Targeted Solutions

By David N. Thomas II

Steven Thomas is a US Army Ranger who was medically separated from the Army and ls looking for a job. When he is offered a bodyguard job in Hollywood watching over Sarah Hayes, an actress whose ex-boyfriend is stalking her, he jumps at the chance. However, things are much more complicated than he'd anticipated, when the ex-boyfriend is an enforcer for a Mexican Drug Cartel, and he wants something in Sarah's house, and will do anything to get it back. Now, both men face off with Sarah's life in the balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David N. Thomas II
• Release date: May 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311328168

David N. Thomas II

My name is David N Thomas II and I retired from the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant in 2013 and am now living in Upstate New York. I spent 26 years in the Army both as an Infantryman and as a Chaplain's Assistant, and have had numerous security jobs since then. I enjoy travel, skiing, scuba diving and camping.

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Targeted Solutions

By

David N.Thomas II

Targeted Solutions

Published by David N. Thomas II at Smashwords

Copyright 2016 David N. Thomas II

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Targeted Solutions

Acknowlegements

AboutDavidThomas

ConnectwithDavidThomas

Targeted Solutions

PROLOGUE

My name is Steven Thomas. I spent twelve years in the Army but now I’m a bodyguard. Please note that I didn’t say professional bodyguard: just a guy who takes security jobs when he can find them to help pay the bills and then any other job that comes down the pike when those jobs end. Like most of us who would love to work in the more glamorous world we call Executive Protection, I’ve always wanted that one job: to protect one of the superstars or other famous celebrity. We’ve all watched Kevin Costner in THE BODYGUARD too many times and thought, I can do that, no problem.

I figured that having served in the Army for twelve years, eight of them as an Army Ranger would be great qualifications for the job. I’ve always been an expert shot with every weapon I’ve picked up, from a nine millimeter pistol to a sniper’s rifle and decent enough to go at it hand to hand if necessary. I had been part of several bodyguard details when I was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq for VIPs so I did have some background for the profession: I just needed the chance to prove myself. What I got myself into last year with my latest job was something I’d never have imagined, and I am still dealing with the consequences.

CHAPTER ONE

It was early June and I was in the small dining room of my rented home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, looking at my bills and trying to figure out where my next paycheck was coming from. I had been working nights as a Pizza delivery guy, which was fun because I liked driving my car around and trying to find a job during the day: one that involved something other than drinking beer, smoking an occasional cigar, and paid more than minimum wage. My last security job had ended two months before, so it had been a constant struggle since. My cell went off as I was getting frustrated at the seemingly endless stream of bills in front of me and it was a nice distraction. I picked it up and answered.

Yeah, this is Steve.

I didn’t recognize the phone number and hoped it wasn't a collector.

Steven Thomas? a vaguely familiar voice asked at the other end.

Yep, the same. I furrowed my brow, stood up, and walked over to the back door to the deck and glanced at the mountains outside. How can I help you?

Uh, actually, I might be able to help you, the voice said hesitantly. I have a security job you might be interested in. It could last a few weeks or possibly a month or two, but it pays well.

Who is this? Your voice sounds familiar, but I’m better with faces than voices.

Anyone offering a job was a new friend at this point.

Oh yeah, Steven, sorry I forgot, the voice said. This is David Sterling, we served together in 3rd Bat at Hunter Air Field. I was in the…

…yeah, you were moved from my squad to the Scout Platoon, a Team Leader.

I remembered him immediately.

I could easily visualize the guy: a very dark-skinned black guy a few inches over six feet tall, lanky with tats all over both arms and loved to drink Heineken like it was going out of style. Good in a firefight or behind a sniper’s scope I remembered. I’d been his Squad Leader for nearly six months before he’d been moved to the Scouts: a damned good shooter and a natural leader.

I remember, David, how are you? I smiled broadly. What are you up to? It’s been, what, 4 years since Hunter.

Yeah, it has been a while. I’ve been doing all sorts of stuff since I got out.

I nodded.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Hey, Steven, listen to me…I’m looking for some guys from the Bat for some protection jobs for some clients and you were the first guy I was thought of.

I cocked my head, curiosity getting the better of me now.

Protection as in an actual Bodyguard job? Not just protecting some executive from strikers or something else?

Hell no, this is job actually protecting someone, Steve. This is not a routine security detail.

He sounded offended at the suggestion and I laughed in spite of myself.

Sorry, Brother, I just wanted to be sure, I assured him. You running a company or something?

