Chasing Faith

by Stephanie Perry Moore

  The other female agent identified herself as Kelly Regunfuss from the Boston office. She also looked to be in her thirties. She had a smile that reminded me of a teddy bear. I could not see us hanging out, but I thought it’d be cool to work with her.

  The last guy, Agent Ryan Hold, could have passed for a high-school student with his boyish, freckled face and naïve expression. He was from the Los Angeles office. “I’m thirty-two, so don’t let the youthful face fool you.” He nodded curtly at Moss. “I’ve been an agent for ten years.”

  When it was my turn to introduce myself, all the faces seemed quite uninterested. Their blank expressions made me inwardly hope I made the right decision about accepting this assignment. Before I could speak, Agent Moss told them who I was. The cold way he presented me made me not that interested in myself. However, I knew I wasn’t there to make friends. I had a job to do. So when he was done telling them about my career in law enforcement, I waved and sat down.

  For the rest of the afternoon, Moss told us everything about Reverend Stokes’s schedule and habits. We each received a detailed diagram of the man’s house and were told to memorize every inch of it. Then Agent Moss paired us off. He and Agent Pitts were teamed together and would mostly handle surveillance and guard steps in front of the protectee. Agents Sawyer and Regunfuss would handle coverage from the sides and the rear. That meant that their job was to respond to fire if we were under attack. Agent Hold and I were given the assignment of being closest to the protectee at all times.

  “Agent Ware, this means that you do not go with your instinctive FBI training. You flee from danger—you don’t run to it and try and capture the bad guy. Get the protectee out of there,” Agent Moss said to me before we went through a role-playing drill.

  I thought I had the protectee mentality first down pat. All was going well. Agent Hold and I were posted beside the dummy protectee and we were carrying him around. But when blank bullets came from my left, I immediately drew my gun and started shooting back. Agent Moss blew his whistle and everyone surrounded me.

  Agent Sawyer smirked and said, “That’s why I detest having to work with agents from the treasury department. They don’t understand how we do things.”

  “Quiet, Sawyer,” Agent Moss said before he got in my face and attacked me. “Ware, do you realize our protectee would be dead right now because of your little act of heroics?”

  “Sorry, sir.”

  Agent Moss continued angrily, “You try apologizing to a dead man’s family. Agent Sawyer and Agent Regunfuss were to handle defense. If you can’t train your mind to remember this one task, then you need to leave now. You’ve got to be willing to trust other agents to cover your back, your partner’s, and the protectee’s.”

  He didn’t give me a chance to respond. He turned and walked out of the room, followed by Agents Pitts and Regunfuss.

  “She needs to leave,” Agent Sawyer said to my partner before he exited as well.

  Agent Hold touched my shoulder. “Don’t mind them. You’ll do fine.”

  I nodded. “Thanks, Agent Hold.”

  “You can call me Ryan,” he said kindly. “If we’re gonna be working together, I say let’s throw out the formality.”

  Shaking his hand, I said, “Then call me Chris. Or Ware. I like either one. I might make other mistakes, so feel free to check me on the side.”

  “Would have done it anyway, but glad to hear you won’t take it personally.” He leaned to my ear. “Agent Moss and the others were really impressed with your background. So really, we’re all honored to work with you.”

  The following day we all meet at seven P.M. in front of the hotel to head out on assignment to cover the night-shift rotation. I hadn’t spoken to any of them that day. I wasn’t feeling the best, so I slept in for much-needed rest.

  Agent Moss walked over to me and said, “So I see you’ve decided to stay with us.”

  “Ready to protect and serve, sir,” I said without wavering.

  “Glad to hear it,” he said as he motioned for us all to leave.

  Moss and three of the team members climbed into a black van. I got in a black Lincoln Town Car with Ryan. We drove in silence to Reverend Stokes’s Mediterranean-style stucco mansion. The lawn was perfectly manicured—so rich, edged, and green. There were tall magnolia trees, precisely trimmed bushes, and bright flowers lining the sidewalk.

