His sad face told her he genuinely cared about her. She found it easy to walk into his arms and let out the tears she’d been holding back on the plane. Rich whispered things she couldn’t hear, rubbed her back, and held her carefully. She appreciated the fact that, when she pulled back, he didn’t cling.
“Come on. Let me have that,” he said as he grabbed her bag. “We should get on the road. I brought the cruiser, so we can put on the siren.”
“Does that mean I have to be the perp in the back seat?”
“Funny. You can sit up front or in the back. I’ll be going so fast no one will see.”
True to his word, they made it all the way to the hospital in less than forty-five minutes. Amy texted Christy to let her know she’d arrived and promised updates. She also let Marlene know when they crossed the Marin/Sonoma County border.
Any updates?
No new ones, which is the best news there is. We just hope this will continue.
Rich peered into the rear view mirror. “Any news?”
“Just that he’s not had further attacks. I guess that’s what they’re worried about most.”
“I thought the guy was strong as an ox. Has he been having any problems?”
“Not a one. Not that I know of. Dad is kind of secretive, you know.”
“I hear you. That would be like him to hide something from everyone. God, I hope it’s something they can regulate.”
“Me, too.”
Amy let the brown hills pull on her heartstrings as they zipped by. It was familiar, but everything about her world had changed in a flash of quick decisions. Coming back home didn’t feel like it normally did. This used to be home. Used to be where she thought her future was. Now it was her past. She’d taken the big brass ring of a new life with her handsome SEAL, and now was being yanked back to the smallness of Sonoma County.
She wasn’t a resident of San Diego long enough to feel like that was her home, yet. With her father in danger, her footing was unstable. She tried to think of something Zak could have said to her.
‘Pay attention,’ he’d say. ‘Don’t lose your focus. Think about your surroundings. Be vigilant.’
But unlike the attack in San Francisco, this was a different kind of danger. This was something she was powerless to control.
‘Then control what you can control,’ she heard Zak advise in her mind. ‘In a dangerous situation, don’t panic. Panic is the enemy of solution.’
What solution, Zak? Tell me. What am I supposed to do except wait for an outcome?
She leaned back in the seat, checking her phone screen. Should she text Zak or should she wait until she had more information. What would he want? He’d want all the information she had. Why bother him until she could give him a prognosis or an update.
Rich turned off the siren as they approached the downtown Santa Rosa outskirts. She watched his handsome profile and straight back, the way he carefully maneuvered the cruiser to an emergency parking space in front of the hospital entrance. She was overcome with gratitude.
He was outside the car in a flash, opening up the rear door, grabbing her hand, and taking her bag as they ran to the reception area.
“Allister Dobson. He was brought in with a heart attack. I’m his daughter.”
The desk clerk gave them directions to the Cardiac Care Unit.
“Good news is, this one’s the best in Northern California. They have all the best doctors and equipment.”
They entered the double frosted glass doors. The sounds of monitors overshadowed everything else. In the small waiting room off to the left, they found Marlene.
The two women hugged. “Oh God. Thank God you got here.”
Amy’s fear was holding back her tears. She did not want to hear bad news. Until then, she’d buck up and think positive things.
“Has his doctor come by?”
“Just as you were leaving. He said they had run some tests, and the blood test confirms he did have a heart attack. They asked me about allergies.”
“None that I know of.”
“That’s what I told them. He asked me if he took meds. And, well,” Marlene blushed.
“He doesn’t take anything I know about,” said Amy, who realized Marlene had hidden something from her. “Marlene?”
“Viagra. He was taking a generic herbal Viagra, he said. Not the real stuff. It was from some pharmacy in Canada.”
“What did the doctor say?”
“He asked me to go home and get it. He wants to see it.”
Rich interrupted them. “Let me take you, Marlene. You shouldn’t be driving right now. We can be right back.”
