Someone To Watch Over Me (20 page)

He shook his head. “Probably not, but I want
to keep an eye on them just to be safe.”

She studied his face, trying to read him. Was
he telling the truth or hiding his concerns from her? He caught her
staring and his lips crooked into a small smile. “Morgan, don't
worry, they'll be safe.”

“Sabrina, you're up.” With that comment,
Shawn stood up and gave them both a final glance and left. Morgan
sat and watched. She half-expected he’d turn around and say
something or just give her a small smile, but he didn’t. She took a
slow deep breath while she mentally sorted out what to make of his
change of attitude.

Sabrina asked, “Did you make an appointment
at the spa or can we walk-in?”

“What?” Morgan replied, as she turned her
gaze from the door to her female bodyguard.

“Your manicure, can we just show up?”

“I haven't made an appointment. Let me
call.”

A few minutes later, Morgan found out the
salon could take them in twenty minutes. She found Sabrina
unpacking her toiletries and clothing.

Morgan paused at the door as Sabrina hung up
her outfit in the closet. The lady traveled light, too light. No
evening gown, just a simple pantsuit, all in black. Morgan was
about to speak and then stopped. Sabrina was here to protect her.
The black pantsuit, while not elegant, was a practical choice.

“I'm ready to head down,” she announced
quietly.

Sabrina closed the closet door, grabbed her
cell phone and the room card before she slipped on a denim
blazer.

“You're not armed.”

Sabrina smiled. “Don't need to be.”

“Shawn said you had taken martial arts.”

“Yeah, I teach a women's self-defense class
too.”

“Can you show me a few moves?” Morgan
asked.

“Sure, later this afternoon if you've got
time.”

They left and walked to the elevator. “How
long have you been working for Sonoran Security?”

Sabrina glanced back at Morgan after she had
scanned the hallway, “About a year and a half. I started doing
event security part-time. The pay was good compared to waitressing
at my parents restaurant, so when the chance came up to go
full-time, I took it.”

Morgan nodded. “Working in family businesses
can be challenging at times.”

Sabrina punched the button to summon the
elevator. “That’s an understatement. My family owns a restaurant on
the Westside. My parents started it shortly after they got
married.” Sabrina’s eyes scanned the elegant wallpaper and sconces
that decorated the hallway. “It’s not big or fancy, but they do
well enough to raise a family with it.”

No wonder she looked nervous when we
arrived. A resort like this is a whole new experience for her.
“You know, most start-up businesses fail, so you must be proud of
your parent’s success. It’s quite an accomplishment.”

The young raven-haired woman looked at
Morgan. Sabrina studied her dress, her expensive handbag, and
shoes. “Yeah, I am. It's great to work with family, but I needed to
do something on my own.”

“You and my sister Vicki, she decided working
in the family business wasn't for her either.”

The elevator door opened, and they stepped
in. Morgan pushed the button for the first floor.

“Did you know the salon here is first rate?”
Morgan asked. “You can get a massage, manicures, pedicures,
facials, hair styling and even have them do your make-up if you
wish.” She glanced over to Sabrina to gauge her reaction.

“Are you planning on having more than a
manicure?” Sabrina asked.

“I'm thinking about letting them do my hair
and make-up. Were you going to do something special with your hair
tonight?”

Sabrina stared up at her with a stunned
expression which quickly melted into a red flush and Morgan touched
the young woman’s arm.

“Sabrina, I'm sorry. I’m an idiot. I wasn't
suggesting anything is wrong. You have beautiful hair, and I
thought you might enjoy having it styled at the salon as my
treat.”

Sabrina's expression softened as she
considered the offer. “I'm not sure I should.”

“Why not?” Morgan asked.

“Shawn might think that I’m not guarding
you.”

“We can probably get stylist chairs
side-by-side if we ask. We'll be together in the salon, how about
that?”

Sabrina nibbled her lip then nodded. “That
should be okay.”

Morgan chuckled. “See, I told you we would
get along.”

***

“We were getting worried,” William Kennedy
announced as Sabrina and Morgan entered the Arizona ballroom.

