Page 60 of Defender

“Ma’am, there’s a federal agent back in the terminal that has asked that you come off the plane.We can help you with the baby and your luggage.”

Tyrone?“Was it a tall, African-American man?Young?”

The female shrugged, giving her a sympathetic smile.“I don’t know.I’m sorry.They just called it down to us.”

Something must have happened.Maybe they already caught Curtis Harper and Ashton was trying to keep her from leaving.

Her stomach clenched again.Or maybe something really bad had happened.

“Okay,” she told them as she began to unhook Chloe from the car seat.One of the flight attendants got her suitcase from the overhead bin and the other carried the car seat while Summer made her way back up the aisle, feeling everyone’s eyes watching her.

It wasn’t often someone was escorted off a plane right before it was scheduled to take off.

When they got to the terminal, it wasn’t Tyrone waiting for her or even the creepy Phillip Carnell, it was a different middle-aged man.He looked vaguely familiar.She must have seen him at Omega sometime the last couple of days.

“Where’s Tyrone?”

The man shifted just slightly.“He was called away to a scene so Ashton Fitzgerald asked me to escort you.”He pulled out a badge and ID that looked just like Ashton’s.“I’m Agent Jennings.We need you to come back to Omega Sector immediately.”

“Is Ashton okay?Did something happen?”She still couldn’t shake the bad feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.

“Honestly, ma’am, I’m not sure exactly what is going on right now.If you want, I can radio once we get to the car and see if I can get any information for you.”

She nodded.“That would be great.”

Refusing to let herself think the worst, she walked back through the airport with the agent.Chloe was already beginning to fall asleep on her shoulder, a dead weight, but thankfully Agent Jennings carried her suitcase and the car seat.

“I’ll hook the seat in for you, ma’am,” Agent Jennings said at the car.“I’ve had two of my own go through the car-seat age.”

Summer smiled, thankful.She slipped her phone out of her purse.She knew Agent Jennings said he would ask through official channels when they got in the car, but if she could just text with Ashton, know he was okay, maybe it would ease this sick feeling in her stomach.

I know you probably can’t talk.I just need to know if you’re okay.

She sent the text.He probably didn’t even have his cell phone with him.She remembered what he looked like in his SWAT gear.Personal cell phones probably weren’t part of the equipment the team took with them.

“Do you want to put her in the seat or do you want me to?”Agent Jennings asked.

She smiled at him.“I’ll do it.Hopefully I can keep her asleep.I’ll sit in the back with her, too, if that’s okay.”

“Smart.”The other man smiled back, looking so familiar to her.

“Did we meet at Omega in the last couple of days?It’s been so crazy.I don’t mean to be rude,” she asked as she slid Chloe into the car seat, careful not to wake her.

“We met but it was very briefly.I don’t expect you to remember me.”

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Hasn’t your plane already taken off?You shouldn’t be using a cell while in flight you know.Talk to you soon.

Relief flooded Summer.Ashton was safe.

“Was that Agent Fitzgerald?”

She nodded.“Yes.He’s fine.I was worried.It’s been a stressful couple of days.”

The agent smiled.“Did you tell him you were off the plane and I was bringing you in?”

“No.”Summer shook her head.“He was actually fussing at me for...”

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