Amy was again grateful for Rich’s concern and for his help. “Thank you so much. I think that’s a great idea. Marlene, why don’t you go do that?”
After the two of them left, Amy broke down and let the tears pour out. She missed her dad, but she missed Zak, as well. Her mind scanned the scenario she was most horrified over.
What if I lose them both?
Chapter 8
The villa complex consisted of thirty-five rooms—nine of them bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two kitchens in the main house, and a kitchenette in each of the two guesthouses. In addition, the main house was set up with offices a small off-shore corporation could be run from. The property was on the very top of the peak at Maspalomas on the main island with views of the bright turquoise blue bays and neighboring verdant islands sprinkled like pebbles in the Atlantic. A dusting of white sailboats and some large yachts littered the cays and bays in the area, where the rich and famous from Europe played.
Zak found a flier for the property with several pictures he’d want to show Amy when he got back, as well as the compound map and main house floor plan. Before anyone could notice, he slipped it folded into his vest and scanned the area to make sure no one had noticed. It struck him as odd he felt he had to sneak.
He began scanning the great room off the kitchen while the staff was making lunch. He was thinking about the things he’d read. The house was rented as part of an asset management firm’s portfolio, but he noted none of the contact information was from the U.S. Most of the brochure descriptions were in Spanish or French. There was also a page attached in Chinese and another in Arabic.
He thought it odd the Secretary of State would choose this particular location for an important meeting, since he obviously was concerned for safety. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten the SEALs as part of his detail. He felt for his sidearm when he heard something that sounded like broken glass.
“Oh sorry!” One of the ladies fixing lunch for the Secretary had dropped a wine glass on the floor. “I pick it right up. No one walk here barefoot,” she said in a British accent. She scurried away as two other women scolded her in a tongue Zak didn’t recognize. Outside, a gardener was blowing leaves off an unused patio next to a deep blue lap pool.
Everything about the place had the look and feel of a billionaire’s hideaway. The peaceful setting and bright colors were endearing. Yet something was wrong. Zak was on edge, and he couldn’t put his finger on why.
T.J. and Kyle were at the doorway. “Something wrong?” his LPO asked.
“She just broke a glass is all,” Zak told them.
Kyle peered over the countertop, as if checking on the array of fresh fruits, breads, and cheeses being lavishly spread out amongst flowers. Zak knew he was double-checking the source of the sound.
When he came back, Zak motioned Kyle follow him to the hallway study.
“We gonna be able to wear our sidearm soon, Kyle? I’m just not feeling very safe or secure here.”
“His security detail has them. Remember? You’re just a bodyguard, Zak.” He must have delivered a disapproving glare because Kyle added, “You’re hired meat, Zak. Quit looking so spooked. Only a SOF guy would feel that way.”
“Not much good, are we then?” T.J. agreed. Zak was happy that his comments had found a friend.
“It’s what the Secretary wants. When the staff l
eaves, I’ll see if I can get the okay to carry. Until then, we go around armed to the teeth and the locals start asking questions.”
It still didn’t satisfy him.
They were in three man teams, taking turns, and always rotating at least one person to the next shift so they could pick up on something that didn’t fit. Armando, Coop, and Carter accompanied the Secretary and his security chief, Lyman, down to the little village town to go shopping with one of the cooks. But they were made privy to the fact that Secretary Harrison needed to pick up a message left at one of the banks he was going to visit. He’d taken an empty valise.
Amir was to arrive tonight just in time for dinner. His plane would land in cover of early evening darkness, and he’d be driven up to the villa in a private limo.
Two other teams of SEALs were patrolling the several acre grounds, pretending to be guests, walking close to some of the workers to double check what work was actually being done, or sleeping on their off-shift in one of the guest houses. No one was without their phones. The use of Invisios was not allowed here, since they didn’t want to appear like a paramilitary group.
