Carolina Mac [Mac - Cat

CAT

The Blackmore Agency: Book Nine

Carolina Mac

Copyright 2018 by Carolina Mac

CAT - 1st ed.

ISBN 978-1-988850-57-

All rights reserved

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To: Barbie

She was not fragile like a flower. She was fragile like a bomb.

UNKNOWN

CHAPTER ONE

January 19 th .

The night before.

Judge Campbells Residence. West Austin.

CAT stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. A few more lines around her eyes than shed like and a few too many freckles across her nose. A good cover-up would fix the freckles. Nothing could fix the line. No gray hair, at least not yet. Still dark red with lots of natural highlights. The gray might be on its waycoming in fast and furious after tomorrow.

Forty-seven years old and tomorrow shed be the new Governor of Texas. And after the swearing-in ceremony and the official dinner and all the formal hoop-de-do, shed be moving to the Governors mansion on Colorado Street. Some pretty impressive people had lived there before her. Sam Houston, George W. Bush, Miriam Ferguson. Would she measure up? Or would she show the people of Texas theyd made a horrible mistake?

Was she ready for her new life? A life where every move she made, every word she spoke in public, every outfit she wore would be recorded, filmed, photographed, judged and open to public scrutiny.

Frighteningthats what it was. From tomorrow morning on, her life would be an open book. She had to assure that it would be a book she wouldnt be ashamed to have people read. Funny when it came down to it, how much did it matter what anybody thought of her? Only one persons opinion counted anymore. Why?

Tomorrow would be a long and stressful day and sleep was what she needed mostif sleep was possible, she was so wound up. Her cell rang in the bedroom and she hurried out of the ensuite to grab it from her dressing table. Hi.

Can I come over?

Not a good idea. There could be media people already stationed outside watching the house.

Ill be discreet. No one will see me. Leave the garden doors unlocked in the dining room.

Umm I need sleep before my big day tomorrow. I dont want to be on flat screens all over the US with bags under my eyes.

Ill see that you get plenty of sleep. Plus, Ill supply other necessities you need andenjoy.

The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

BLAINE sat in his office staring at the e-mails on his screen. He ran the Blackmore Agency from his renovated Victorian mansion located in the East Cesar Chavez area of the city of Austin, and on any given day he received hundreds of e-mails. From Powell Corp., the billion-dollar business he ran with his mother, Annie, dozens from Powell and Associateshis legal firm left to him by his step-father, (now expanded to three branches), and from the Blackmore Agency, his and Jesse Quantralls effort against violent crime in Texas.

A gentle tapping sounded on the closed door, then Misty stuck her head in. Are you busy, sweetheart? What do you think of this one?

This is the fourth dress shes modelled for me.

Looks gorgeous on you, Mist. I love you in blue with your long, blonde curls.

She twirled around once and smiled.

Do you know what Cats wearing? he asked.

Misty inhaled a little too quickly. I should have found that out first, shouldnt I? She moved closer to the desk, the way only Misty movedfloating silently on air like a hovercraft in a female bodyunnerving to anyone not aware of her powers. Can you call her?

Blaine laughed. Youre kidding me, right?

Shes your best friend. She dotes on you.

Blaine shook his long black hair and his bandana flopped onto the desk. No, she doesnt. He glanced at the time on his computer. Ten after ten. He picked up his cell and before he could press a contact, it rang in his hand. It startled him.

Hey, sweetie, Im nervous. I just wanted to hear your voice.

Dont tell me, Im the grounding factor in your world.

Something like that.

What are you wearing tomorrow?

Cat giggled. Why? Are we wearing matching outfits?

Its not me thats concerned. Misty doesnt want to be arrested by the fashion police.

Green is my best color.

Red hair, green eyes. I got it.

What color is Mrs. Powell wearing?

Damned if I know. She wears whatever she wants and has never once consulted me, said Blaine.

She has an unlimited budget, said Cat. That fact alone makes me nervous.

I dont think youre exactly starving, and why are you worrying? Is there going to be some red-carpet bullshit I dont know about?

Cat giggled again, and Blaine thought he could hear somebody talking to her in the background.

I better go, sweetness. Ill see you tomorrow.

You will.

Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

ANNIE sat at the kitchen island at Coulter-Ross enjoying a beer with Declan. On staff the past few years as her medic, he attended to illnesses and injuries of the boys in the safe-house who were unable to leave the property because of their paroles.

Did you try your tux on, sugar pop? asked Annie.

They measured me in the shop, said Dec. Im sure it will be a perfect fit, and why worry? No one looks at the men anyway. Why would they with all the glam that will be going on? What are you wearing or is it a surprise to all of Texas?

Annie giggled. Doesnt matter what I wear, all eyes will be on Judge Catherine Campbell, the new Governor.

Hope it isnt four years of hell for young Blaine, said Dec. Hes the one who has to work with her.

I wasnt happy when he committed to her publicly on TV, said Annie, but it might work out. She doesnt give off a trustworthy vibeat least not to me.

Tomorrows her first day. Lets give the lady a chance before we burn her at the stake.

Yeah, lets. Annie tipped up her Lone Star and finished it. Lets have another one.

Your wish Dec winked at her.

Jesse will be going, said Annie, as she pulled two more Lone Stars out of the Sub-Zero. Hes part of the Blackmore Agency and hell have to be there.

Will his presence bother you?

Not much. Ill always love Jesse, even though hes never gotten his act together as my husband, my lover, or even my boyfriend, many moons ago. He has no clue how to have a relationship. He loves me, but he insists on living at his own ranch and raising his daughter over there. Can I accept that? Not really, but theres not a damn thing I can do about it. I cant leave fifty people stranded over here at Coulter-Ross without jobs or a home. Annie shrugged. What am I going to do?