Page 31 of A Daddy for Christmas 2: Kitt

“Were they gang members?”

“Maybe. The gangs involved in Atlanta are nationwide. And gangs in the big cities often operate in association with adult organized-crime syndicates.”

“Oh my God. Shouldn’t we have waited for the police and told them?”

“If you want to go into protective custody, yeah. It would take the Atlanta cops a day or two to get out here to pick you up. Maybe more—and you’d spend that time in a jail cell. I didn’t like that idea.”

He gazed over at me with wide eyes. “But they wouldn’t put me in jail. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I don’t think it would stick, but they could charge you with hindering the trial process if you continue to refuse to go into protective custody. Maybe even obstruction. I’m sure a good lawyer could get you out of that, but you might spend a couple of days in jail first.”

“I don’t want that.”

“I know. I don’t either. Don’t worry—I’ll get you home and we’ll take care of this.”

“But how did they know where we were?”

“That’s a damn good question. I’m ditching this SUV at the airport.”

“You think they’re somehow tracking us? But how would they even know you found me?”

“I don’t know. Let me worry about it, and you just relax.”

“You have to be kidding. I’m not some dumb baby.”

“You are, though. A little.”

I laughed and dodged his little fist as he swung it at my arm.

“And I’m still not going to fly.”

“Relax. I’m just leaving the vehicle there. I didn’t say anything about flying. Besides, we’re only about twelve hours from where I’m taking you, so it’s too close to fly. Let me make a few calls.”

I drove us to the airport and handed over the keys to the SUV at the airport rental agency. We walked out to the terminal and found a taxi to take us to a nearby hotel, where I paid cash for a room. I registered us under my old command sergeant major’s name, and once upstairs, I called my old friend and boss, Lucas Hayes, from the hotel phone.

“Is this a secure line?” I asked Lucas as soon as he came on the phone.

He seemed surprised, but said it was. “Yes, why? Are you okay? What’s going on? What do you need?”

The good thing about Lucas was that he always cut to the point. “I’m fine, but we got ambushed in a parking deck in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.”

“My God, are you all right? Is Kitt Devlin okay?”

“We’re both fine, but it could have been a lot worse. The attackers are in custody at this point, or at least I assume so. We left before the cops arrived. I ditched the rental and took a taxi to a hotel. I’m going to need an alternative way to get him home.”

“Okay,” he said, not missing a beat. Another thing I loved about him. “Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll have a car delivered to you. Tell me where you are and what name you used.”

“We’re at the Airport Hampton Inn, and I registered under our old sergeant major’s name. Listen, Lucas, don’t give that information out to anyone. Not even to his brother. In fact, especially to his brother.”

There was a silence on the other end. “Jazz Devlin? Really? That’s new.”

“Just a hunch, and I could be wrong. But somehow the information about us has gotten out. He’s paying the bills for all this, so…. who else could it be? It’s not that big a leap.”

“Devlin is getting married tomorrow in Dunwoody.”

“Is he now?”

“Big society Christmas wedding.”

---