Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(49)
‘Wait!’ cried Connor, realizing now why Alicia was the captain of her school team.
He pursued her down a deserted side street. But Alicia was still pulling away.
‘Keep up!’ she called, giggling at the thrill of her escape.
Glad of all his fitness training, Connor put on a burst of speed. His trainers pounded the tarmac as he followed her left on to the main road. Then lost her …
The sidewalk was thronged with shoppers and there was no sign of Alicia. Connor threw his hands up in despair. He was her sole bodyguard now and he’d already lost track of her within the first minute. Just as he was about to shout her name, a hand grabbed him from behind and pulled him into a shop doorway.
‘Careful, they might spot you!’ Alicia whispered, her eyes full of rebellious delight.
Connor realized Charley had been right. Only now was Alicia showing her true colours. And the President’s daughter had never looked happier. Like a bird freed from its cage, she was all aflutter with excitement.
Alicia snatched a quick peek up and down the street.
‘Not a Secret Service agent in sight!’ she laughed.
And she thinks that’s good news, thought Connor. The real pressure of protection was now on his shoulders – and his alone.
Oblivious to Connor’s worries, Alicia opened up her bag and pulled out a short platinum-blonde wig and a large pair of dark sunglasses. Pinning up her hair, she popped on the wig, then slipped on the Jackie Onassis-style glasses. In an instant she was transformed from President’s daughter to … anybody.
‘How do I look?’ Alicia asked.
‘You planned this!’ Connor exclaimed.
‘Yes,’ she admitted with a half-guilty smile. ‘President Johnson’s daughter used to wear a disguise to dodge the media. I thought I could do the same to escape the Secret Service.’
Connor was astonished at the lengths Alicia was willing to go to for some personal space.
‘Come on, let’s go,’ said Alicia, joining the stream of pedestrians.
‘Where to?’ asked Connor.
‘U Street. It has some hip places to shop and eat.’
Connor stayed close by Alicia’s side. If anything did happen, he wanted to be within arm’s reach and able to react fast. From behind his mirrored sunglasses, he scanned their surroundings just as Bugsy his surveillance instructor had taught him. His eyes flicked between the faces of approaching people, making snap decisions on their intentions. He watched the passing traffic for any suspicious vehicles, while noting any nearby alleyways in case someone was concealed there. In the highest state of Code Yellow, he had to be alert to anything that could materialize into a threat. The good thing was that Alicia was no longer identifiable as the President’s daughter. That reduced the risks, but didn’t eliminate them entirely. Every city had its fair share of crime, violence and accidents – and Washington DC was no exception.
Alicia’s mobile phone rang. She glanced at the screen, tutted, then turned it off.
A second later, Connor’s phone buzzed with equal urgency. Pulling it from his jeans pocket, he saw CALLER ID WITHHELD but knew exactly who it would be – Kyle. As his thumb hovered over the Answer button, Alicia snatched the phone from his grasp.
‘Give that back!’ said Connor.
‘Later,’ she said, offering him a playful wink.
Connor made a grab for the phone, but she danced away. ‘I should at least reply, so they know we’re OK.’
‘What are you so worried about? Let them sweat a bit.’
Alicia switched off his phone before dropping it in her bag. Then she trotted off down the street.
Connor sighed in frustration. He didn’t wish to make a scene. That could draw unwanted attention to the President’s daughter, so he resigned himself to letting her have her own way – for the time being.
Quickening his pace, he caught up with Alicia. Every so often he glanced behind, checking for trouble but also secretly hoping to spot an agent in pursuit.
‘Relax,’ insisted Alicia, taking his arm. ‘Just let me enjoy myself for once. I’m the one who’ll get into trouble later.’
That’s what you think, mused Connor. Then it dawned on him that this was exactly what he’d been hired for. To protect Alicia in moments when the Secret Service couldn’t. Colonel Black had specifically instructed him ‘to stick to her like glue’. He wasn’t supposed to stop Alicia living her life – just protect her.
With that thought in mind, he allowed himself to relax a little. But he kept his awareness at Code Yellow.
They turned off the main street and headed north on 13th. Upmarket apartments gave way to rundown row-house blocks, which alternated randomly with fancy condos recently built as part of the city’s redevelopment effort. The strange blend of new and old, rich and poor made Connor uneasy. The mix of people walking the streets became more diverse and unpredictable. There was a palpable tension in the air, magnified by the summer’s heat radiating off the sidewalk.
‘Are you certain this area’s safe?’ Connor asked.
‘Of course,’ replied Alicia, casually strolling along. ‘During the day, definitely.’
That statement didn’t reassure Connor. Although he could handle himself in a situation, there were places in the East End of London that he wouldn’t wander into – day or night. And this area possessed a similar undercurrent of menace.