The Protector (17 page)

“Alison said she trusts you so I will take her word, but there is something more neither of you are telling me and Ted.”   As if on cue, Alison walked in and looked at both of us. She had a crooked smile on her face.  Her eyes were dark and full of emotion.  She walked past Stacy and I and shut off the television coverage of the shooting and went to sit down on Stacy’s dark leather couch.

“He’s my own personal body guard Stacy,” She said. Her demeanor almost scared me as she was so flippant as she said it.  Her voice was a few levels below hysterical laughter. It was somewhere between crying and laughing. “He was sent to protect me from bad people who are trying to kill me.”

I watched as Stacy’s face went from curiosity to the horror stricken look she had when we had driven up. “Who is trying to kill you Alison?”  She shot looks and forth between me and Alison.   Suddenly her fists began to fly and she was hitting me all over.  “I’m a black belt in something, I could seriously hurt you! What did you give her to make her like this?”

That in between hysterical laughing and crying suddenly turned into hysterical laughter as Alison raced over and pulled her friend away from me.  For such a small lady she sure had some hard hitting blows.  I suddenly had a headache. 

‘’Stacy!” Alison screamed “                                                                                                                                                    He’s the good guy!”

Her friend was hysterical as she began to pace her living room. Each time she passed by me, she gave me an evil stare. And each time, it made Alison laugh harder.

“I am glad you are getting humor out of this Alison,” Stacy said. “This isn’t funny. You are in some type of altered state and I am going to call Tim and have Kurt bring you in for a drug test! I am serious.”  Stacy went and grabbed a hold of Alison’s shoulders and began to shake her.

“She’s right Sonny, this isn’t funny.”  The charade was off and I made the Irish accent disappear. Although it was something that came very naturally to me, it was something I could turn off as quickly as I could turn it on.

“See I knew the accent was a fake! Alison do you not see it, he’s a con artist! He didn’t even know Tom and went to his funeral. You sick bastard.”   She began to come at me again with those martial arts moves and this time I was the one who began to laugh.  She looked like a wild woman and Alison could do nothing but stare at her friend and laugh.

A

Stacy looked hysterical trying to beat on Jack as she was.  He stood there taking her hits and as I watched I knew she was getting in a few painful jabs at him.  The only thing I could do was laugh at the situation.  Everything at this point was hysterical.  I once again pulled Stacy off of Jack and pulled her over to the couch where I had sat before her tirade had started.

“Alison?”

Jack jumped in and came to stand next to the couch. He didn’t dare cross anywhere near Stacy and her special martial arts moves. “Stacy, I did know Tom. When he traveled, I usually traveled with him.”

“Why would you travel with him? You don’t work out at the labs?”

Jack’s eyes narrowed as knew he would have to tell Stacy something. I had decided to keep my mouth shut as I wasn’t sure how much he would tell her. I had already blown it by opening up mouth.  I knew it and I would have to face the consequences later with Jack.

“Call it job security for him. When Alison traveled this last time, I accompanied her.  And for Alison, her job security followed her home.”

Stacy sat forward on the couch and ran her fingers through her hair.  I knew her enough to know she was not happy with the answers she was getting. She always wanted to know the complete story, not just the need to know information.

“I’m still not getting it.  Alison’s in danger because of her job?”

Jack only nodded to her in response. Stacy turned to look at me. “And you’re ok with this?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “it’s not like I have a choice in the matter Stacy.”

Jack moved closer to Stacy and I, taking a seat next to me.  He laid his hand on my shoulder and looked at Stacy as he spoke.  I could feel my face grow red from his touch. “Look, my job now is to keep her safe. I don’t know what is going to happen, but you are going to have to trust me like Sonny does.” He looked back at me for reassurance.

“I have no choice Stacy.”  I wanted, no, I needed her to know I trusted this man who sat next to me. He had saved my life this morning. I owed him the world at the moment. 

“It’s that bad?” I could see Stacy’s eyes fill with tears.  “What is going on? Where are you going to go? It’s not like you can stay here now.”

Jack only nodded his head. “No, we can’t.”

A shudder raced through my body as I realized the potency of his words. After this morning’s shoot out at the coffee place, nothing would ever be the same again. Since coming home from Tel Aviv and DC, I had tried to continue on with my life.  Yes things were different. Tom was gone and my responsibilities increased at work. But for the most part I had been safe and sound.  This new development was going to take some time to adjust to.  I looked at Jack for guidance. 

His eyes were filled with concern and he looked away from both me and Stacy. He got up from his seat and paced back and forth in the living room. We sat there in silence and watched as this man moved in precise steps contemplating how to keep me alive.  She had grabbed my hand earlier I laid my head on her shoulder. I felt as I needed to reassure her, I still needed her, but my place right now was with Jack.  

Finally, Stacy broke the silence, “Where are you going?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to tell you,” Jack responded guilt ridden. Although he had probably been through something like this before with one of his people, hiding them, his voice was sad.  And I knew it was sad for me.

“I can keep a secret Jack,” Stacy’s voice filled with anger and resentment. “You are taking my best friend you know.  How am I supposed to get along without her?  Who am I supposed to call when I need someone to talk to? How could you do this to me Alison?”  My friend pulled her hand from mine and glared at me. I only shrugged.

Jack stared at Stacy with a look of utter bewilderment. “You cannot be serious Stacy?”

“I am dead serious,” she answered him back getting up from the couch.

             
I had to hold back the laughter that had built up again.  This was Stacy, everything was about her and revolved around her. I knew in that
self-deluded
mind of hers she cared deeply about what happened to me. She just did not know how to express it to anyone, not even me.