No, I’m a recruiter and the Ops guy for the boss. He runs a small security company out here in LA. He works only for high end customers who have actual threats against them. He likes military: especially Rangers or SF types and used to be a Green Beanie. I look for guys who fit the job and profile he’s been requested to look for.

I see, and I fit the profile? Which one was that: Broke and desperate?

Actually, I seem to remember you speak Spanish, and you were also good at blending in to your surroundings. You could get along with anyone, regardless of how big an asshole they were, David answered. I remember you could listen to an Operations Order, pick it apart, and rewrite it for us faster, and usually better than the original.

I laughed and nodded, suddenly missing all of it. The research and planning of operations came naturally to me. For some reason and I enjoyed the analysis part of it all. What some people thought of as work I thought of as fun, except the killing: I never quite got used to it like some people managed to. I still battled with it in my dreams five years after the fact. Maybe this would be a good way to stay in the game and find some purpose I’d been lacking lately.

Yeah, I think I was born an Operations guy, I commented. By the way, about the Spanish: I know just enough to have a drink, a meal, and get my ass kicked.

Now it was David’s turn to laugh.

Well, I still think you will be a good fit in this particular job. If I can fly you out here, will you take the job?

You haven’t told me what the job is yet, Dave, I’m still waiting.

Babysitting an actress. I blinked. She has a stalker: an ex-boyfriend who won’t leave her alone. He’s made some physical threats against her and her housekeeper unless she returns something of his but she has no idea what he’s talking about.

An actress? Is this a joke?

No, seriously, Steve, Dave said. She’s an actress. She plays on one of those daytime soaps. She’s actually pretty cool compared to some of our other clients and she is also really scared. Apparently it’s serious enough that her studio hired my boss to look into it.

Sounds like she needs someone to go through her house looking for whatever it is this guy wants more than a bodyguard, I said, and looked around the house. I’ll be honest, Dave, I could definitely use the money. How much does it pay?

Do you have a weapons permit valid in California? Dave asked, and I nodded.

I actually have a Federal Class C license for automatics and silencers that is valid anywhere in the country.

It had taken a while to get that, but, like all ex-Soldiers, I loved my weapons and automatic weapons were always better.

I can bring my own with me if needed.

Good, you will need to: we can’t assign weapons to our operatives. The job pays five hundred dollars a day, plus per diem, and we will cover your transportation and hotel. You will have a car assigned to you when you get here.

My jaw dropped.

I was silent for a moment, wrapping my head around the money.

You still there, Steve? Cat got your tongue?

I blinked and laughed nervously.

Uh yeah, I’m here, I fumbling for the words. When do you need me?

Well, sooner is better. I can get you out here day after tomorrow, is that soon enough?

I’ll be there, just send me the ticket, I sighed. Hey, Dave, thanks for thinking of me, the timing could not have been any better.

You’re welcome, Brother, he said. I always try to take care of my Battle Buddies. Regardless of how long it’s been. I will make arrangements for your weapons to be ship on the same plane: text me the serial numbers and weapon types. You’ll have no problems bringing them on the flight.

I appreciate it, looking forward to seeing you again.

Same here.

He asked for my email address, which I rattled off to him.

Got it, you’ll get the email in a few hours. You’ll probably be flying out of Denver.

Hey, whatever works.

Good, well, have a great day and I’ll see you in two days.

Looking forward to it, Rangers Lead the Way!

All the Way!

I stood motionless at the back door, staring out at the beauty of Pikes Peak in the distance. As much as I was going to miss the view a job was a job and I definitely needed the money right now.

Looking back, I probably should have tried to get a name before I got out there so I could do some research. I like to know what is going on before I get into a situation. It’s something that is drilled into you in the military…planning and rehearsal…troop leading procedures: a seven paragraph operations order that gives you ninety percent of what you need to conduct a mission. But this wasn’t the Army, and I would simply have to wait until I got there to see what was going on.

I was excited at the idea of getting paid, standing guard over an actress, an actress? Maybe beating the hell out of her ex boyfriend until he agreed to leave her alone. Hell, this could be my ticket to all sorts of opportunities if I did it right: maybe even jobs for other celebrities.

I tossed the phone back onto the table and walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge and pulled out a Sol beer. Even though I’ve been short of money I always promised myself I’d set some aside for a few things I really enjoyed. For me it’s Sol beer from Mexico and a good cigar to relax with once in a while. I didn’t have a girlfriend anymore: no pets or anything else to spend money on just bills, rent, and myself.

My last girlfriend was the reason I had so