Read Online Sweet Caroline's Keeper by Beverly Barton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Beverly Barton
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had done his duty, had lived by the Peacekeepers' code, and his actions were those of an honorable man doing a dirty job for his country. Innocent people sometimes got in the way and were hurt or killed. But not by him. Never by him. Only that one time when the innocent victim had been Caroline McGuire. Memories of her still haunted him. It was her little cherubic face he saw in his nightmares, that terrified look in her eyes. The look of a child who knew death awaited her. He had seen that fear in another child's eyes once, long before the night of Preston Shaw's execution. When he had recognized the terror in Caroline's eyes, her face had been overlaid with the features of another. His little brother Brendan.
"Are you all right?" Ellison asked.
"What?" David blinked several times, bringing himself out of a bad place, an evil moment from his childhood that plagued him to this day. "Yes, I'm all right And yes, I'll take the job as Caroline's bodyguard. You're right about me. You know that I would die before I'd let anyone harm her."
"Yes, I'm sure you would." Ellison reached down and picked up the file folder from the floor. "I'll have Sam contact Fletcher Shaw and let him know that a Dundee agent named David Wolfe will arrive in St. Michaels tonight. Sam has arranged for Matt O'Brien to fly you straight from Biloxi to Maryland. And Jack Parker is on standby to join you, if you need backup later on."
"You were awfully sure I'd accept this job."
"My boy, you must remember that I'm the man who has worked as your accomplice in taking care of Caroline all these years. I, better than anyone, know what she represents to you and exactly to what extent you would go to keep her safe."
"If it means breaking every rule in the book, I'll do it," David said in a calm, controlled manner. "Know this from the start—Caroline's well-being comes first, before anyone or anything else. And that includes the Peacekeepers."
Ellison nodded. "While you're guarding Caroline, you'll also be investigating Preston Shaw's death along with her. The key she has holds the one and only possible means of finding any evidence as to who Preston's cohorts were. Those men still exist and have continued their work, even if somewhat less obviously. With enough proof, we could put those men in jail where they belong and eliminate an ongoing threat to this country."
"You make sure I get what I want and I'll do my best to help the Peacekeepers get what they want." David offered Ellison his hand.
"You have a deal." The two men sealed their pact with a powerful handshake.
Caroline felt trapped inside her own home and it was a feeling she detested. Since her release from the hospital yesterday, she had been surrounded by well-meaning friends. Roz, Brooke, Lyle and Fletcher had all four spent the night, and at least two of them had been with her throughout the day. Brooke's parents, Oliver and Eileen Harper, had stopped by while she'd been in the hospital and had driven down from Baltimore earlier today. Eileen had even sent a beautiful bouquet of get-well flowers. Then Gavin had shown up about an hour ago and joined the fearless foursome. Now the five of them sat around in her living room, each one hovering like a mother bird waiting for her chick to hatch. As much as she enjoyed their company and appreciated their concern, she was accustomed to the peace and quiet of living alone. But for some undetermined amount of time, she would have to forego her privacy and greatly treasured solitude. Once the bodyguard Fletcher had hired for her arrived, she wouldn't be alone again. Someone would be at her side, day and night. Watching her. Protecting her from harm.
"What time is this bodyguard supposed to arrive?" Brooke asked.
"He should be here within the next half hour," Fletcher said. "I spoke to the CEO of Dundee's and was assured that they're sending one of their top agents."
"What's his name?" Gavin asked.
"Wolfe," Fletcher replied. "I don't know if that's a
"Are you all right?" Ellison asked.
"What?" David blinked several times, bringing himself out of a bad place, an evil moment from his childhood that plagued him to this day. "Yes, I'm all right And yes, I'll take the job as Caroline's bodyguard. You're right about me. You know that I would die before I'd let anyone harm her."
"Yes, I'm sure you would." Ellison reached down and picked up the file folder from the floor. "I'll have Sam contact Fletcher Shaw and let him know that a Dundee agent named David Wolfe will arrive in St. Michaels tonight. Sam has arranged for Matt O'Brien to fly you straight from Biloxi to Maryland. And Jack Parker is on standby to join you, if you need backup later on."
"You were awfully sure I'd accept this job."
"My boy, you must remember that I'm the man who has worked as your accomplice in taking care of Caroline all these years. I, better than anyone, know what she represents to you and exactly to what extent you would go to keep her safe."
"If it means breaking every rule in the book, I'll do it," David said in a calm, controlled manner. "Know this from the start—Caroline's well-being comes first, before anyone or anything else. And that includes the Peacekeepers."
Ellison nodded. "While you're guarding Caroline, you'll also be investigating Preston Shaw's death along with her. The key she has holds the one and only possible means of finding any evidence as to who Preston's cohorts were. Those men still exist and have continued their work, even if somewhat less obviously. With enough proof, we could put those men in jail where they belong and eliminate an ongoing threat to this country."
"You make sure I get what I want and I'll do my best to help the Peacekeepers get what they want." David offered Ellison his hand.
"You have a deal." The two men sealed their pact with a powerful handshake.
Caroline felt trapped inside her own home and it was a feeling she detested. Since her release from the hospital yesterday, she had been surrounded by well-meaning friends. Roz, Brooke, Lyle and Fletcher had all four spent the night, and at least two of them had been with her throughout the day. Brooke's parents, Oliver and Eileen Harper, had stopped by while she'd been in the hospital and had driven down from Baltimore earlier today. Eileen had even sent a beautiful bouquet of get-well flowers. Then Gavin had shown up about an hour ago and joined the fearless foursome. Now the five of them sat around in her living room, each one hovering like a mother bird waiting for her chick to hatch. As much as she enjoyed their company and appreciated their concern, she was accustomed to the peace and quiet of living alone. But for some undetermined amount of time, she would have to forego her privacy and greatly treasured solitude. Once the bodyguard Fletcher had hired for her arrived, she wouldn't be alone again. Someone would be at her side, day and night. Watching her. Protecting her from harm.
"What time is this bodyguard supposed to arrive?" Brooke asked.
"He should be here within the next half hour," Fletcher said. "I spoke to the CEO of Dundee's and was assured that they're sending one of their top agents."
"What's his name?" Gavin asked.
"Wolfe," Fletcher replied. "I don't know if that's a
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