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“Mrs. Shaw…”
“Martha, please.”
“Martha,” I gesture to all the windows in the house, “There are a lot of windows that give a perpetrator a full view of your home if they have a good vantage point. Anyone can take a potshot if they see movement. The shades should be drawn to mitigate that potential threat.”
She chuckles lightly. “You don’t have to worry about that. The windows are all bulletproof. It was one of the first things Aiden did when he bought the house. It was an expense that brought him peace of mind and worth every penny—no pun intended.”
I’m glad that’s one thing I can check off my mental list of things that concern me. “I have some equipment that I will need to set up. I can do that after I make Penny lunch and wash her face. As far as security goes, I will be in contact with Shining Knight throughout the duration of this assignment. I’d like your permission ahead of time to bring in the rest of my team should it become necessary.”
“Absolutely, but I would like them to be undercover as well,” she says.
I cock my head and purse my lips, befuddled by her need for secrecy. There is only one way to find out what her motives are behind the request. “Why do you feel it necessary to keep this from Aiden? I assume that he would want to do whatever is best for him and his daughter.”
She sighs. “He would, but Aiden has been getting threats for years. Something about the last few hasn’t set right with me, though. He hired bodyguards to appease me, but it wasn’t enough. I think whoever is behind this is someone who knows him well and isn’t just some crazy fan. I need people who can be close and inconspicuous if I want to get to the bottom of this. Aiden would just think it’s an invasion of his privacy.”
“It kind of is,” I tell her bluntly.
“I’m well aware of that, but I don’t know what else to do. It’s not that Aiden isn’t willing, but he would feel that everything he says or does is being scrutinized. If he doesn’t know about what you really do for a living, then he won’t feel the need to walk on eggshells around you. The same goes for anyone else coming in or out of this house,” she explains, firm in her belief that she’s doing the right thing.
It makes sense. People are more likely to have loose lips if they aren’t aware they’re being watched. “I understand your need to keep my true purpose under wraps, but the bodyguards need to know who I am and what I do. They have to take their cues from me, and if they think I’m just a nanny, it could create potential problems. I don’t want them to second guess a decision at a crucial moment.”
“Fair enough. Do you have any other recommendations? I want to make sure you have everything you need to do your job.”
“One more. At least two of the four bodyguards should dress like the average person. While a man in a power suit with a gun is intimidating and makes someone think twice about approaching, having men blend in with the crowd will allow them to stand back and get a bigger picture of what’s happening. It’s a tactic we use at Shining Knight, and you’d be surprised what we notice when no one knows we’re around.”
“Duly noted. Let me give you a quick tour, and then I’ll take care of lunch and Penny’s beautiful make-up job while you do what you must.”
Martha has me download the app and gives me the access code for the security feeds. The house is well covered with only a few blind spots, which I plan to rectify shortly. I also intend to install several micro cameras throughout the home, capable of recording both visual and audio, which link directly to our servers at headquarters.
I finish up ten minutes before Paul is due to leave, ready to assume my duties as both a nanny and protector.
The next few hours are spent with Penny and Martha, listening to Christian music and making fresh bread. When Penny’s favorite song comes on, she puts it on repeat until I know all of the words and can sing along with her. Martha also takes the time to introduce me to the bodyguards who will be looking after us and passes on my request for them to be incognito.
In casual conversation, Martha mentions that today’s practice for the guys is going to be brutal after barely squeaking out a win against the Trenton Tornados. “Coach Dorn isn’t going to go easy on them. I’ll be surprised if Aiden can stand up straight by the time they’re finished.”
“An ice bath helps the muscles recover quicker. That and a nutritious meal with complex carbs and lots of protein. If he takes care of himself properly, he should be right as rain tomorrow,” I tell her.
“We should make him dinner and an ice bath!” Penny suggests.
“That’s a great idea! What do you think we should cook? What kinds of foods have carbohydrates and protein?” I ask her.
“Meat has protein, and red meat has lots of iron, too! Brown rice, potatoes, and other whole grains are good sources for carb loading. At least, that’s what my dad always says. We should have chicken and rice for dinner! I love rice!”
“I’ll leave you to it. Reggie, Aiden’s father, should be here soon. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you. Will five people for dinner be too much to ask?” Martha queries.
“Not at all. The more, the merrier.” She smiles before heading toward the living room. I hear the television come on and realize the game against Atlanta and Baltimore has just started. Part of me wants to join her, but I have more pressing business to attend to.
I turn toward Penny, who is looking at me expectantly. “Are you ready to learn how to make lemon chicken and cilantro-lime rice?”
She jumps around enthusiastically, finally showing her true age. We set to work, preparing dinner and the bath for Aiden, who should be home soon. When Francesca Battistelli plays through the speakers, yet again, we dance and sing along with her. It isn’t until I hear a deep humming that my attention is diverted.
There, standing at the edge of the kitchen, is Aiden, smiling at his daughter as if in a trance. It takes him a moment to realize that we’ve stopped singing and are staring at him.
“Dad, you’re home! Look, I’m making dinner for you! Anna said that you would have had a hard day of practice if you plan to make the playoffs! Nutrition is key to recovery!” Penny shouts before running into her father’s arms. He swings her around, making her giggle.
“She did, did she?”
“And do you know what else we did?” Penny asks him excitedly.
