Page 88 of Critical Doubt

"Probably not." He paused. "Did you two become friends when you moved to Dobbs?"

"Yes. She was my thirteen-year-old lifeline. The first day at my new school, I sat next to her in math, and she must have seen my terrified, lost look and decided I was a stray puppy who needed a home. She introduced me to her friends. She invited me over to her house the next day. Abby helped me survive that first year after losing my mom and having to move to a new family. If I hadn't had her, I feel like I would have spiraled out of control."

"I don't think that would have happened," he said quietly. "You are made of steel, Savannah, which doesn't mean you can't also be incredibly soft and caring and have deep, deep emotions, but there's a core of strength in you that makes you a survivor."

She drew in a shaky breath. "That's a very nice thing to say. I just wish I could give Abby some of my strength."

"You will. You'll be there for her the way she was there for you. And it won't be about this one night, it will be about tomorrow and next week and next year. Whatever happens with Paul, she won't lose you."

"No, she won't." She let out a sigh. "I feel so restless. I don't know what to do with myself."

"How about some food? Not more coffee, because you are clearly wired, but we haven't eaten since the chowder hours ago."

"I'm not hungry, but you should go down to the cafeteria and get something."

"Maybe later. I'll hang with you."

She sat down next to him. "One thing I thought was interesting was that the explosion and the gunshots didn't trigger your bells. You jumped into action both times."

"That's a good point," he said thoughtfully. "I didn't have time to think; I just acted. I guess I didn't give my brain a chance to flip out."

"Or your brain wants action and when you take it, it thinks you're going down the right track."

"Are we back to the bells trying to tell me something?"

"I do still believe that."

"You could be right," he conceded. "Maybe the missing clue is stuck in my head."

"Eventually, it will come out."

"It has been nine months."

"But you've been running from the bells. Maybe you have to find a way to stop and listen."

"It's not always bells or noises; sometimes it's light—blinding light—like a flash bang, an explosion, a burst of gunfire."

She stared back at him. "Is that what you saw that night? Blinding light?"

"I don't remember the light, but I remember the gunfire, the explosions, the sight of Carlos falling right in front of me." As soon as he saw the image in his head, a dull beat began to sound in his ears. He wanted to run away. He wanted to block it out. But maybe Savannah was right. He had to stand his ground.

But as a trio of people entered the waiting room, the noises faded. Savannah was on her feet, hugging each one of them. The cavalry had arrived.

And with them, the noise in his head receded.

Savannah introduced him to Parisa first, a beautiful brunette with long dark-brown hair, olive skin, and brown eyes. She'd brought along an overnight bag for Savannah, saying she wasn't sure if she had a change of clothes, but if not, she could at least get through the night with what she'd brought.

Next was Parisa's fiancé Jared MacIntyre. Jared was a stocky guy with rugged features, brown hair, and green eyes. And the third man was Jax Kenin, a tall, blond man, with penetrating blue eyes, who wore a very expensive suit. They looked more like a group of friends than FBI and CIA agents.

But then it was on to business.

Parisa had found a conference room on the second floor for them to gather, so they went downstairs to discuss their next moves. Parisa was bringing in security, working with the hospital and local police to ensure Paul's continuing safety if he made it through surgery. The security would also include Abby and her mother when they arrived. Flynn and someone named Wyatt were checking cameras near the bagel shop and attempting to track the path of Paul's phone over the last few days.

And then Savannah took over, filling the others in on all the information they had so far.

Hearing her lay it all out in a pragmatic, logical fashion wasn't easy. This was just another case for her team, but for him, it was extremely personal. These men they were talking about were his friends, his brothers, men he'd spent years with. At one time, he'd known everything about them. Now they seemed like strangers.

But they were definitely not acting like the men he'd once known. Those men had been loyal, fierce patriots. They'd fought for their country. They'd been heroes.

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