Finally, they heard the Secretary’s car rumble up the roadway from probably miles below. When Zak found the vehicle, he noted a small Jeep was following a good distance away. Relieved when the Jeep turned off onto a reddish dirt trail, Zak put it out of his mind and focused on the Secretary.
The driver of the car was wearing dark shades and bore no expression. Zak didn’t like he couldn’t see his eyes. The cook was animated as she attempted to bring in a package, which was quickly lifted and carried in by Carter and Armando instead. She made some comment to one of the girls in the kitchen, and Armando answered back in Spanish. The two helpers laughed and blushed in response. Zak could see Armando was quickly worming his way into their hearts.
“Armani is a babe machine, Kyle. He can charm anyone.” Zak was laughing so hard he forgot he’d been previously on nervous alert.
“One of a kind. Think it works if he’s seen as sort of a ladies’ man. Doesn’t seem to be affecting Mr. Friendly here, though.” Kyle pointed to the stone-faced driver who abruptly turned the corner and went back to park the car.
“Only thing we still need, Lansdowne, is the ability to get firepower. I don’t like that it’s locked up in someone else’s safe.” Zak was as serious as a heart attack. “I’m naked without a gun. And I don’t have the people skills Armando here has.”
Kyle grabbed his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Zak. You got talents. But I’m gonna see if we can get our guns back. I’m with you on that. I’m feeling exposed on all levels.”
“Nothing defensible here.”
Kyle nodded. “Point taken. Let’s go see what the Secretary can give us.”
Kyle asked for an audience and got it. Pat Lyman came with them to the study, closing the door behind. Zak and T.J. stayed to the corner while Kyle sat across the table from the Secretary of State.
“Mr. Secretary, I respect you as a great man doing wonderful things for our country. You are a warrior, sir, and I can see you are not easily intimidated.”
“Why thank you, Lansdowne. I appreciate that.” Porter Harrison was obviously flattered. Zak had been warned Kyle rarely bestowed such praise on anyone, unless he was after something in particular. T.J. crossed his arms and chewed on a toothpick, watching the two seated men.
“You got to understand, and Pat here can back me up, we come at these things from a totally different angle, sir. We don’t suspect there’s evil out there ready to kill us. We know there are sons of bitches out there ready to destroy everything we hold dear. To whom loss of life, even their own or their families and friends, means nothing. We are stronger than they are, sir.”
Harrison nodded, but his lips formed a frown.
“You didn’t bring us along to be human shields. We can’t protect you unless we have access to our guns. Even if we can’t wear them, we can disguise them somehow so it isn’t obvious, even to a trained militant. But we can’t even get our guns because they’re locked up.”
“I promised Amir the only people who would have guns are on my personal detail.”
“So maybe Amir has a death wish. Maybe you do, too. But we’re tasked with protection. We can throw knives, win out in hand to hand combat, swing a baseball bat and crack someone’s skull to protect you, but without the tools of our trade, we’re nothing, sir.”
“You’re not nothing. You’re also here to be my eyes and ears. To notice things.”
Kyle shook his head, swearing to his feet. “Let me put it to you this way. You’re a diplomat. You use words. Those are the tools of your trade.”
Harrison nodded in agreement.
“I can see you’re good at it. That’s great. We need men like you.”
Harrison again agreed.
“But that’s not us. We blow shit up, pardon me, Mr. Secretary. We shoot people, and we shoot to kill. And we have thousands of hours of training to determine who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. Thousands of hours in the arena of war, where you have to make up your mind in a split second whether or not someone can be trusted. Even then, we make mistakes. Not many, sir. But if you insist on keeping our guns from us, well, you might as well ask us all to go home because I guarantee you we cannot protect you. And we’ll all get killed if there’s an event.”
Harrison agreed with Kyle. Zak could see it in his eyes. But something else was going on.
