Protection by Carla Blake Page B

their possession.
    As far as he knew, no more had turned up at the studio.
    â€œThat’s not to say there haven’t been any.”He added. “If no one’s been told to keep an eye out for them they might just have been thrown away.”
    â€œFair enough.”Andrea said. “But I am wondering how seriously we should take them? Trouble is, there’s not much to go on. They’re computer printed and as far as I can tell, clean of prints, so the chances of catching the writer are slim. So I guess I’m hoping that if Carrie doesn’t react, they’ll get fed up and give up.”
    Both Carrie and Carmichael agreed.
    â€œOkay then, we’ll just wait and see. Now, this party you’re planning on having Carrie. It’s going to be a hell of a job security wise you know.”
    â€œYes, I do. But I have had parties before and they’ve been fine. Entry is always by invitation only and we hire loads of additional security.”
    â€œThugs in dress suits eh? I bet they’re choice.”
    â€œThey’re a little more civilized than that Andrea.”Carmichael cut in. “And as we tend to stick to the same bunch, they know us and we know them. They’re discreet, efficient and big enough to deter trouble.”
    â€œDo we have proof of that?”
    Carmichael took a deep breath. Why on earth had he ever suggested Carrie needed a bodyguard? She questioned everything he did and everything he said and most of the time not only wanted everything in black and white but preferably in triplicate too. But he had no one else but himself to blame and if it was proof Andrea wanted then it was proof she would have.
    â€œOkay.”He said, clasping his hands together. “Last summer, Carrie threw a party at the studios and we used the same guys then.”
    â€œYeah.”Carrie groaned. “And what a fiasco that turned out to be!”
    â€œEverything was fine until the end.”Carmichael went on. “Then around midnight these three teenagers turned up at the gates. Pissed as newts and singing rude songs about certain parts of Carrie’s anatomy. Well, the bouncers didn’t take too kindly to that and asked them to leave, ‘cept instead of buggerin’ off like good little boys, the little shits pulled guns. I could see it all from where I was standing, and to be honest I damn near wet myself. But the bouncers didn’t even bat an eyelid. They just waded in and ripped the guns right out of their hands! Then they turned them upside down. All kinds of crap fell out of their pockets.”
    â€œWhat happened then?”
    â€œThey stripped the little buggers! Right down to their boxers. You should have seen the look on their faces! They didn’t know what the fuck to do. One of them even had a hard on! It was bloody hilarious!”
    â€œBut what about the guns? Surely one of them had the chance to fire?”
    â€œThey were fake. Seems one of the security guys spotted ‘ Made in China’ stamped on the side and it was game over. I think I still have the pictures in my office if you want to take a look.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay thanks, I’ll take your word for it that these guys are good. But will they be enough? I’m not being funny, but Carrie is a hell of a lot more famous than she was a year ago, and the guest list, I imagine, is going to reflect this.”
    â€œYou imagine right, but we’ll simple hire more guys. Relax, it’ll be fine.”
    â€œI’ll relax when it’s all over and Carrie is safe and sound in bed. You forget, Carmichael, we may have more than just a party to worry about.”
    â€œI agree with Andrea.”Carrie said. “The fruitcake who’s sending these letters might see this as the ideal opportunity to say hello in person.”
    Funny how the absence of light always made her feel so vulnerable and even though she knew that all she had to do was stretch