Page 3 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)

N ick held the door for two people exiting the posh Georgetown restaurant, The Town Crier, where Senator Richardson had arranged for their lunch meeting.

He was a bit early but hoped to use the time to test the security of the establishment.

Its reputation was that of an eatery frequented by the Capitol Hill elite.

He mentioned his name to the ma?tre d’ and was shown to a large table in the back.

Every place setting displayed a name card, and Nick walked around the table noting the names.

The who’s who of DC politics. Speaker of the House, the Majority Whip, and several members of the Senate Intel Committee.

Interesting. Nick picked up his place card and swapped it with the Speaker of the House before sitting in what had been the speaker’s chair. He eyed the room. Much better.

He declined the alcohol a waiter offered and ordered water with a twist of lemon and lime, then headed for the restroom.

He used his scanner and probed it for bugs.

There were two in the ceiling and several very discreet devices in the stalls.

He retrieved a stepstool from the waiter’s galley and removed the ceiling bugs.

The others were easy enough to grab with a wad of paper towels he’d confiscated from the sink area.

Not bad for a first sweep. He washed his hands and returned to the dining room after returning the stepstool to the waiter’s galley.

Nick checked the senator’s table for surveillance devices. Three of the chairs proved compromised and the underside of the table held an elaborate live feed. He removed everything he could detect with his scanner or eyes. He dropped all the pieces that he’d found into the senator’s water glass.

The ceiling boasted several cameras. That was fine. An establishment had a right to protect itself with footage, but not in the bathroom, and certainly not at the tables.

Curious now, Nick scanned the chairs closest to the senator’s table. He removed more listening paraphernalia, but couldn’t very well continue sweeping the restaurant, as it was more than half occupied. He sat and enjoyed his fruit-infused water.

Five minutes later, the senator bolted through the front door with a staffer trailing behind.

“Nick,” he waved. “Sorry, I’m late. The vote lasted so much longer than I’d expected.” He shook Nick’s hand. “Please, sit.” Beau Richardson looked to be a youngish fifty, very fit, with a full head of thick, graying blond hair.

The male staffer set a stack of folders on the table next to the senator. “I’ll be at the staff table if you need anything.” He retreated across the room and joined a young woman at another table.

A waiter approached. “Would you like a drink, sir?”

“Uh—yes. Bring me a lemon-lime soda in a gin and tonic glass with lime, please. ”

Nick chimed in. “The senator needs a fresh glass of water, too.”

Richardson picked up his water glass. “What’s all this?” He looked at Nick.

“Twelve pieces of surveillance I picked up from the men’s room, this table and chairs, and that table there,” he pointed. “Most of them are simple audio, but the two I found in the men’s room ceiling had both audio and video.”

Richardson turned ashen. “What? That’s unbelievable.

” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Now I understand. My wife joined me here the other night for a late dinner, and she chatted with the speaker’s wife about women things.

The next day, one of the gossip columns announced the exact hair color specs my wife uses at the hairdresser.

I know it bothered her, although she didn’t say much about it.

That’s how they knew.” He ran a hand through his hair and took a sip of his drink.

“I could almost use a real drink after that tidbit, but I never imbibe until I’m done working. Just let them think I am.”

Nick leaned back in his chair. “I’d be happy to check the ladies’ room for devices. I only scanned the areas you’ll use today.”

“Thanks. Before you leave, I’ll introduce you to the owner of this place.

It sounds like he could use your services too.

” Richardson scrutinized the table. “You’re supposed to be sitting over here,” he indicated.

“I gave my staffer the seating arrangement for a meeting to take place after you and I talk.”

Nick smiled. “Sir, I can’t see the front door, bathroom door, or kitchen doors from that seat. I switched the speaker’s place card with mine. I wouldn’t do you much good over there because I can’t see a damn thing.”

Richardson sighed. “That’s why I need to hire your firm.

I’m new to all of this, Nick, as the freshman senator from Texas.

I can’t do my job and worry about my family’s safety at the same time.

Someone recognized my wife and a protest started the other day when she was buying groceries and household things.

Angie’s no wallflower, but she had the two younger kids with her, and it was terrifying to have people screaming and throwing stuff at her car.

She had to call 911 to get an escort out of the parking lot. ”

“I see.” Nick nodded slowly. No wonder the guy sounded so tense when he’d contacted him.

Richardson waved to the waiter. “You like cheesesteaks, Nick?”

“Works for me.” Nick opened his iPad to take notes.

“Two cheesesteaks with the works—fried onions. Thanks.” The waiter headed for the kitchen. “Dr. Thai cleared you to work for us. Your staff will need to pass the same physical you had this morning.”

“Not a problem, sir. I’ll get on it right away. How does your family feel about you hiring round the clock security?”

“Well,” the senator removed the twizzle stick from his glass, “None of us are thrilled with the invasion of our privacy, but I’m counting on you to supply us with personable bodyguards who understand we’re a normal family with our ups and downs.

The last thing I want is for one of your employees to write a sensational piece for some media outlet detailing our personalities and routines. ”

Nick paused a second, and made a note to contact his lawyer about adding ironclad NDAs to his hiring package. He trusted all the people he’d hired, but the NDAs would reassure the senator.

The waiter arrived with their cheesesteaks.

Nick set down his iPad and contemplated.

As far as the personable staff? He already had several employees who’d be a great fit for the Richardson’s.

That list did not include him. He could deal with any adult, but those kids?

Absolutely not. They were way outside his comfort zone.