Free A Bodyguard to Remember by Alison Bruce

“I’ll keep that in mind.”
     
    *    *    *
     
    Twelve hours later, we parked in an underground garage somewhere in downtown Ottawa. We weren’t far from Parliament Hill because Merrick did a drive-by en route and it wasn’t long after that he pulled into the garage. Otherwise, I didn’t have a clue where we were.
    While we stretched, Merrick fetched a cart and we loaded it up with our luggage, boxes, and fish. Then we followed him into the building. I noticed there were cameras everywhere.
    “Tomorrow,” Merrick announced, “we’ll get your key card and the security desk will take digital photos so they can identify you.”
    “What is this place?” asked Boone in an awed tone.
    Merrick touched his finger to his lips. “Shh. I told you before, it’s a state secret.”
    “Sarge!”
    His mouth lifted in a half smile.
    “It’s where I live. Let’s go in and I’ll explain.”
    From the garage, the key card was necessary to get into the building and again to summon the elevator. Merrick’s apartment was on the fourth floor. It was a nice place. The layout was basic. The door opened to a vestibule, which opened in one direction into a galley kitchen and the other to a large living-dining room. Merrick led us through the living room to a hall beyond. There were three bedrooms. The first one was being used as an office. The second one had bunk beds and a hockey theme.
    “This is my son’s room,” he told us.
    “Is he my age?” asked Boone.
    Merrick smiled. “No, my son is grown up.” He turned to me. “This is my condo. Nate doesn’t live here anymore, but you’ll see quite a bit of him. He’s a good guy. I think you’ll like him.” He turned back to my kids. “Do you guys mind sharing a room?”
    Hope and Boone shook their heads and started debating who would get the upper bunk.
    The master bedroom was next. It was furnished with a solid pine, Shaker-style suite. It included a king-sized bed, dresser, and bedside tables. I recognized it from an Ikea catalogue. There was even one of their ubiquitous bookshelves. En suite, there was a three-piece bathroom with a walk-in shower.
    “Nice,” I said, looking around.
    “All yours for the duration. I’ll clear some space in the dresser and closet. I’ve been meaning to put up another bookshelf. This is a good opportunity. Nate’s bringing it by tomorrow. We’ll set it up and you’ll have a place for your books. That’s what I brought, mostly, the books from your bedroom.”
    “Thank you. Good choice. Those are my comfort books.”
    There was an awkward moment when I wanted to break the rules and hug him.
    “I’ll go put some tea on,” he said abruptly. “There’s not much food in the house, so we’ll order in tonight. Pizza good?”
    “Pizza is great.”
    He hesitated and I hoped he was having rule-breaking thoughts too.
    “I guess we don’t need it right away.”
    “Not right away,” I agreed, taking a step toward him. “Sergeant Merrick, if I am staying here, where will you be?”
    He heaved a sigh. “Out of town, mostly.”
    “But not tonight?” I did my best to sound neutral—not provocative or panicked. I must have succeeded.
    “Don’t worry, Hartley, you’re not inconveniencing me. Tonight I’ll make up the bed in my office. There’s a pull-out couch.”
    Darn. I tried not to look disappointed. I liked it better when he had to sleep in the same room.

CHAPTER 5
    Nate was a very nice, good-looking guy. He was tall, lean-muscled, with dark curly hair and grey eyes—very like his father but built for speed rather than stopping power. He looked young, mid-twenties at most, except around the eyes. They were shadowed and lined and had the look of a man who had seen too much. Again, like his father.
    “Nate is going to be your bodyguard,” Merrick announced, while Nate and the twins worked on the new bookcase. “He’ll come here each morning and take you and the kids to school. Hope and Boone are enrolled in a