Bodyguard: Ransom (Book 2) by Chris Bradford Page B

–’
    A knock at the door disturbed them and the PA appeared. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but the editor-in-chief says this can’t wait.’
    Mr Sterling nodded his assent and a red-headed woman in a tailored pinstripe jacket-and-skirt suit entered.
    ‘What is it, Ruth?’
    She shot a doubtful glance at the colonel and two young teenagers in his office. ‘This might be better in private.’
    ‘My apologies, Colonel Black,’ said Mr Sterling with a regretful smile, ‘but the world rarely stops in my line of business.’
    ‘We understand,’ said Colonel Black, rising to his feet. ‘I can communicate any outstanding queries via your PA.’
    ‘Then I’ll bid you farewell and look forward to seeing these two in the Seychelles,’ said Mr Sterling, offering both Ling and Connor a courteous nod. ‘But before then I’ve arranged for you to meet my daughters for lunch at one of my restaurants. My PA has the details.’
    Ruth stepped aside to allow them out through the glass door. As the door slowly closed behind them, Connor overheard a familiar name.
    ‘There’s more to Harry Gibb’s heart attack than meets the eye …’ the editor-in-chief began. ‘… Speculation he was murdered.’
    ‘What evidence do you have?’ asked Mr Sterling.
    ‘Nothing conclusive at the moment. But I may have a source.’
    ‘OK, look into it. If true, it’ll take the flak off the
Daily
for allegedly causing that idiot’s death through stress. As well as help sell a bucketload more papers –’
    Then the glass door slid shut.

 
    ‘Is this a
joke
?’ said Emily, putting down her glass of lemonade hard enough to make the ice tinkle. She stared at Connor and Ling as if waiting for the punchline.
    Sitting in a rooftop restaurant overlooking the golden-sanded curve of Manly Beach, Connor removed his sunglasses and shook his head in response. ‘Not at all. We’ve been assigned as your buddyguards.’
    He looked from Emily to Chloe, a mirror image of her sister, with what he hoped was a convincing and reassuring smile. Both the girls wore pale-yellow summer dresses and matching designer sunglasses, flipped back on their heads to keep their straw-blonde hair out of their eyes. The twins had ordered the same tuna salad and tall iced lemonades.
    Chloe maintained her composure, while Emily gave an incredulous snort. ‘
Buddy-
guards?’ she laughed.
    When her sister didn’t join in her laughter, Emily spun on her, eyes narrowing with suspicion. ‘Did you know about this?’
    Chloe went to open her mouth, but Emily had already read her expression. ‘Typical!’ she cried, picking up herfork and waving it at her sister. ‘Our father tells you everything.’
    Chloe sighed. ‘He didn’t want you to flip out, thinking that he was being overprotective.’
    ‘
Overprotective?
When has he been around us long enough to even
be
protective!’ Emily stabbed at her tuna salad with the fork. ‘Well, it’s blindingly obvious just how much Daddy values our lives if he isn’t even hiring a proper bodyguard.’
    Chloe offered a rueful smile to Connor and Ling. ‘Sorry,’ she said, then mouthed,
Not a good day
, and raised an eyebrow meaningfully. Connor, recalling the psychological report detailing Emily’s mood swings, nodded in understanding.
    ‘But I do have to agree with my sister,’ continued Chloe, her tone hardening. ‘You’re not what I expected. You don’t really look like bodyguards.’
    ‘We’re not supposed to,’ said Connor. ‘We act as low-profile, invisible protection. This makes you less of a target when we’re out and about.’
    Chloe gave Ling the once-over, clearly unimpressed. ‘You aren’t exactly very big or strong. How on earth can you protect us?’
    ‘I’m a black belt in martial arts,’ Ling replied coolly. ‘So is Connor.’
    ‘
Really?
’ said Emily, her tone dripping with sarcasm. ‘Can you catch a fly with a pair of chopsticks like Karate Kid?’
    Connor noticed Ling’s fingers clench round her