I am your bodyguard, Pilton said, pained. He nodded politely at Sandra. Maam.
Well, youre not very big. Margaret climbed into the backseat. Not that thats a hindrance in most cases. I approve of small. Still, I think Id have chosen someone else for the job if Id seen you first. There are uses for big and brawny. Not that you dont have excel-lent credentials.
Thank you. He started the van and edged away from the curb.
Where are we going? Sandra repeated. Or cant we talk?
The vans safe. It belongs to the security com-pany, but I insisted Pilton check it out for bugs anyway. Were going to the mall.
The mall?
North Lake Mall. She smiled at Sandra. We need to do a car switch in case were followed. Well go in one door and out another.
And from there?
Lake Lanier. Ive rented a small cottage. Youll be safe and cozy.
Lake Lanier. She and Ron had talked about going up there over Labor Day, Sandra remembered wist-fully. But hed said theyd stay at the hotel on Pine Island. He wasnt much on rustic. Well, neither was she. In spite of their differences, they had a lot in common.
Something wrong? Margarets gaze was on her.
I guess not. All this seems like a bad dream to me.
Me too. Margaret leaned forward and squeezed Sandras shoulder. Dont worry. Well get through it together.
I think were being followed, Pilton said.
Sandra tensed and glanced over her shoulder. Where?
The dark blue Mercury.
Are you sure?
Pilton nodded. Dont worry. We expected it. Well lose him at the mall.
Someone was following them. Someone who might want to hurt her, Sandra thought with a shiver.
For the first time, the threat became real to her.
Fiske watched the van pull into a parking space at North Lake Mall and the three passengers hurry through the doors of the south entrance. He didnt bother to park. Hed cruise around the mall and see if he could spot the three as they came out an-other door.
It was doubtful. There were too many lots and too many exits.
It didnt really matter. His favorite listening de-vice had paid off again. He knew where they were going, though he wished Margaret Wilson had been a little more explicit. Lanier was a huge resort area with thousands of rental properties.
Which meant he should start the ball rolling on locating the right one immediately.
He took out his electronic earpiece and punched in Timwicks number on his phone. Duncans mother is being taken to a cottage on Lake Lanier. The place was probably rented yesterday or today by Margaret Wilson. I need to know where it is.
Ill get on it. Timwick hung up the phone.
Fiske decided that in the meantime hed check into a hotel and wait. Things were proceeding very well. Hed been upset about leaving Atlanta before everything was tidily brought to completion.
But now he was back.
Everythings fine, Margaret told Logan on the phone. Weve changed cars and were on our way to Lake Lanier.
Call me when you get there.
I told you, everythings fine. Pilton is sure were not being followed any longer.
Pilton?
The bodyguard. Though his body isnt much bigger than mine.
No big deal. Id bet on you over Goliath any day.
Me too. Thats why Im reassuring myself about Pilton. Okay, Ill call you when we get to the cottage. Anything else?
Just stay out of sight. He ended the call.
Everythings fine.
Maybe it was fine, but he was still uneasy. Hed expected getting Sandra Duncan away from the house to be more difficult.
Unless they wanted her out of sight as much as he did. It would be easier to dispose of someone who was hiding from the world.
But only if they found her.
