Christmas Stalking. Margaret Daley

next to Ellie and watching the exchange between his grandmother and the guard dogs, Colt said, “My grandfather bought Rocket and Gabe to be company and guard the place seven years ago. He was very attached to them. Winnie went out and purchased Lady from the same trainer. She wanted female representation. They love staying outside, but whenever the weather gets bad, she brings them inside, even though they have a top-of-the-line dog structure.”

      “I’ve seen it. It isn’t your ordinary doghouse. I thought it might be a storage shed until I saw them going in and out.”

      “That’s because nothing is too good for her dogs. When Granddad died, Winnie took over all three dogs’ care with her caretaker’s help.”

      When she finished greeting each pet, Winnie went through some stretches. “Colt, I don’t want to hear any complaining on my walk. You’re in perfectly good shape.”

      “I don’t complain. I tease.”

      “I have a feeling you swim every day you have a chance on the job. Ellie, he can swim ten miles without tiring. Not to mention he can hold his breath underwater for two minutes. I think that’s from growing up here in the mountains. Great lung capacity.”

      His grandmother’s remark to her assistant slid his attention to the tall woman who lunged to the left then right. “So you’re into power walking, too?”

      Ellie brought her feet together, raised one leg behind her and clasped her ankle. “When I can get the chance, I usually jog, but I’ve been enjoying our early morning jaunts.”

      “Who did you work for before this?”

      Pausing, she stretched her other leg. “A small company,” she said finally.

      Winnie didn’t seem to notice the slight hesitation in Ellie’s reply, but he did. Was something going on? When he got back from his power walk, he would catch Harold before he talked with Winnie. He didn’t want to upset his grandmother unless there was a good reason, but who exactly was Ellie St. James? A woman who carried a gun and, based on last night, wasn’t afraid to use it.

      * * *

      “I’m glad I caught you before you talked with Winnie.” Ellie shut the library door after the lawyer entered.

      “Ah, I see you’ve made good progress with Winnie,” Harold Jefferson said. “She doesn’t usually have someone call her Winnie unless she likes you.”

      “I think that’s because she appreciated my attempt to protect her last night.”

      His eyebrows shot up. “Someone got in the house? Why didn’t you call me?”

      “Because it turned out to be her grandson.”

      His forehead wrinkled. “Colt’s here?”

      “Yes, for a few days. I thought he was an intruder and I pulled my gun on him in the upstairs hallway. Without her knowing why I’m here, she doesn’t understand why I would have a gun. It’s now sitting in her safe in her office. That ties my hands protecting her. She needs to be told.”

      “She will stress and shut down. She’s under a tight deadline with this new product she’s coming up with. That’s why I’m here to talk to her about the publicity campaign now that her former assistant, Christy, has agreed to be the new face for the company.”

      “The Winnie I’ve seen this past week is tough when she needs to be.”

      “It’s all a show. I’ve been through a lot with her. Years ago her company nearly fell apart because of her son’s death. Then she had a heart attack ten years ago, and we went through another rough patch. That was followed by her husband passing away five Christmases ago. Finally she’s close to going public with Glamour Sensations and offering stock as she brings out her new line, Endless Youth. She’s been working toward this for years. She feels she needs to fulfill her late husband’s vision for the business.”

      Ellie placed her hand on her waist, trying to control her frustration and impatience. “If she is dead, she won’t be able to fulfill his vision.”

      “That’s why you’re here. To keep her alive. The fewer people who know someone has sent her threats the better. She is the company. The brains and creative force behind it. We need the infusion of money to make a successful campaign for the new products in the spring that will lead up to the unveiling of the signature cream next Christmas.”

      “If the company is going public, don’t you have to disclose the threats?”

      “Yes. When we reach that part of the process, we’ll have to disclose the threats to the investment banker and lawyers. Fortunately, we have until right after Christmas to take care of the problem.”

      “I can’t protect her without my weapon. It’s that simple.”

      “What if we tell Colt and have him get the gun for you? She rarely goes into the safe. I imagine she’s too busy in the lab downstairs.”

      Ellie looked out the floor-to-ceiling window across the back at the stand of pine trees. “Yes, but what if she does?”

      She’d never liked the fact that Mrs. Winfield didn’t know about the threats and the danger her life was in. The former assistant had given Mr. Jefferson each threatening letter. They had become more serious over the past month, and one also included a photo of Mrs. Winfield out power walking. That was when he had contacted Guardians, Inc. He was hoping nothing would come of the letters, but he knew he had to put some kind of protection in place. That was when Ellie had entered as the new assistant to replace Christy Boland, who was going to be the spokesperson for Glamour Sensations’ Endless Youth line.

      “On second thought, we probably shouldn’t tell Colt. I don’t want anyone else to know if possible. He might let something slip to his grandmother. It’s probably better that he returns to the research ship.” Mr. Jefferson snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. I’ll get you a gun to use. I can come back out here this afternoon with whatever you want. Maybe a smaller gun that you can keep concealed.”

      “Fine, unless I think there’s a direct threat.”

      “I’m hoping I can catch the person behind the letters before then. The Bakersville police chief is working on the case personally, as well as a P.I. I hired. Winnie received another letter at headquarters yesterday.”

      “Another picture in it?”

      “No, just threats of what the person is going to do to her.”

      Ellie thought of the sweet lady she’d spent the past week with—a woman who toiled long hours because she knew a lot of people who worked for her counted on her. “What in the world has she done to anger someone?”

      “We’re looking into disgruntled employees, but she was never directly responsible for firing anyone. If she had her way, everyone would still be working for her no matter if they didn’t do their job. Thankfully I run that part of the business.”

      Ellie sighed. “I’ll need you to bring me a Glock G27. It’s smaller and easily concealed. It will have to do, even though I prefer my own weapon. At least you were able to get Winnie to stay and work from home this month. That will help the situation, but this home isn’t secure.”

      “Is any place?”

      “No, but there are some things we can do.”

      “Like what? I’m working on a better security system.”

      “That’s good because the one she has is at least ten years old.” Ellie paced the large room with bookcases full of books. “We could use bulletproof windows. Security guards to patrol the grounds and posted at the gate. Also cameras all over the house and the property being monitored 24/7.”

      “She won’t go for anything else. She didn’t even understand why I wanted to upgrade her security system. Told me the Lord was looking out for her and that’s all she needs.”

      Ellie