''Uniform was guaranteed,'' Penny whispered.
''Remind me to write a thank-you to the manufacturer,'' Tommy said, his usual smile almost back on his face. Then he turned a fine shade of green.
About that time, Kris realized this gorgeous gown that would make Mother green with envy didn't have a stitch of body armor in it. Suddenly Kris's stomach demanded a quit clause on its contents. She swallowed twice, using iron will to keep herself from marring this beautiful work of art Abby had dressed her in.
The ride down seemed longer than the ride up.
Chapter 10
The ride down was silent except for a few exchanges among the security detail. In the hall to her suite. Inspector Klaggath set his outside detail, two agents at the elevator, two more covering the slide car, and two at her door. She paused as he dismissed the party detail to thank them all herself. Before Klaggath could follow his team, Kris invited him in.
Once in the suite, Kris did nothing while Abby went over her with one detector. Jack did the same with Klaggath, who showed no surprise and very quickly demonstrated he knew how to operate a bug search and sizzle machine. Again, Penny and Tommy shared the honors among themselves. Done with one set, they swapped clockwise, and, when finished with the second set, did it again.
''You folks are thorough,'' Klaggath said.
''From the number of bugs we've sizzled,'' Jack said, ''it looks like we have to be.''
''You've beat my previous high,'' the Turantic cop agreed.
Done with the third search, Kris retired with Abby to change. NELLY, HOW'S THE MOBILE BUG SITUATION?
THERE ARE THREE UNKNOWNS OPERATING IN THE SUITE.
LET THE OTHERS KNOW.
I AM AFRAID TO ADDRESS THEM, EVEN IN WRITING. TWO BUGS ARE TRANSMITTING ON ENOUGH BANDWIDTH THAT THEY MAY BE VISUAL.
Kris sighed.
''That bad?'' Abby asked as she undid the dress.
Kris forced herself to stay onstage for just a few more minutes. ''No worse than back home. But no better, either, and that Mr. Sandfire is so damn cool. So damn cool.''
As Abby hung up the dress, Kris took the moment to wash her face in cold water. She'd led a drop mission and fought a firefight outnumbered five to one. What was so bad about being a target? Maybe it's cumulative, girl? Or maybe it's easier when you can shoot back, she answered herself.
Abby laid out a comfortable blue sweatsuit that just happened to display the Wardhaven seal, now with a crown atop it.
''This your idea?'' she asked her maid.
''You're a Princess twenty-four/seven, girl.''
''So I've noticed.'' NELLY, WHAT'S THE SITUATION?
''I CAPTURED TWO MORE MOBILE NANOS,'' the computer reported aloud. ''THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST TOO TROUBLESOME. i BURNED IT.''
Interesting choices and choice of words for a computer. ''Nelly, we need to talk later about your progress since your latest upgrade.''
''Yes, ma'am, but I don't know what we can talk about.'' Abby raised an eyebrow. Clearly, Kris and Nelly needed to talk.
''Jack, Tommy, Penny, Abby, Inspector Klaggath, front and center. We need to talk about tonight.''
''Tonight I've decided to walk home. Anyone with me?'' Tommy said with one of his lopsided grins. He came back into the living room in an undershirt and blue wool pants.
''How secure are we?'' Penny asked, now out of uniform and in a borrowed pair of Kris's jogging shorts and a tank top. No bra, Kris could see her nipples. So could the guys. ''Women that well-endowed should always wear the proper foundation garments,'' Kris heard Mother say. She'd never said it to Kris.
''Nelly says we are secure,'' Kris answered. ''Inspector Klaggath, what happened to all that vaunted central security?''
''Please call me Bill,'' Klaggath said, still in formal dress.
He stood, hands folded in front of him in what Kris had come to recognize as a cop's form of parade rest.
Jack stood beside him, also still in formal.
''Okay, Bill. What happened?''
''The ballroom seems to have taken a power spike, far beyond specs. It took down a lot of equipment.''
''And security gear wasn't on emergency backup?''
''Yes it was, fully tested and certified.'' The Agent scowled. ''Unfortunately, in this first actual test, the backups failed.''
''Is it my imagination, or does this new station seem a bit below specs?''
''Can't argue, ma'am. Bottom line is we have no video of the assassination attempt, and we were not able to follow the assassin in her flight.''
''Her?''
Bill spoke into his wrist, and a small screen opened in the wall's view of a refreshing mountain waterfall. Kris strode over to get a good view of a woman in serving dress, white shirt, black jumper, long hair covering the side of her face toward the camera. Her hand supported a tray of drinks that didn't quite hide an automatic.
''That why she missed me? The serving tray blocked her aim?''
''No, ma'am, that weapon has a fully automatic visual sight. She saw what she was shooting at and hit what she aimed for.''
Kris glanced at Tom. Once again, his freckles were bright red against his very pale skin, but he shrugged. ''Glad to be of service, but Jack, my good friend, do you know where I can buy some underwear of fine Super Spider Silk?''
''I've got one of my agents out shopping already. It should be delivered in the morning.'' Klaggath turned to Kris. ''I've got her shopping for all of you. Cops always wear this stuff. I thought you Navy types did, too.''
''They haven't invented Spider Silk undies to stop a four-inch laser,'' Kris replied dryly.
''Laser cannons are the least of your problems, ma'am.''
''Agreed,'' Kris said.
''Can we pause for a moment?'' Jack said. ''If they were not aiming for the Princess but were aiming for her escort, what does that tell us?''
''Tommy, you got any spurned lovers in this port?'' Kris said, trying for humor.
Tommy collapsed into his usual chair, Penny settling on the arm of it. Kris waved the others to chairs and couches. Klaggath seemed inclined to stand, but Jack took him by the elbow. ''When the woman starts one of her staff meetings, it's best to sit down before what she says knocks you down.''
Kris threw Jack a glare, but Tom was answering her previous question. ''I've got a few spurned captors. Think they might be after me?''
''Sandfire does seem to like pretty girls for his enforcers,'' Penny remarked.
''One of the girls around Sandfire seemed to recognize Tom,'' Kris said, a wicked smile taking over her face. ''Any of those eyefuls your old girlfriends?''
''I was blindfolded and drugged to the gills. And believe me, none of them were treating me any way as nice as they do that SOB,'' Tom shot back. ''If I get alone with one of them, it will be breaking an arm I'll be doing.''
''I wouldn't count on that,'' Jack said quietly. ''If you looked past the next to nothing they were wearing, there was a lot of muscle on their bones. I would not put my scratch security team up against that bunch. Not if I could help it.''
''I caught a glimpse of a weapon on one of them,'' Penny said.
''So, in the future, we assume Sandfire's nymphs are armed and very dangerous,'' Kris concluded.
''You seem to know a lot about Mr. Sandfire,'' Klaggath said.
''We have reason to believe,'' Jack said, leaning toward the Inspector on the couch they shared, ''Mr. Sandfire does not like the Princess Royal. They have a history I can fill you in on later.'' Bill raised two eyebrows but said nothing.
Penny was off the armchair, pacing back and forth. ''Kris dropped everything on Wardhaven and came here in record time after Tom was kidnapped. She led the rescue team herself last night. Then Tom shows up as her escort tonight. I bet Sandfire figures Tom for Kris's lover.''
Tom was shaking his head so fast it was in danger of coming unscrewed.