  I hopped out of the car, eager to see what lay behind all those curtained windows. As we approached the house, I saw Agent Johnson from Brunswick training and his detail team getting into their vehicles. Moss rapped on the door, and a short, skinny maid answered. Without a word, she stepped aside to let us enter.

  A sparkling marble floor brilliantly reflected the massive chandelier in the foyer. Every piece of furniture I could see was exquisite. I felt like I’d just entered a royal castle.

  Reverend Stokes appeared, tall and handsome, from his office, dressed in an expensive gray suit. Agent Moss introduced the team members, and the black man amiably shook hands with each of us.

  Moss introduced me last. Stokes welcomed me formally, as he had the others. But as the team headed down the hall to set up headquarters in a back room, Stokes grasped my elbow and pulled me aside.

  “I was hoping for more than one African-American on my detail,” he said quietly, “but I figured they’d all be males. Pitts is what I expected, but you look too cute to defend somebody,” he implied with a bit of a flirtatious attitude.

  I looked him directly in the eye with an air of confidence and said, “I assure you, sir, no harm will come to you while I’m on duty.”

  “That’s what I want to hear,” he said, wearing the perfect presidential smile and then patting my butt.

  My hand flew up, and I almost slapped his face, but thankfully stopped myself. If I didn’t want to get tossed from this assignment, I had better control myself, and quick. But I couldn’t just let this guy think he could get familiar.

  Before I could respond and think of a solution to my dilemma, I noticed Mrs. Stokes standing by the kitchen entrance with her arms folded. She was a beautiful older woman. Her freshly done updo, flawless jewelry, and stylish suit made me know she was certainly an upscale lady. And that all eyes, with the exception of maybe her husband’s, were going to be on her at the event. She turned her nose up at me as if I were a lowly servant, looking upset with her husband as well.

  “Well, I’m not interrupting anything, dear, am I?” she asked condescendingly.

  “No, sweetheart,” he said as he kissed her cheek. “Come and meet…,”

  She cut him off and said, “Not right now.” Then she ushered her husband away with a not-so-nice expression on her face as I overheard her grilling him about what she’d just witnessed.

  “How could you touch her inappropriately like that, Steven? I’m so tired of your disrespect for me,” she said in a hurt and angry tone.

  “Quit overreacting,” he said as he tugged his arm away from her. “Besides, the girl can hear you.”

  She turned, huffed, and said to me, “Go about your work.”

  As quickly as I could, I joined my team at the back of the house. I didn’t say a word to anyone about Reverend Stokes’s comment or overly friendly gesture, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My opinion of him and his perfect marriage had certainly taken a nosedive.

  After reading logs from the previous detail’s comments in Secret Service headquarters in the back room, we went through the house, checking exits, making sure all doors and windows were locked, and made sure the security cameras that could be viewed from the van were working properly. The only rooms without a camera were the bedrooms and bathrooms. The family had to have some degree of privacy.

  Moss and Sawyer set themselves up in the command post, while Agents Pitts and Regunfuss were stationed in the van to monitor the cameras. Hold and I got to rewalk the house for a final check to make sure everything was in order. He took the upstairs and I had the downstairs.

 
As I walked past the dining area on my way to make sure the living room was secure, I heard Mrs. Stokes’s voice. “Your makeover is fabulous, darling.” I paused in the hallway, curious. “That Harvard look simply had to go. You’ve got to be trendier if you’re going to run for lieutenant governor. I’m sure you’d look great in leather.”

  I peeked into the room. What I saw made me stop. I’d seen the Stokes’s middle child on television, but seeing him in the flesh made me tremble. Sebastian was tall, over six feet, with an amazing physique. Even through his tailored suit, I could tell his arms and chest were chiseled.

  His head was shaved bald and his cheekbones popped. I didn’t know if the shaved look was new or if I overlooked it when I saw him on TV. Although I usually wasn’t crazy about that style, he wore it well and I was digging it. His mustache was neatly trimmed and his Rolex watch glistened in the light as he hugged his mother. I’d never seen a man show love to his mama. I nodded my approval. The brotha was fine.

