Page 14 of The Agent

“I’ll let you know what the ex-wives say as soon as I reach them.”

He nodded. “Everything locked, all the time, including your car doors when you’re driving. Only open the door to people you know and trust one hundred percent ... and the bodyguard, of course. Do you work tomorrow?”

“The salon is closed but I go in to do paperwork, check supplies, and generally prep for the week.”

“Alone?”

“Yes, it’s everyone’s day off.”

“Except yours.”

“You know what owning a business is like.” She gave a smile. “No one works harder than the boss.”

“The bodyguard goes with you and stays with you.”

“While I’m inside the salon? It has an alarm.” Just as well he wouldn’t let her pay for the guard. She couldn’t afford all those hours anyway.

“Set the alarm as well.”

He wasn’t joking, and a tremor of fear ran down her spine. She had to remember that paranoia was a professional necessity for Tully. He would think of her stalker in the same way he thought of a drug lord or a gun dealer. Whoever was sending her the messages couldn’t be on the same level of scariness.

“Okay,” she said. “You win, even if it seems like overkill.”

“Good decision.” He reached out to feather his fingertips over her cheek again. “I don’t want anything to happen to my dance partner.”

His touch reverberated through her long after he walked out the door.

As Tully pulled his Maserati onto the road in front of Natalie’s house, he activated the car’s voice recognition system. “Call Pam Santos,” he commanded. When she answered, he said, “I need you for a bodyguard job in Jersey. A woman is being stalked but we don’t know by whom or how dangerous the stalker might be. You’re with her 24-7. You up for it?”

“You know it, boss. Just give me the info.”

He filled her in on Natalie’s situation. “Use the plumber code phrases. Natalie’s expecting them.”

“How long should I pack for?”

“Say three days. We should be able to catch the son of a bitch by then.” Tully hoped three days would be enough.

“I’ll be at Natalie’s within two hours.” Pam disconnected.

“Call Leland,” Tully commanded the car next.

“I don’t have much good to tell you,” Leland said as soon as he answered.

Tully swallowed a frustrated curse. “Lay it on me, partner.”

“I’ve tracked all but one of the emails. The stalker isn’t a total amateur. He bounced his message through a couple of extra servers on the dark web.”

“Child’s play for you to follow,” Tully said.

“Yes, but they all lead back to internet cafés scattered around New Jersey. Never the same one twice. Always paid for in cash so there’s no money trail.”

“They might have security cameras,” Tully said, but Leland would have thought of that too.

“I contacted three and the answer is no. They feel every citizen has the right to use the net without being watched by Big Brother.” Leland’s tone turned sardonic.

“You hackers are all paranoid,” Tully poked at his partner.

“With good reason.” Leland’s southern drawl was unruffled. “Sorry I don’t have better news.”