"Renee has been calling you non-stop for the past five minutes," Sara said to her older sister.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Laurel asked as she walked to the kitchen counter and picked up her Galaxy S22 cell phone and looked at the lock screen.

Renee Montoya 5 missed calls, 2 voice mails.

"Because people deserve to be able to take a fucking shower in peace and quiet."

"Shit," Laurel said as she pressed a button on the screen and put her phone on speaker.

"Why did I visit you in July again?" Sara asked her sister as she lay on the couch in front of the box fan that was in the window only inches away. All the windows were open, and almost all of them had box fans as well, but the heat in the apartment was still stifling.

"Because we both thought my air conditioning would be working," Laurel said just as the phone call connected.

"Where the fuck have you been?" came through loud and clear.

"You know, anyone hearing your tone would think I work for you. Which I don't."

"Fucking lawyers are always splitting fucking hairs. We have a contract, and you're catching today. Do you want it, or should I give it to Helena?"

"Sara's visiting, and we have plans," Laurel said.

"So I should give it to Helena."

"Does this contract involve air conditioning? " Sara yelled from her position across the room.

"Are you on fucking speaker?"

"What, are we on double secret probation?" Laurel asked.

"DOES IT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING?"

"What the fuck is going on?"

"My air conditioning is out, and Sara is melting."

"Jesus, she's been dead at least twice, and she never bitched this much."

"In her defense, it is pretty fucking hot in my apartment. I was thinking of getting a hotel room."

"Would babysitting Annelie Bodin be a workable alternative?" Renee asked dryly.

"Are you fucking kidding?" Sara asked as she sat up.

"Who is that in the background?" Renee asked, "she sounds a lot like the woman who told me to fuck off when I offered her a position in Paragon Security Services."

"Is that really the contract?" Laurel asked, "I'm babysitting a movie star?"

"Yes. Our cousins in New York have her now. She's there for a fundraiser before flying here for location shooting. They want us to take over the detail once she is wheels down at O'Hare."

Laurel knew what cousins meant, at least she could narrow it down to two or three agencies. All of them were heavy hitters, none of them took on little bullshit contracts, not even for famous movie stars, so this was no simple babysitting gig.

"Do I need to take you off speaker to hear the stuff that you aren't telling me?" Laurel asked

"No, the stuff I'm not telling you I will tell you in person over lunch."

"Can we go to Burt's Place?" Sara asked.

"I'm not driving to Morton Grove for pizza, and what you mean we, pale face?"

"Let her come. I'll never hear the end of it otherwise."

"Fine. But someplace local. Robert's Pizza Company. 12:30."

"See you then." Laurel said before hanging up.

"This vacation is looking better already." Sara said as she headed towards the bathroom, and her own shower.


"I still don't know who the fuck puts brussel sprouts on pizza," Sara said as she took the last slice of chorizo pizza.

"Someone who's not sitting at this table," Renee Montoya answered as she drank her Goose Island Honkers Ale and picked up her slice of Soppressata pizza.

Renee had asked Robert for a table away from everyone else, but the three women still kept their voices down when the topic turned to work. It did not take long for the detective turned private business woman to have the full attention of the sisters Lance.

"Son of a bitch," Sara said finally.

"Yeah," Renee said as she took another sip of beer.

"Kyle really thinks she is in that much danger?" Laurel asked.

"Sounds like," Renee said, "you ever seen the Nighthawk Security Light Wet Team in action?"

"No."

"I have. In Bogotá. They don't fuck around. If they're on standby this is serious," Renee said.

"Jesus, what must the heavy wet team look like?" Sara asked.

"I can live a very happy life never seeing that for myself."

"Who's he sending with her?"

"He didn't say. It'll be one of his a-team."

"I pity the fool..." Sara said.

"Jesus Christ," Laurel said as she shook her head and drank her Diet Coke.

"We'll get a code once they are wheels up, but it's not like we will need it. How many Annelie Bodin's are there?"

Laurel looked at her sister and knew immediately from the look on her face where her mind was going.

"You're not fucking our protectee," Laurel said.

"I can dream, can't I?"