Secret Service Setup. Jessica R. Patch
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another cup of coffee and added a splash of cream.
Would any of them know about her past with Evan? Jody couldn’t stand not knowing who had hacked her phone. She had a personal stake in this now. “I think since whoever did it wanted everyone to believe it was directed at Senator Townes, we should pretend it was. Not let anyone know that we figured out it was aimed at Evan. That way we have the upper hand while investigating.”
“She’s right,” Wilder agreed. “The senator isn’t in danger, though he doesn’t know it, and while I’m not a fan of concealing that, to find whoever this wolf in sheep’s clothing is, and to protect you while doing it, it’s necessary.”
“I don’t agree,” Cosette interjected. “That’s a lot of fear and anxiety for a man whose son was injured in a car accident three days ago.”
“And yet he’s on the campaign trail,” Wilder fired back.
“It may be his way of coping with tragedy, Wilder. We all deal differently.” Her tone implied she was coming at him personally.
Wilder shot her a daggered look.
Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “Should we go ahead and hit the next city? He has two more rallies in the next two days, if he’s willing to go. After today, he may cancel everything.”
“He won’t,” Cosette added. “Not if he’s dealing with his son’s tragedy by escaping. And there’s also a matter of pride. He’s a Vietnam vet and a huge Second Amendment supporter. Guns won’t keep him away. I strongly suggest you disclose the truth to him, though. I understand not wanting your colleagues aware at this point since you aren’t sure who may be involved. But the senator and his staff should be in the loop.”
“If we tell the senator and he leaks it, even by accident, then we lose our advantage,” Wilder said. “For the sake of everyone’s safety, this is the best plan. We have to think like soldiers here, not with feelings.” He held Cosette’s fiery gaze. “Someone who took an oath to protect people is harming them. I think the senator, being a vet, will understand one hundred percent when all is said and done. Our mission is to protect...and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” Wilder’s words, tone and body language left zero room for arguing.
Jody agreed. She’d been thrown away as a bad egg when she’d been innocent, and someone on the inside now was getting away with corruption and attempted murder.
Evan stroked his chin. “Then we’ll forge ahead as planned. I’ll hit the trail and watch my back. It’s mine they want anyway.” Evan eyed each person in the room, including Jody. “Thank you all for today.”
That was it? Evan was going to go rogue. Hadn’t he listened to Wilder’s “we”? Someone on the inside was after him and he was going to move on like nothing had happened?
“You’re not going alone.” The words were out before she thought them through, and they kept on spilling. “Wilder is right. You need a second set of eyes on your back, and I’m going with you.” The room grew silent. Tension mounted and she stood, swallowing the lump in her throat, barely casting a glance at Evan.
“Oh, are ya now?” Wilder asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Look, Senator Townes isn’t traveling alone. You put me on protection detail for Bill Wiseman. If he plans to continue the rally tour with the senator, then there’s no reason for me not to go.” And to save face, he would. If not, she’d figure out something else.
“And you want to be his security detail while really being mine?” Evan asked.
“You don’t have confidence in me?” Jody held his gaze, not quite able to read the emotions swirling in his eyes.
“I trust you more than anyone in this room,” he murmured.
Wilder looked at Shepherd, who stood next to him. “Are you insulted? I feel a little insulted.”
Shepherd smirked.
Jody wasn’t sure how to respond. A tidal wave of feelings rushed over her.
“But the answer is no,” Evan added.
No? If either of them had a reason to push the other away it was Jody. But she was offering herself up. Yeah, partly because she’d been thrown into this with the text message, but deep within, she couldn’t let Evan be out there alone. No one would be looking out for him because no one knew he was in danger. Or from whom! It reminded her too much of Christine. If only she’d have known she’d been in trouble, had been approached in an untoward way by her commanding officer before, Jody could have protected her.
She blew through the parlor and straight out the back door toward the stable that didn’t hold a single horse. Hay, earth, decomp and animal droppings flooded her senses. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled the small jar of vapor rub and smeared some under her nose.
She kicked a stall door and held in tears.
She was over shedding tears because of Evan Novak.
She was over him.
“Jody?” Evan’s voice floated like a gentle breeze.
“What?” She spun around.
He opened his mouth to speak, but it seemed words failed him and he raked his hands through his hair and sighed. “I said no because I don’t want to put you in danger.”
Seriously? “You do know that this is my job. It’s in my DNA, all I’ve ever wanted to do. Navy, police force... Secret Service.” She gritted her teeth. “CCM. I’ve been putting my life on the line since I was eighteen. I chose it.” More like it had chosen her. She may be a Gallagher, but she was also a Flynn on her mama’s side. “So don’t use this as some excuse to escape me. I would never let what happened between us personally or professionally interfere with the task at hand.” That had to be it. Or he simply didn’t want to be around her. Well, she wasn’t the one who’d betrayed him.
Evan closed the distance between them, and even through the vapor rub, his scent whirled her into the past. Into fond memories. And painful.
“I don’t think that. I don’t want to put you in danger because I’ve hurt you enough, and to know that I might cause it again... I can’t do that. I won’t. I’m not saying someone can’t watch my back.” His soft tone was like lulling a baby, and it held regret. His eyes mirrored it. “Just can’t be you.”
Now he was concerned about her welfare? If she hurt or not?
“I received that text. No one else. Someone wanted to make me look like I wasn’t doing my job. I can’t help but think whoever it is knows a little—or a lot—about what happened in our past.” She paused to hold in the quiver. “This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about me. It makes sense for it to be me.” Besides, she always finished what she started even if it got her in trouble. That might be as much of a weakness as a strength. “So here we are.”
“Here we are,” he whispered, and held her gaze. Intense. “About our past. I need to—”
“I need to not. Let’s leave it where it belongs. Dead and buried. I’m going with you on this tour if Wiseman agrees to go. If not, we figure something else out. But under no circumstances will this get personal. Civil. Not even friendly. Do I make myself clear?” Her heart couldn’t handle another battering. Talking about it would open up wounds that had scabbed over long ago.
A deep pain flickered across his face, and she almost apologized but held firm. “Okay, Jody. Whatever you want. I’ll do whatever you want.”
Why hadn’t he done whatever she wanted three years ago? Tears nearly erupted and she wasn’t going to allow him the show. “I—I want you to leave now.”
He nodded and left her alone.
No fight.
Like he always did.
* * *
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