Morgan flashed a smile at her parents. The
spa had taken a little longer than planned and she was late. Shawn
studied her and then glanced over at Sabrina. For a brief moment,
Morgan thought she detected disapproval in his eyes.

“Were there any problems?” Shawn asked.

“No,” Sabrina replied.

“Mom and Dad, I'd like to introduce you to
Sabrina. She is part of the team with Sonoran Security and will be
on duty with me tonight.”

Morgan's mother smiled and extended her hand.
“A pleasure to meet you.”

Her father stood back and didn’t comment. He
was sizing up Sabrina, literally. His skeptical expression made it
clear what he thought about Sabrina’s ability to protect his
daughter.

“Dad, Sabrina's been with Sonoran for over a
year and a half, possesses a black belt in karate, and teaches
women's self-defense classes.”

William gave his daughter a nod and stepped
forward extending his hand. Sabrina shook it, and to her credit,
ignored his doubtful expression.

The room went awkwardly silent, and Morgan
uttered a silent prayer of thanks when her mother spoke. “The room
is absolutely lovely, dear.”

“Thanks. The flower arrangements turned out
beautiful, didn't they?”

“They're perfect,” her mother said.

Shawn spoke up. “The musicians will be here
in thirty minutes for set up and sound check. I'll stay. The
jewelry is scheduled for five-thirty, right?”

“Yes,” Morgan replied. “I must be back here
to receive the shipment. There'll be two security guards with the
display all evening.”

“Sounds like a plan,” William answered.
“We'll retire to our room and rendezvous back down here later.”

Shawn spoke up after her parents left the
room. “Morgan, you better head back to your room too. You'll be
safer there.”

She sighed. She felt as if he was pushing her
away, and there was little she could do. “Okay, call me if you find
any problems.”

She turned and headed out of the ballroom
with Sabrina at her side. Once in the hotel suite Morgan went to
her bedroom, closed the door and plopped down in the chair by the
desk. She was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally.

She wished she could turn off the lights,
crawl under the bed comforters, and sleep nonstop for the next
couple of days. No fundraisers, store, or stalker. Morgan glanced
down at her watch. She had to be downstairs in approximately two
hours and all she could do is wait. There was a soft knock at the
door. Morgan closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair. “Yes,”
she answered.

“Morgan, there is a woman at the front door
who says her name is Victoria. She claims to be your sister.”

“Thank God,” Morgan murmured as she jumped
out of the chair and left the bedroom. “Let her in.”

Vicki stepped in the room. “Hey, how's it
going?”

“It's going.”

“You want to talk?”

Morgan reached out and hugged her sister. It
had been so long since she had an opportunity to have a chat with
Vicki. Oh how Morgan had missed her. Her sister was the one person
who understood the pressure and challenges which came with dealing
with her father, running the store and fundraiser. She ushered her
sister into her bedroom, and Morgan shut the door while Vicki
flopped on the bed.

“So, tell me about this stalker?”

Morgan sat down in the chair and recapped all
that had happened within the last forty-eight hours while Vicki
listened in silence. Only after Morgan had run out of words did she
speak.

“It’s about time,” her sister murmured. “All
I can say is good riddance.”

“Vicki, what are you talking about?”

“Brad, he's out of the picture, and I say
hasta la vista.”

“Geez Vicki. He's the least of my problems
right now,” Morgan said.

“Yeah I know, but personally, I'm relieved
you two have parted. He wasn't right for you.”

Morgan eyed her sister. Vicki looked back at
her unapologetically. “You always appeared to be working at
it.”

“Come on Vic,” Morgan said.

“The guy was Mr. Perfect, never a hair out of
place. Don't tell me that he wasn’t high maintenance.”

Morgan sat in silence as what her sister said
sank in. “You're wrong. It wasn't like that. What we had was
special.”

Vicki leveled a stare at her. “Special? If
Brad cared as deeply for you as you thought why hasn’t he come
crawling back?”

Her sister had a point. She leaned her head
back on the chair while she closed her eyes. “Tell me Vicki, is it
me or is it a guy thing?”

Vicki laughed softly. “Neither. It's a Brad
thing.”

“What am I going to do?”

