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“That’s good, now hands behind your neck and slowly face me.”
Her heart leaping, Elizabeth cautiously turned, only to find a short, gray-haired, elderly woman grinning up at her.
“Hello, Elizabeth. You can drop your arms now. My name’s Emily. I’m Scott’s housekeeper.”
“You scared me to death,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Why didn’t you just say so? Why the drama?”
“I’m sorry, dear, I’ll explain, but please step carefully toward me.”
Instinct told Elizabeth to do as the woman said, and she stepped cautiously forward.
“Goodness, that was close,” Emily said with a relieved sigh. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, but I couldn’t let you make any sudden moves.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You were about to walk through a trip wire. Lord knows what would have happened. It could have dropped a net around you, shot off a gun, maybe even ignited a small bomb, like a landmine.”
“Oh, my gosh, I don’t know what to say,” Elizabeth muttered, her heart suddenly racing again. “How did you see it?”
“Experience. I bet there were cameras set up as well, but the winds would have taken care of them last night,” she remarked, squinting as she looked up at the foliage. “I certainly don’t see any. You’re very fortunate I came along when I did.”
“I assume Scott sent you,” Elizabeth murmured, feeling as though she’d just been scolded by a nanny.
“Apparently you sent him a message saying you were going for a walk,” Emily replied as they started back toward the trail. “He was worried about you leaving the house with the speedboats coming and going. He tried to reach you, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“I have it right here,” she exclaimed, reaching into her bag. “Oh, no, I must have left it in the security room.”
“It’s not much help there.”
“I was going to put it in my pocket, but I dropped it on the desk while I was looking for something. I can’t believe I didn’t pick it back up.”
“Your mind must have been on other things.”
“It was, coming down here; speaking of which, how did you know where I was?”
“When I arrived I saw you heading down the path. You certainly have a quick walk.”
“I suppose I do.”
“I didn’t want to yell and draw attention to us in case those drug dealers were nearby. I’m glad you stopped for a few minutes when you reached the bottom. I was able to catch up. But then you followed those footprints. I had to make sure you didn’t get into trouble. I’d just reached you when I saw the wire.”
“Thank you so much,” Elizabeth said gratefully. “I take it you’re more than just a housekeeper. Are you part of Scott’s team?”
“Unofficially,” Emily replied with a smile. “I was in the game for years.”
“The game?”
“The spy game, and I loved it, but it was different back then. I’m not sure I’d want to be involved today. I’d be at odds with all the high-tech gadgetry.”
“You haven’t lost your touch,” Elizabeth declared. “I had no idea I was being followed, and I have eyes in the back of my head.”
“It was one of my specialties,” Emily said proudly.
“Did Scott say when he was coming back?”
“He should be on the water now, and I need to let him know I found you. I didn’t want to pull out my phone while we were exposed on the beach. Bad guys are paranoid, and if there were any eyes on us…”
“Yeah, I know,” Elizabeth muttered as Emily paused her step to send the text.
