Chapter 10
“It seems my boys have taken a shine to you,” Martha said, opening the security office door.
One entire wall was filled with screens bigger than anything I had at home. The scent of donuts and coffee drifted in the air. The low hum of a baseball game played from speakers nearby. The man behind the computer looked as though he could be Special Forces. Tattoos covered the bulging muscles sticking out from beneath his tight black T-shirt. His hair was short and cropped, his gaze assessing.
“It would be more discreet if you watched him from here,” Martha said, shooing the man out of his seat. “Now that the boys have filled me in on your need to handle this before starting on my daughter’s assignment, I thought I’d speed matters along.”
“Max assured me that your daughter has a security detail until I get there.”
“Yes, well, Carter told me he chose you. I’m surewhoever he assigned to my daughter and granddaughter are capable of the job, but Carter would feel better if you were on the case, so let’s get you there.”
“Ma’am? Is there a problem?” the man asked.
“Not on the island, Marcus.”
“I hear Carter always gets what he wants. That must have been tiring for you while raising him,” Gwen said.
“Carter might have his hands full if he tries to fight Maxwell over you, dear. My boys were both spoiled, but they are good men and driven. Carter has a head for things, and I trust his judgment. The fact that Maxwell brought you here must mean that he agrees. That makes youa rare gem in my world.”
“Max was just my cover,” I corrected.
“Keep believing that. He didn’t have to accompany you,” she said. “I’ll go order your breakfast, and I’ll pull the entire file, including the background on Fillpot for you.” She handed me a business card with her cell number written on the back.
I stopped her before she walked out. “Why are you helping me?”
“Tit for tat and I appreciated your honesty. I help you with this man. You protect my daughter. Watching my boys squirm is just a bonus. Marcus will help you with whatever you need.”
Marcus, the security guy, pulled up a chair next to mine. “If you’ve got anyquestions on how this works just let me know.”
“This is a Restell G36 security system. You should really update to the G45. It has better visuals and a wider viewpoint. You’ve also got blind spotsin the security I found last night from my recon, but I can help you fix those later.” I glanced at him. “That is if you need help.”
Marcus grinned as he stared at me. “What are you, a fed or private security?”
“Operative for FDG.”
“I thought Fairy Damn Godmother was just a myth.”
“That’s what they want you to believe. Just like being invited to this island is by word-of-mouth, so are our assignments.”
Marcus rubbed his hands together. “And why are you after this guy?”
“He’s a personal project.”
“Then let’s get personal. Just tell me where you want to start.”
“I need you to watch his movements so, when I break into his room, I’ll know his location.”
“Wait…did you say, break in?”
“I plan to steal every dime he has and return it to those he stole from.”
“A modern-day Robin Hood, and female to boot. I can dig it,” Marcus said.
That wasn’t totallyaccurate, and it wasn’t wrong either. My endgame was making Fillpot suffer the same anguish as my Grams. I spent the next hour eating the plateful of pancakes and bacon that Martha had sent in and reading through Fillpot’s file. His pattern of twice-yearly island visits was easy to spot. If I had to guess, he visited between his scams when he was trying to hide out.
Someone had left blank the referral question on the application that allowed him entrance onto the island. “I thought this place was by reference only and word-of-mouth.”
“It is.” Marcus snatched the paper from me to get a better look. Flipping it over, he pointed to some initials. “Looks like DaddyPierce allowed this guy on the island, which isweird. Max and Carter’s father, Edward Pierce, was a god among gods. He didn’t come from money, yet he had business smarts, along with street smarts.”
