Always The One. Tara Randel

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      SIX DAYS LATER, Derrick stood outside the front entrance of Ponderosa Day School, dressed in an official security guard shirt, jeans and boots, watching students file into the tan building after being dropped off in the car zone. He’d gotten more than one curious look. Most of the kids were expecting to see an older man, Glen Harvey, on duty, but today and until he solved the gem situation, they’d get Derrick.

      After talking with Hannah on the first night he arrived, Derrick was legitimately concerned about her. Not only because of her mother’s health issues, which she was handling admirably, but also because of the fact that at some point her father had taken off. That in itself raised red flags. He needed to find out if they were still under WITSEC protection since Hannah gave so little information. After settling into a hotel room, he had checked into the school where she worked, looking for a way to stay close. He discovered that the private school hired guards from a local security firm. Armed with the name of the company, Derrick applied for a position with the security company the next morning.

      Using an alias, he’d created for the occasional undercover FBI op, Derrick Fields was vetted through a background and fingerprint check, then hired. When he showed up for his first day of work, he went through an orientation and then came the conversation about where he would be assigned. He made sure to point out that he thought working at schools was a high priority and had noticed that Ponderosa Day School was in the middle of a security upgrade. Relying on his innate power of persuasion, he asked to be sent there to assist the lone guard during the system upgrade. Thankfully, the owner agreed.

      Now Derrick was on duty, bright and early on a clear and crisp Monday morning, good to go.

      Until Hannah found him here. Then he expected fireworks.

      He nodded at a group of girls. A buzz sounded and then a click as the door opened. Their laughter faded when the heavy door closed behind them. It was another freezing day, even with the sun shining. He rubbed his hands together and blew on them as a young boy strolled right up to him.

      “Where’s Glen?”

      “In his office.”

      “You taking over?”

      “No, just helping out.”

      “You got training?”

      Derrick fought back a grin. “Extensive.”

      The boy nodded as if satisfied.

      “I got my eyes on you,” the kid said, leveling Derrick with a serious gaze.

      “Then I hope to live up to your expectations…?”

      “Tommy. I run this place.”

      “Do you? Then I’ll see you after school for a report.”

      The boy’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

      “Those of us who watch out for this place should compare notes.”

      A bell rang. Tommy shifted his backpack. “I’ll be there.”

      The boy hurried inside and Derrick allowed himself a small smile. As more children entered, he found he approved of the remote lock system. Those outside the building had to press a button to be allowed inside. A camera installed high in the corner at an angle facing the entrance offered the office staff a view of whoever wanted to gain admittance. Since this was a smaller school, the principal had informed him that the staff knew the parents or those permitted to come into the school on a child’s behalf. In the aftermath of school tragedies, Derrick was glad this administration implemented serious security.

      Shaking off the cold, he scanned the parking lot. Fewer students were arriving now that the last bell was about to ring before classes. A gray sedan pulled into a slot and Hannah emerged from the car, wearing the same coat as yesterday. She zigzagged through the cars as she hurried up the sidewalk to the main door. She stopped abruptly when she saw him.

      “Good СКАЧАТЬ