  The call through my earpiece startled me, and I ducked back out into the hallway.

  “You need to take post next to the front door,” Moss commanded sharply. “The family is getting ready to exit the house.”

  “Yes, sir,” I said into the microphone hidden under my suit jacket.

  I turned around to head toward the foyer and ran smack into Sebastian Stokes. He reached out to stop me from falling, and I could smell his musky cologne. I quickly regained my composure and backed up a few feet.

  Sebastian smiled at me, a deep, sexy dimple appearing in his left cheek. Then he looked into the full-length mirror hanging on the wall between a set of gold sconces. He didn’t see that I noticed his look of concern.

  “Are you okay, miss?” he asked as I noticed him checking me out.

  “Yes, thank you,” I replied, tucking my mic back under the edge of my jacket.

  He couldn’t stop looking at me—I wasn’t taken aback by his stare. And though it appeared the Stokes men had similar taste in women, this member of the elite family wasn’t rude.

  He held out his hand and I gave him mine. “I’m staring. How rude. I’m Sebastian Stokes. I must say it intrigues me to see a beautiful Nubian queen in this role.”

  “Well, I’m really an FBI agent. I’m only helping the Secret Service out,” I said, without realizing I’d revealed more than anyone should know.

  “To be trained by both agencies sounds like you’re well equipped for this task. My dad’s a lucky man. Seeing someone go against what society thinks is the norm and succeed is impressive. Your name?”

  “Agent Ware,” I glanced away from his gaze to keep from showing how flattered I was by his remarks. I had worked hard to get where I was, and most folks resented it or acted as if I couldn’t handle it. To meet someone who appreciated it was refreshing.

  He kissed my hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Taking my hand away to retain professionalism, I asked, “So did I hear you’re running for lieutenant governor of Georgia?”

  “Yeah,” he said, not sounding terribly excited about it. “I’m a long shot, but being a member of the state house of representatives has made me want to give more. I have a plan to improve our education system, improve our health-care system, bring well-paying jobs to Georgia, preserve our natural resources, protect our seniors, and improve our transportation system.”

  “Impressive,” I said, really feeling his passion.

  “Will you vote for me?” he beamed in a coy way.

  “I kept hearing you say our. I’m not a Georgian. I live in D.C.”

  “Well, you would if you lived here, right?”

  With a small chuckle, I said, “For sure. You don’t seem like a dirty politician.”

  “Agent Ware, I assure you I’m not. I’d go up against my dad if he was wrong.”

  We both shared a laugh. Then a slight chill entered the hallway. I looked up and saw Mrs. Stokes standing at the end. “Sebastian, darling.” She’d appeared without warning, which was highly unusual since I considered myself well trained in detecting the slightest sound or movement. “What are you doing?” she asked her son pointedly.

  “Just talking to the lady.”

  “Lady?” Mrs. Stokes looked at me, her head tilted slightly and her lips curled as if she had just discovered an ugly black spider on her highly polished hardwood floor. “Come along, dear,” she said, turning her back to Sebastian as she proceeded down the hall. “Your father’s ready to leave.”

  At that moment I saw my detail leader, Agent Moss, striding down the hall.

  “Agent Ware, why aren’t you at your station?”

  I was surprised when Sebastian stepped in front of me and extended his hand for Agent Moss. “Oh sir, that’s my fault. I’m…”

  “Sebastian Stokes,” Agent Moss said in a nicer tone. “Good to meet you.”

  “I was introducing myself to Agent Ware and bombarding her with questions. My apologies if I detained her too long,” Sebastian said, totally coming to my rescue.

  “Oh, no problem. We’re here to make things safe for your father. If I can answer any questions, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

  “Will do,” Sebastian said to him before nodding a polite good-bye to me.

  As I followed Agent Moss out the front door, he said, “Good job, Ware, getting the protectee’s son to feel comfortable. It’s always tough when one fears for a parent’s life,” Agent Moss had completely bought Sebastian’s explanation. “Next time, defer him to me or at least let me know you’re being held up.”

