Page 21 of Thirsty Bodyguard Summer

I turned back to Rafi. “Forget you heard that.”

“I didn’t hear anything.”

“That works for me.”

Rafi unfolded the note behind the photographs.

CANCEL SATURDAY.

STOP HIDING BEHIND HER.

JESSE DESERVED THIS COMEBACK.

Shane opened the door two inches.

“Cassidy, am I the only person in those pictures?”

My attention dropped to my hand at his waist in the photograph.

“No, you aren’t.”

The cropped photograph didn’t show my face clearly, but it showed my hair, my clothing, and enough of my profile to identify me. The sender had aimed the message at Shane. I’d still been included on purpose.

Rafi slid the photographs and note into separate evidence sleeves.

“Does that mean they’re threatening her now?” Shane asked.

“It means they noticed her,” Rafi said. “We don’t have a direct threat against Cassidy.”

Shane’s attention stayed on me. “That isn’t very comforting.”

“It isn’t supposed to be,” I said. “It’s the honest answer.”

He pushed the door open another inch.

I pointed at him. “You’re still staying inside.”

“I’m asking whether you’re safe.”

“I’m standing behind active coverage, and nobody gets near this patio without passing an SBS agent.”

“That didn’t answer whether you’re safe.”

“It’s the answer I have.”

His lips flattened, but he stepped away from the door.

Carlos waited beside the garden path in a short-sleeved blue shirt that somehow remained pressed after an hour in Florida humidity. He’d cleared the surrounding cottages of staff without alarming the guests, which required a kind of calm I respected.

“Walk me through the access,” I said.

“The beach path runs behind the sea grapes,” Carlos said. “A person can reach this patio without entering the main property drive or using a guest key. The hedge blocks most of the view from reception.”

“Does the route pass any staffed area?”

“No. It connects the boardwalk side to the beach stairs.”

“So whoever left this never needed to enter the cottage.”