Beyond the Consequences (Book 5 of the Consequences Series)(20)

Taylor’s eyes widened. “I don’t recall that information being on my resume.”

“Now whose turn is it to be offended? Do you think I’d support, as Claire informed you, a hire that I hadn’t fully investigated? And if you think you learned all there is to know about this family by reading a book, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“I never said what research I did. Yes, the book was part of it; however, a very small part. I’m aware of more than you know. Since I’ve been here, I’ve also made it a point to know all I can about my coworkers.”

Phil shook his head. “I’m not trying to have a pissing contest with you. You’re here. I’m fine with that. Just don’t give either of them information on this particular subject without first running it by me. And I can tell you right now, I’m not going to approve sharing.”

“The FBI is already involved. They’re zeroing in on Ms. Miles. If you think you’re going to go in and remove the subject under their noses, you’re mistaken.”

“Am I now?”

Taylor leaned closer. “You want to keep the Rawlingses safe? Then don’t do something stupid so that you’re in prison and not here.”

“I appreciate the warning, Ms. Walters.”

Phil turned, leaving Taylor in the grand hall as he made his way toward the security office in the lower level. He half expected her to follow and equally as much didn’t. He didn’t really care. Women had always been unpredictable, even women as well trained as Taylor Walters. She’d proven herself under pressure, yet she couldn’t hide the fact she was missing a damn Y chromosome. He knew he should think of her like a partner, yet when they’d be sitting side by side going through footage or researching theories, he’d notice the sweet scent of perfume. It was different than Claire’s, lighter. Yet even as he entered the security office, he sensed it lingering in the air, accentuating her absence.

Sighing, Phil sat at his desk. He’d never meant to think of Taylor in a personal way. Doing so was an insult to her professionalism. She was qualified to be part of this detail. Phil closed his eyes and massaged his temples. He needed to get his head on straight. Why had Taylor questioned his protectiveness of Claire? It was his job. Obviously, he was nothing more to her than an employee. That wasn’t true. He and Claire were also friends.

Phil recalled the first time he saw Claire, his assignment, through the window in the Palo Alto condominium. A slight grin came to his lips as he remembered her smug expression in San Antonio when she knew she’d duped him. He still felt the heaviness in his chest as he ran toward her Palo Alto condominium, knowing that her life was in danger. Phil’s fascination and sense of duty involving Claire Nichols should have ended then and there. After all, Rawlings fired him. Whenever Phil remembered that terrible day, the firing was the least of his concerns. It was his failure to protect. If he’d done his job, he would’ve known about Patrick Chester. Instead he’d been lulled into a sense of the mundane, and it was Claire who’d paid the price.

When Catherine London called and asked Phil to help Claire disappear, he could’ve said no; however, he’d thought of it as his opportunity to atone for his error in judgment. Ms. London explained that Claire wanted to get away from Rawlings. It made sense. Phil had witnessed Rawlings’ intensity. Phil had failed to protect her from Chester; he wouldn’t fail to protect her from her ex-husband. Though once again, things weren’t as he’d been led to believe. Nothing with Claire ever was.

Phil remembered their time in Europe, running from Ms. London and outwitting the FBI. Scenes with historic backdrops replayed in the recesses of his mind. The woman who had been broken and mending in California was stronger than he’d ever imagined in Europe. No longer oppressed, as he’d later read about in her memoirs, Mrs. Alexander was determined to make a life for herself and her baby. Though it took many favors and promises, Phil secured the island for her. Nothing was too much to make her dream come true. However, it didn’t take long for Phil to realize that Ms. London had lied about Claire’s goal. She didn’t want to be separated from Rawlings. Without coming out and saying it, Phil knew she wanted the opposite. He couldn’t stand to see her sad—not in paradise. Therefore, instead of protecting her from Rawlings, Phil did what he needed to do to make Claire happy: he brought Rawlings to her.

That temporary surveillance job became something Phil had never known, ever. It became his life, his family. Though keeping Claire safe and happy was still his top priority, his sense of responsibility grew the evening he felt Nichol move within her mother. Nichol was an extension of Claire. Part of him wanted to hate the beautiful, brown-eyed girl for what she’d done to her mother upon her arrival. Never in all of his years of service had he felt so impotent. But once again, Claire’s strength showed through, and Phil adored the child as much as he did her mother. How could he not? Nichol was the only baby he’d ever held.

The sense of family somehow over time even transferred to Rawlings himself. The egotistical, narcissistic, hothead who’d originally hired him had morphed into a kindred spirit. Despite the Rawlingses’ past history, Phil and Rawlings had a shared interest in keeping this family safe. On the tragic day at the estate, when faced with the inevitable, Rawlings looked into Phil’s eyes and placed his infant daughter in his arms. Trust. After failing them in Palo Alto, Phil had earned it back.