Secret Service Setup. Jessica R. Patch
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team—which didn’t include Jody—to church. That didn’t surprise him, though. In the four years he’d dated Jody, she’d never once gone to church except on Easter and at Christmas, but that was because she said her mama guilted her into it. But she did keep a Bible in her nightstand drawer. So at some point she’d had faith.
What was surprising was Jody’s reaction to seeing Evan go to church. But she didn’t want to talk about their past and she wouldn’t discuss what had happened in between their past and present.
Monday morning, Beckett Marsh’s wife had fixed a big breakfast and then he and his team, along with Jody and Mr. Wiseman, set out for the hour-and-a-half drive to the Columbus Civic Center. Local law enforcement had been in contact with his team to coordinate safety precautions. SWAT had been called in, as well, due to the assassination attempt in Atlanta.
Evan had checked in with his Special Agent in Charge, Clive Bevin, but he kept the truth about the real target to himself. They’d been friends for over eight years, and Evan hated not divulging to him. But for now, until he knew who was trying to take him out and why, he had to rely on Jody and the team at CCM.
A notification popped up on his phone.
Morning Scripture. He’d set his phone to deliver one in the morning and afternoon to help him stay fixated on good things. Like that verse in Philippians. Think on things above. Plus, he didn’t know a lot of verses but he wanted to. Glancing down he read the morning verse.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
How true that was. God, help me know the right words at the right time to talk to Jody.
Another notification came to his attention. His investigative support assistant, Layla Scrivener. She was a whiz in the office and took a major load off him. She’d emailed to let him know he and his team had already been checked into the hotel so they could bypass that part and get the senator straight into his room.
Perfect.
The senator looked pasty. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. One attempt doesn’t mean it will translate into another one.” He was talking to himself of course. Maybe the head doctor had been right. This guy wasn’t in danger, but he was carrying the stress of someone who was. Evan didn’t feel good about the deception.
He sent a text to Jody.
I’m having second thoughts about withholding info from the senator.
Jody sat behind him so he couldn’t see her, but his phone buzzed.
I don’t like it either but when he knows it’s u, he won’t want u up there w/him. Can u blame him?
Evan hadn’t thought about that. Senator Townes needed Evan up there. He was in charge, and while he trusted his colleagues, he trusted himself most. Probably came from years of relying on no one but himself. When Dad had finally walked out, Evan had gotten a job to help his mother pay bills. He’d had to be the man, the leader. She was fragile. Always had been. He’d cooked, worked, cleaned, made sure the crummy car had gas and oil changes.
And then he’d gone and become his dad with the drinking and failing the woman he’d claimed to love. How had that happened?
What was the best course of action? Let the guy freak out for a couple of days but know he was safe, or tell him and risk something happening and Evan not being close enough to protect him? Or...
“Senator, are you sure you want to go through with this rally?” Evan asked. If he could get him to back down, Evan wouldn’t have to lie and feel bad about it, and he could still hide the fact that someone had targeted him and not the senator. “I strongly feel that canceling isn’t a sign of weakness but precaution.”
He glanced back at Jody.
“Your wife is probably sitting by your son’s side worrying about you both, Senator. Maybe you need to withdraw because she needs you,” Jody said. Nice touch giving the senator a way out that wasn’t cowardly but family oriented. And she was right.
“We’re coming up on our hotel, Agent Novak,” the agent driving said.
“Circle the lot twice. Keep your eyes peeled, boys.” Evan turned and Jody raised an eyebrow. She never minded being called a guy or a dude...or a boy in this case. But she was far from male. Tall, nearly 5ꞌ10". Muscular but in a sleek way. Her new haircut showcased her long, slender neck. His mouth went dry and he trained his eyes on the parking lot. Nothing seemed suspicious, but he had a bad feeling.
“Davis, Martin,” he said to his colleagues, “I’m gonna do a preliminary sweep on foot with Miss Gallagher before we escort the men through the kitchen entrance.” No way she would let him go without her. “Cover Senator Townes and Mr. Wiseman.” Jody and Evan exited the vehicle. This morning was slightly warmer than yesterday. The air was calm. The lot silent.
Jody walked a few feet from the SUV and scanned the parking lot, her eyes resting on the Dumpster with a wooden fence built around it. She moved toward it, slipping her sidearm out and sliding off the safety. The woman had a sniffer like a dog. It was kind of freaky and at the same time cool like a superpower, but he’d also placed many a cold rag on her brow when a migraine from overload hit or she’d thrown up from a sensitive gag reflex to the scents.
“What is it?” he whispered, and moved closer.
“I don’t know. Trash, grease...and musk from deodorant but not from someone who lingered in the parking lot. It’s too fresh. It’s not you, not anyone with us...” She cocked her head. Her eyes widened and she hollered as the wooden gate door burst open. “Get down!”
Evan lunged and tackled Jody, toppling them behind a blue Ford Focus as a man in dark camo opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle.
Shielding Jody, they hunkered down behind the car, then she scurried out from his shelter and fired back.
The man dodged behind the wooden door that had swung open.
A dark van screeched into the lot as more gunfire cracked their direction.
“Stay down,” Evan yelled to Townes and Wiseman in the SUV. The van gave the masked man time to dart from the Dumpster area and across the fast-food parking lot next to the hotel.
One of the agents pursued on foot, weaving through the cars.
The passenger popped off a few more rounds before the van squealed away.
“Get that plate number!” Evan screamed. He wasn’t in a position to see it for himself.
Jody heaved a sigh; sweat popped on her forehead. “Why are you protecting me when you’re the target?”
Evan turned, sitting with his back against the tire of the car they’d used as a shield. “Because you were a sitting duck. What would you have me do? Let you get killed to prove some kind of point?”
Jody stood. “I’m supposed to be covering you.”
Evan chuckled but it lacked any humor.
“Why is that funny?”
“It’s not.” It wasn’t. How could he explain his instinct wasn’t ever for him? It was always for her. “None of this is humorous, Jo.”
“Don’t call me that.”
His pet name for her. “It slipped out. I’m sorry.” He headed for the SUV and they secured the area and escorted the men inside. The agent who was in pursuit came back with nothing. The gunman on foot got away. No one got the plates on the van.
A sniper rifle attempt in Atlanta. Sleek. Stealth. Professional.
And an AK-47 attempt now. Not thought out. More like a gang hit.
Jody ran a hand through her hair and Evan couldn’t help himself. “Are you sure you’re okay?” No, he hadn’t asked his other agents if they were, but Jody was different. He had to see her as nothing more than a colleague. But he’d never seen her