  I nodded as I opened the Town Car door and stepped aside, assuming my practiced rigid stance. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes and their middle son climbed into the car without a word of thanks or even a nod of acknowledgement. Agent Hold eased into the driver’s side and I took the passenger seat. Because I’d never been a Secret Service agent before, I had to admit I was experiencing new sensations and nervousness. Looking inwardly, I realized I just might really like this. After all, taking care of other people came second nature to me.

  When we arrived at our destination, the Georgia World Congress Center, I hopped out first and opened the back door. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes got out of the car the same way they got in it. They acted as if I was the chauffeur, saying nothing. Sebastian, however, winked at me and said, “Thank you.”

  I couldn’t help but smile back at him as I watched Sebastian and his parents walk into the crowded ballroom with Agents Regunfuss and Sawyer trailing close behind.

  “Ware and Hold, you guys take posts beside Cool Falcon when you get inside and the other agents will mix in with the crowd. Pitts and I are in the van covering the outside perimeter.”

  “Cool Falcon?” I asked Agent Hold.

  “All the Detail leaders handling the assignment get together and come up with a name for the protectee. Guess they named our guy,” Agent Hold explained before pausing as I stopped moving. “You’ve got this.”

  Moving into position, I realized anything could happen over the next six months to a year. Who knew how far Reverend Stokes’s candidacy would go. He could drop out any day, win the Democratic primary, or make it to the White House. One thing was certain: with his fine son around, I was definitely going to be enjoying the journey.

  Chapter 5

  Endless

  My unit was now in place at the grand ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center for a pre-presidential candidate party that was being held in the Reverend’s honor. It was an all-night affair and one of many stops we’d be making throughout his campaign run to pull in votes. The event started at ten, but we didn’t arrive until eleven-thirty because Mrs. Stokes wanted to make an entrance.

  And she did. Lights, cameras, and all eyes in the room were on her family. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes put on fake smiles, showing off their flawless teeth as they waved to the cameras with their many years of practice.

  About five hundred of Atlanta’s most influential people milled about, dancing, mingling, gossiping, and helping themselves
to the sumptuous buffet. With the Stokeses were Attorney Larry Thomas, Mayor Macy Jackson, WSB-TV reporter Marsha Kauffman, Congressman John Sally, and many others. Escorting Reverend Stokes to the front of the room was strategic. Hold and I could see around the room from that angle, and Sawyer and Regunfuss could clearly see every exit and entranceway from the back of the room.

  Of the four Detail teams that guarded Reverend Stokes, one was off duty this week. Agent Johnson’s crew had taken the day shift. We were on deck for the night detail and the other team was this event’s site crew. They had come earlier to set up cameras and make sure guests were checked.

  “Agent Ware, you’re standing too close,” Agent Moss said into my earpiece. “Step down to the ballroom’s main-entrance doorway.”

  “Moving, sir,” I said as I discreetly moved over three feet.

  Sebastian tried to sneak in without attracting attention to himself. However, with his new look, everyone in the room paid more attention to him than they did to his parents. Reverend Stokes beamed with pride at the response his son was getting from the crowd.

  When the first slow song of the night began to play, Sebastian came my way.

  For a second I thought he was going to ask me to dance. I’d never learned how to dance, had never even wanted to learn. Besides, even though I wasn’t a real Secret Service agent, I knew I was there to work, not socialize.

  When Sebastian walked up to me, I moved away. My boss could see me, and Sebastian had stepped in front of my view of his dad. Guests surrounded his father—this was not the time for me to get sloppy.

  “You take this seriously, huh?” Sebastian teased.

  I pulled up my sleeve to show him my microphone. Then I turned and covered my mouth with my finger. He moved the mic hand out of the way.

  “Just wanted to say I like it better when you smile, beautiful,” he said, making me flush.

  How’d he see beauty? My body was draped in black from head to toe, thanks to my short leather trench and black linen pants. My eyes were covered with none other than Dolce and Gabbana shades. Regardless of how I looked to the rest of the world, Sebastian saw something that drew him to me.