Rock Chick Reckoning(57)

So did Mace, once.

“Tom’s arranging regular but random drive-bys by squad cars. Anyone watching the house waiting for a chance might either be seen by a car or they’l notice the frequency of squads in the area and they’l be a f**kuva lot more careful or bag the chance to get at you here at al . Every once in awhile a uniform is gonna buzz your door. They’re gonna wanna see your face, in person, so you’re gonna have to show it to them. This could happen day or night.

There’s video surveil ance here.”

He pointed to another box with a screen that was situated just above the alarm box.

Then he kept going. “You hit this button, you see them and can talk to them but they don’t see you. No plainclothes officers wil cal up, only uniform and they’l show you a badge. You only go down if you see the uniform and the badge. By whatever smal chance they got, anyone breaches the security and is in the house and on you, they tail you to the door but stay hidden, you got a code word.

When you get to him, you tel the officer you’re hunky dory.

He’l know you’re not but he’l proceed with caution. You got that?”

I was beyond trembling, I was beginning to shiver.

“Babe, you got that?” Mace asked softly.

I nodded.

“Blinds always pul ed. The bed was moved away from the windows so they have no shot when we’re asleep.

Avoid the couch, it’s exposed. The wal s are brick, you’re safe at a wal . Windows aren’t safe, don’t get near ‘em.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

Mace fel silent.

“Is there more?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied.

Effing hel .

He kept talking.

“You got safe zones. Fortnum’s is covered. The Castle.

The offices. Indy and Lee’s, Ava and Luke’s. And here.

That’s it. You don’t hang anywhere else unless me or one of the boys is covering you. To get to a safe zone, you go with an escort. No exceptions. You go nowhere unless you’re in a squad car or a company car. Okay?”

I nodded.

He fel silent again.

“Is that it?” I asked.

It was Mace’s turn to nod.

“Isn’t this al a bit much?”

He shook his head.

“It had to cost a fortune, who paid for it?” I went on.

“Most of the equipment is kept in stock. Any extras were purchased according to the Rock Chick they were meant to protect.”

Oh dear.