“New scenery is always welcome, as is seeing the great house. But a woman in your condition should already be in bed. You’re a fool for even having this meeting. It can all be discussed tomorrow.”
“My condition?”
“Your mother messaged me this morning. She requested that I see to your security personally. She told me that you would be too weak after your doctor’s appointment at the women’s clinic to defend yourself should there be an attempt on your life.”
Great, the chairwoman had basically informed her second-in-command that Lila would be reversing her birth control.
“With the exception of Peter Kruger last month, no one has attempted to assassinate an heir in the last thirty years, at least outside of a family compound,” Sutton continu
ed. “Still, it’s best to be safe. I would have gone myself if I could have gotten away. I assigned Sergeant Norwood in my stead. He’s discreet, and I figured you would prefer a man of few words.”
“I appreciate it.” Lila poured them both a mug of hot chocolate. The sweet smell turned her stomach, but she refused to show it.
Commander Sutton thanked her and swallowed heartily. “Husband never lets me have any these days. Says it makes me bitchy.”
Lila hid a smirk. She was all too aware of her husband’s ban.
“I always told you that you’d change your mind about having a kid. I just didn’t think it’d be so soon. I can’t stop wondering when we might expect a new baby in the great house.”
Lila sighed, knowing her commander’s words heralded the first of many such statements by well-meaning relations on the estate. It would only get worse once she wore the whitecoat.
She brushed at her sleeve as though she had found a bit of dust on the cuff.
“If you find the right senator at the Closing Ball on Friday night—”
“Commander,” she warned.
“Lucia is a marvelous name.”
“Is it now?”
“My mother thought so.”
Lila took a very small sip from her mug, shirking from the sweetness. “I’ve missed nearly two weeks of updates, commander. A report, if you please.”
For the next half-hour, Sutton broke down everything of importance that had happened, or was still happening, throughout the Randolph family holdings. A pipe had burst in Beaulac, but there was no evidence of foul play. A few employees had crashed a family truck in La Porte after a few beers, but the local commander had it well in hand. A manufacturing plant outside of New Bristol had been shut down for an hour due to a squirrel.
After several years at her job, Lila had come to one conclusion: squirrels were evil, costly, and prone to barbecuing themselves in electrical boxes at every opportunity.
“So nothing out of the ordinary, then?” Lila asked.
“Not much, chief. I did get a report from Captain McKinley a few hours ago. It seems there was a…” Sutton trailed off in an unbecoming huff after glimpsing Lila’s face. “Let me guess—she called you. Infernal woman was supposed to leave you alone. You’re still officially on vacation.”
“She had more information. She found out the caller’s full name and the name of his partner. Sergeant Park-Davies and Sergeant Weberly-Muller.”
The commander’s frustration vanished. “Toewon Research Group and Web Corp? Well, well, well, isn’t that an interesting picture?”
“Yes. I find it very interesting that rival companies are involved. Leave them to me, commander. I’m going to look into it more thoroughly as soon as I wake in the morning.”
“As you wish. I’m guessing they work the day shift. It’s well after seven now. They won’t pester us until tomorrow morning, whether they are on the clock or working well away from it.”
Lila nodded and paged Isabel, calling for a bottle of champagne.
Commander Sutton eyed her suspiciously but said nothing while the drinks were poured.
“I know that expression, commander. I probably shouldn’t be drinking so soon after anesthesia, but if you dare to use the phrase ‘in your condition’ one more time today, I will put you ‘in a condition.’”
Sutton laughed, a bellowing laugh that started from the tips of her toes and ended with one hand flopped around her middle. “I’d like to see you try. Do you remember that day in hand-to-hand training when you—”