legit or not. But he doesn’t seem like the type to lie. I don’t know a lot about what he does, but I know he works for a security company.” Shrugging, she added, “Let’s face it, I have to work Friday nights most of the time.”
“You’re right, I hadn’t thought about it like that.” Amy wiggled her eyebrows as they left the small apartment, locking the door behind them. “I have to admit, he’s dreamy, Christina. And he loves to listen to the orchestra.”
Sucking in her lips, she nodded as she followed Amy down the stairs to her car. “Yeah… he does,” she whispered under her breath. “He loves the orchestra.”
With the congressman, his family, and campaign manager out of town on their trip, LSI was free to set up surveillance at the congressman’s estate. Josh, back at the LSI compound, monitored the cameras while Blake, Levi, and Tate assisted Clay on-site. Levi had continued being the liaison with the local Bureau. Slipping into the guesthouse that Jerry occupied, they maneuvered amongst the furniture with night vision goggles.
Blake whistled softly. “Damn, no wonder Jerry lives here. This may be the congressman’s guesthouse, but it’s a fuck of lot nicer than where most people live.”
“The congressman’s father was a U.S. Senator and his grandfather was friends with the Kennedys. From what I understand, they’ve entertained a lot of rich and famous people at their estate.”
The Keepers stood in a three-story great room, with stairs leading to the third floor visible from the balcony above. Several doors opened from the second-floor balcony, possibly bedrooms. While Blake and Tate quickly fitted the rooms with cameras, Clay and Levi headed upstairs. Just as he surmised, three bedrooms led from the second-floor balcony, each with their own en suite. The largest was obviously Jerry’s bedroom. After installing cameras there, Clay jogged up the stairs to the third floor. Much smaller, it was still larger than many people’s apartments. Furniture was arranged for social gatherings, and the windows offered an expansive view from all sides. A wet bar, including a full-sized refrigerator, was on one side.
Turning around slowly, Clay commented, “Jerry has a visual on the whole estate from here, including the ocean.”
Blake nodded as he peered out a few of the windows. “From up here, he could keep an eye on anyone coming and going from the main house as well as any boats nearby.”
The four Keepers checked the area, but it didn’t appear that Jerry had installed any security or cameras of his own.