“Dude, how could you not know that?It’s been all over the news.”
“Well, excuse the hell out of me.”An extra layer of New Jersey crept into Pinto’s voice.“I’ve got better things to do with my time than pay attention to what’s going on with the rich and shameless.”
Rosario snickered from her seat on the opposite side of the table.“I thought she had better taste than that.I mean seriously, have you seen Dax Garvey?He’s the epitome of sleazy.”
“Oh, come on, he’s not that bad.”Garrett sounded oddly defensive.He and Rosario had been partners for three or four months, and while they generally got along, there was an underlying current of tension simmering between them.
“Not that bad?Are you kidding?”Rosario stared at him as though he were one of those kids who kept trying to jam a fork into a light socket.“I’d bet good money that guy reeks of stale sweat and weed.He always looks like he needs to take a shower, and who on earth told him that a porn star mustache was a good idea?”
“As I was saying.”Austin’s voice cut through the chatter with a sharpness that reasserted his authority and put an end to the side conversations.He could have done it sooner but likely waited to give everyone a chance to blow it out of their systems.“In addition to the issue with her ex, and in spite of what you might have read in the tabloids, Ms.Page places a high value on her privacy.”
That didn’t come as a surprise.Navarre had learned a few celebrity clients ago that the carefully crafted façade they presented to the public often bore little resemblance to their behavior behind closed doors.Some were homebodies pretending to be party animals; others projected a squeaky-clean image while their lives spiraled out of control.In his experience, it was rare for the two personas to actually match.The only one he’d encountered was A-list actress Vicky Hale, who was a genuinely decent person regardless of where she was, what she was doing, or who might be watching.No wonder Austin’s brother, Ryan, had put a ring on her finger.
“Sometimes,” Austin continued, “that entails the use of a lookalike to throw the press off her scent, so to speak.That’s where Ms.Welker comes in.”
All eyes focused on Sloane.She froze for a moment like a deer in the headlights, her drink a few inches from her mouth.Then she let out a soft, nervous laugh and gave a little finger wave.
That explained the sudden change to her appearance.He’d noticed the faint resemblance before, but it was easy to overlook with the longer, darker hair, and the grungy clothes, and the heavy dose of attitude typically present in her expression.
But now…Jesus.It was all but impossible to ignore.
“Ah, so that’s what’s up with the makeover,” Pinto said in his trademark easygoing manner.“I did a double take the first time I saw you like that.Don’t get me wrong, you look freaking fantastic, but I kind of like you better the other way.”
“Thank you,” Sloane said, the ghost of a smile warming her lips.
During most meetings, Navarre preferred to sit back and let others ask the questions.But this time he found himself raising his hand because he knew exactly where this was going and he didn’t like it one bit.“Sir, with all due respect, is an impersonator really necessary?There are so many ways to avoid detection when moving an asset that doesn’t involve this level of subterfuge.It feels like overkill.”
“I understand your concern,” Austin said.“But this is Ms.Page’s preferred modus operandi.She’s been using it for quite some time.With the press focused on her doppelganger, she’s found that she has a greater ability to move about freely.And what the client wants—and is willing to pay for—the client gets.”
“What happened to her usual body double?”Rosario asked.
“She isn’t available at this time.”Austin didn’t provide any further details, and the tone of his voice made it clear it was best not to ask.“As you can see, Ms.Welker is more than capable of performing the task.”
“But Sloane doesn’t have any field experience.She’s cyber security,” Navarre pressed, and then added, “No offense,” when Sloane shot him a dirty look.
He hadn’t meant to denigrate her abilities.From what he’d heard, she was a master behind a keyboard.But that didn’t count for squat in the field, where things could go sideways so fast it would make your head spin.That lack of experience in a volatile setting could lead to somebody getting hurt—or worse.
“She won’t need it,” Austin replied.“Her sole responsibility is to look and act enough like Sierra Page to convince the press that Sierra’s in one place while she travels to another.Your jobs will be to ensure their safety and to prevent the press from getting close enough to notice the difference.”
That explained the packed room.When he’d worked on the protection detail for Vicky Hale, they’d never needed anywhere close to this many people, not even when she was being harassed by a creepy, obsessed fan.Protecting two people in two different locations would require significantly more manpower.It would also cost a small fortune, but he assumed a woman like Sierra could easily afford it.
“Based on our assessment,” Austin continued, “Ms.Page’s threat level stands at a six.”That was on a ten scale.By way of comparison, Vicky was currently somewhere between a three and a four.“According to Sierra’s staff, she hasn’t received any troubling correspondence in the last ninety days, and the last incident with an overzealous fan happened during the promotional tour for her latest movie.The ex is our most pressing point of concern, but at this time, he’s mostly made a pest of himself and hasn’t made any direct threats to her safety.That said, we’ll still be monitoring his movements and will let you know if there are any updates.”
Navarre knew from experience that those kinds of situations could escalate in an instant.The amount of security assigned to a client depended on the credibility, corroboration, imminence, and gravity of threats to their personal safety.Prominent public figures were often at risk to harassment and attack.The higher their visibility, the more protection was needed to ensure they and their loved ones remained safe.
Some celebrities took it to the extreme, employing entourages of hulking bodyguards to keep fans and paparazzi at a respectful distance and maintain some semblance of privacy.Others preferred a more muted approach and utilized one or two bodyguards during their daily routines and a larger presence only for high-profile events like movie premieres or award ceremonies.
Austin’s gaze swept over the faces gathered around the table.Apparently satisfied there weren’t any further questions or concerns, he continued.“Ty and his team are currently at Ms.Page’s Orlando residence to inspect her home security procedures and make any necessary improvements.Pinto, Hatch, Vogel, and Calibuso, you’ll be providing protection for Ms.Page when she arrives in Orlando Friday afternoon.Jackson, Navarre, Garrett, and Rosario, you’ll be covering Ms.Welker.Each of you will receive an electronic dossier with all the relevant information for this assignment.I expect you to commit it to memory by tomorrow morning at the latest.Any questions?”
While Pinto asked about the logistics of collecting their charge at the airport, Navarre’s gaze slid back to Sloane, who looked just about as thrilled to be working together as he was.But it didn’t really matter if they liked each other.They both had jobs to do.He only hoped her lack of experience didn’t get her—or anybody else—killed.
Chapter 4
Sloanepacedthelengthof her tiny apartment, her nerves buzzing, neck knotted with tension, as a raging case of imposter syndrome chipped away at her self-confidence.
Now that the day had finally arrived, she couldn’t remember what possessed her to believe she could pull off the body double act for a celebrity that had graced the covers of almost every major magazine on the planet.Had she lost her freaking mind?Sierra Page was poised, elegant, and sophisticated, a designer purse you could only buy at the most exclusive establishments, while Sloane was a cheap knockoff you could buy from a booth at the local flea market.
“Stop it,” she muttered as she rubbed the knots in her neck.There wasn’t enough time to call things off.Too many dominoes had already fallen, and backing out now would inflict irreparable damage to Six Points’ reputation.She’d made a promise, and she’d be damned if she let anybody down.