Jack shook his head and turned to look at me. I knew to leave Stacy alone when she was like this. Arguing with her or telling her that the world did not revolve around her would send her into a frenzied state.  But Jack on the other hand, I could tell was going to push the envelope with her.  I sat back and positioned myself for the fireworks.  “Stacy this is about Sonny’s safety. This has nothing to do with you. I can’t tell anyone where she is going and neither can she. There is no other option. Not only for her safety, but your safety as well.” I knew he threw that last bit in for her. He glanced back in my direction and I only shrugged. I should have warned him but, for some reason, as good as he was a reading people, I had kind of guessed he would figure it out himself.

Stacy actually stood still absorbing Jack’s words as if they had meant something to her.  “Well, I guess I will just have to make do calling her on her cell phone. I guess I could live with that.”

I watched intently as Jack sucked in a deep breath of exasperation. He shook his head and looked back at me. The bewilderment still had not disappeared from his face. “Stacy,” he started and then hesitated. He did not turn and look at her, but instead focused all of his attention on me.  “There will be no communication what so ever until I know she is safe.” I could read the apology in his eyes. I could tell he was sorry.  “As far as anyone is concerned, She will be attending meetings in Europe. There will be no contact with anyone! End of conversation.”

I watched the anger fester below the surface and knew the explosion was coming.  Stacy turned and looked at me. I had had enough and put my hand up to stop her from talking. I got up and walked over to her. “I will be ok, and you will live without me for a little bit Stacy. You did when I was in Israel didn’t you?”

“I guess,” her voice was full of venom. She turned and looked at the stranger in her living room.  “I don’t know who you are, but if she trusts you then I guess I have to.” Her voice was full of sarcasm and
self-indignation
. 

Jack watched her as she walked closer to me. But his eyes once again focused on me. “We will need to go soon.”

I nodded my head and wrapped my arms around my friend. She frustrated the hell out of me. But I loved her dearly. “I’ll be safe and I’ll contact you when I can. Jack, is that acceptable?”

Jack didn’t look at us but instead walked over to the couch and took a seat.  His forehead was creased and I knew, by the way he hunched his shoulders down, he was stressed.  He almost looked as if he was in pain, but I didn’t think he was, it was more deep thought than anything else. 

I watched him while Stacy mumbled something to me. Suddenly what she was saying was so unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Watching this man contemplate things was so much more important. His expression had not changed and he was now intently staring at me. My eyes were focused on his, as if we were trying to read each other’s mind.

“Alison, are you listening to me?” Stacy shook my shoulder to get my attention and it took me a few seconds to pull my eyes away from his.

“What?”

“You aren’t listening to me.” Again she looked back and forth between Jack and I.  “When are you leaving?”

“Soon,” Jack responded.  “Sonny do you think they have shut down Tom’s accounts yet? Cleared off his hard drive?”

I shook my head. “Probably not.”

“Then let’s go. I still think the key to this is on his computer.”

“You can’t take her on base, are you nuts,” Stacy’s voice was filled with concern.

“Base is the safest place for her. They won’t try anything there. I am pretty confident of that.” He walked over to where I stood and grabbed my arm. “Come on.”  His squeeze was not hard but enough to get me to move faster than I or Stacy wanted me to. “Stacy thank you.” His words were cold.

“Keep her safe please.” Stacy hugged me as Jack guided me to the front door and to my car. 

“I will,” Jack replied. “As soon as this is all over she will be back.  You have my promise.” Jack tried to smile at Stacy but the worry in his face kept him from a sincere effort.

I waved as we drove away from Stacy and then turned to look at the man who was my now my sole protector and friend. He was once again in deep thought as we headed toward the base. It was
mid-morning
now and traffic was lighter than it had been this morning.  I suggested and he agreed that taking another gate in would be the wisest option. Traffic and police presence near the gate I usually went in would be extreme.  

As we drove through the security check point and I flashed my DOE badge, I broke the silence that was between us. “What is it you want off of his computer? I thought you had seen most of it. “

“I had to have missed something.  What can you get away with taking?”  I shook my head as I didn’t really know.  Stealing equipment from the federal government was not my idea of job security. ”I might be able to get away with his laptop.  I can copy the info on his desktop to it.  I would just need to sign it out.”

“Please.” I looked into his pleading eyes and could not say no.

“You know if I get caught, I am so claiming you kidnapped me and forced me to do this.” My voice was both joking and serious all in the same breath.

“Sweetheart, you can tell them I held a gun to your head if it gets me the information I need to keep you safe.”  A smile finally appeared on his face as he parked my car in the lot. He took a deep breath and looked at me.  “I can’t follow you in but I know someone who can.” Jack’s eyes grew wide as he saw the soldier who had helped him at the coffee place walk toward the car. He opened the door and was greeted by the handsome Lieutenant.

“Lt. Thompson, you don’t know how glad I am to see you.”

“Sir?”  The Lt. dipped his head and smiled at me as I stayed in the car. I wasn’t sure if I should get out or not. “I need to talk to you.” He lowered his voice and stepped closer to Jack. “The cops have told the media I was the man who shot the guy on the roof. I didn’t.”

“I know. I told them that.  Please play along with it for Alison.” As he said it Jack pointed back into the car for me. I could only smile. I watched as Lance’s eyes filled with concern once again, obviously for my safety.  There was something about this Lieutenant that made me want to smile. I had always had a secret crush on him.  And my heart usually skipped a beat when we ran into each other at work. But today was different, at least with Jack there.

“There were some men who came around the scene looking for her. Said she was wanted for questioning.  They claimed to be FBI.”

I could see Jack’s face go dark with this new information. He quickly turned to look at me. “They’re not FBI.”