“That’s the easy part. All the hard work on
this event is done. You're going to get dressed and swing by my
room on your way down to pick me up. Tonight, I’m going to be your
wingman, and you’re going to have some fun. It’s my mission to
ensure you do. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Deal with it…” her
younger sister paused and gestured in the air with her arms,
“tomorrow”.

Morgan smiled, “Wingman?”

“Okay, wingwoman.”

Morgan mulled over her sister's words. Take
things one day at a time. “Vic, how did you get to be so
smart?”

“According to the shaman down in Mexico, I'm
an old soul.”

Morgan gazed at her sister. “You're seeing a
shaman?”

Vicki got off the bed and tugged down her
blouse. “No, but when you work on archeological sites you have to
make sure you don't piss off the locals. We had a local holy man
come and sort of bless the site so the spirits would not be upset
when we started the dig.”

“I can't believe you did that. You, little
miss scientist, giving into superstition.”

Her younger sister looked up and crooked a
grin. “Yeah, kinda strange, isn’t it? I don’t believe in curses or
stuff like that, but having the shaman perform an offering was like
having a bowl of chicken soup, it won’t hurt.”

Morgan laughed.

***

Shawn came down fifteen minutes ahead of when
the guards were scheduled to arrive with the jewelry and found not
only Morgan and Sabrina but a third woman he had never seen
before.

Morgan wore a dark forest green evening gown
and the other woman wore a short black cocktail dress. As he walked
up to the trio, she studied him with interest.

Morgan piped up, “Shawn, this is my sister,
Victoria.”

The woman extended her hand to shake his.
“Call me Vicki.”

“Nice to meet you, I understand you flew in
especially for the evening.”

“I wouldn't miss this for the world. Morgan
tells me you’ve done a lot of security work in California.”

“Yes.”

“Are you pulling back tonight in an effort to
bait Morgan's stalker into making his move?”

He paused and then smiled. “That obvious,
huh?”

Vicki nodded but concern floated behind her
upbeat demeanor. “Do you think he'll surface soon?”

Shawn studied Morgan’s sister. She had a calm
but interested expression on her face. “Hard to say. Two days ago,
I thought he was almost panicky with the notes and the vandalism.
Since then he’s been quiet.”
Too quiet.

Morgan's cell phone chimed. She answered it
and spoke a few brief words before ending her conversation. “The
jewelry's here.”

Within minutes, two armed guards appeared at
the door. Morgan opened the package, inspected the jewelry and
signed the paperwork before they walked up to the case at the front
of the ballroom. Morgan took the next couple of minutes to set up
the pieces on display.

Shawn glanced over and noted Sabrina stood
near Morgan, though not too close. Then as if the young female
bodyguard sensed he was watching her, she made eye contact. He
nodded in approval.

“Where will you be tonight?” Vicki asked.

“I'll be moving around the room.”

“So you won't be enjoying the dinner?”

He grinned. “I wish. Sabrina and I are on
duty. We'll order something from room service after the
evening.”

“Pity, this is going to be a long night.”

The bartender had arrived to set up the bar,
and the wait staff started setting up the utensils for the hors d'
oeuvres. He glanced at Vicki. “If you would excuse me.”

“Of course,” she said.

Shawn headed over to the bar and after
talking with the bartender, he crossed him off the list of
potential problems. He had a wife and two children at home and
moonlighted for extra money. No stalker potential there.

As Morgan's parents arrived, he followed a
waiter through the side door and back into the kitchen. Morgan's
sister was right, this was going to be a long night.

***

Morgan stood at the front entrance to the
ballroom with her parents and sister. She scanned the crowd of
people who stood patiently waiting to enter, and pressed her lips
together. She hated the reception line. This long-standing
tradition, which her father insisted upon, meant the family
personally greeted each of the guests. William Kennedy refused to
accept today's custom which dictated a staged entrance where
everyone stopped to be photographed like they were celebrities on
the red carpet at an awards show. Morgan took a slow breath and
prepared to shake the hands of the next couple. She'd been
successful with introducing the Internet auction. Maybe next year
she could get him to revisit the idea of eliminating the reception
line.