“You don’t understand, Lansdowne. I gave my word. This man is risking his life coming here. I can’t very well just tell him I changed my mind because some SEALs told me so. I don’t know you, Lansdowne, but I trust you, and Pat here does, as well. Trusted you with his life, so I’d be stupid not to heed your warning. But I’ve known Amir for over twenty-five years. It took me nearly three years to convince him this was the right course to pursue.”
It was Kyle’s turn to nod. “I understand, sir.” Resignation laced through his words.
“It will be the first thing I’ll ask Amir when he arrives tonight. You have my word on that.”
“Fair enough.” Kyle stood, shook the Secretary’s hand, slapped Pat on the arm, and motioned for the three SEALs to leave the room.
Chapter 9
Amy was able to see her father before Marlene returned with the bottle of herbal Viagra her dad had been taking. His face was ashen. She didn’t understand all the tubes and wires attached to him. One tube went directly into his chest cavity. Sunken cheeks and puffy, swollen fingers replaced his once rugged good looks and healthy glow. There were more age spots on the back of his hands than she remembered he had before.
The man had always been her staunchest defender. She used to think he could successfully duke it out with any man who tried to defy him. The fact that Zak always seemed to elude his long reach as the town Chief of Police only used to make him angrier. And now, finally, he’d given up protecting Amy, only after being convinced someone else could do the job.
She knew he and Zak would have a long and very powerful friendship as the years went by.
If I don’t lose you, Dad. And then of course came that fear for Zak’s safety.
Words the SEAL wives had given her earlier comforted her.
You’ll never feel so loved.
They can’t help it. They’ll protect the innocent even if they have to sacrifice themselves in the process.
They are loyal to their wives and children.
It is a calling.
And then there was Zak’s favorite: ‘We’re the ones who get ’er done and get out.’
Allister Dobson stirred, groaned, and began to scratch at something on his chest. Amy could see he was trying to get to the heart pic.
“No, Dad. Don’t touch that. You’re in the hospital, and this is helping you get well.” She gripped his hand, squeezed it, then leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Dobson opened his eyes, wide with alarm. His brow slowly furled, leaving a deep crease at the bridg
e of his nose. He didn’t seem to recognize Amy at first, and then his expression relaxed. He even chanced a smile. “I was confused as to where I was. What hospital?”
“Memorial. The heart center.”
“Oh, good.” He scanned his private room. “Looks like some kind of command center. You could run a whole department with this much equipment.”
Amy was glad his humor was returning and took it as a good sign. “No, Dad. They’re just here to manage your little lonesome. All this is for you.” After letting him get his bearings, she asked, “How do you feel?”
“Like a stuffed pig ready to be put on the barbeque. I got more meat tenderizer in me than the average Costco chicken.”
“Have you seen your doctor?”
“No, why? Is she cute?”
Now Amy knew he would be okay. “I understand you’ve been taking some new medication.”
“I only take blood pressure medication. I’m healthy as a horse.”
“Which is why you’re here.”
“Maybe they need to take down the dosage. I got sleepy. Then I couldn’t hold my eyes open, but my chest hurt like a son of a gun.”
“Well, they’ve verified it was a heart attack. Officially. I’ll wait for the doctor to come in and explain things, so I’ll learn about your prognosis right alongside you.”
“Where’s Mel?”
“Marlene?” she asked.
“I call her Mel. It used to be my shit for memory, but it kinda stuck.”
Amy laughed. It felt good to spar with her dad. She valued each and every opportunity she had left. “Marlene went home with Rich to get some medication you were taking—not the blood pressure pills. Apparently something else.” She pretended not to be paying attention to him, being more interested in the ceiling above his head. Dobson nearly blushed as recognition began to light up his face.
“Those are herbal supplements.”
“And from what I’ve learned, dangerous when you’re on blood pressure meds.”
“Amy, I was—”
“No need to explain, Dad. Believe me, I understand. And I don’t blame you, but apparently, a lot of people misunderstand their potency, and it can lead to serious complications.”
SEALed At The Altar_Bone Frog Brotherhood Novel Page 28