Page 53 of Resisting His Target
He opened his eyes to find Selena standing over him. It hurt even to form words with his mouth. “Hey, sweetie. You okay?”
“I hid in the woods like you said, but then Bill came and showed me how to get to the police.”
“Bill?”
She nodded. “He waved for me to follow him, but every time I got close to him, he’d move farther away. When I came out of the trees, I saw the police station.”
“Bill, your SEAL friend who died?”
She nodded, lying down and putting her arm around his shoulder. “I know you’re going to be okay. Bill said so. He said it’s not your time to go yet.”
He sobbed once, a single sound of intense emotion before he forced himself to stop.
“It’s okay now, Sloan. I’ll take care of you.”
“I need a phone,” he ground out past the emotion that knotted his throat.
Selena spoke to the officers in Spanish, one of them handing her a device, and turned back to him. “Type in this number,” he said. “We’re calling Razorback.”
33
“You have to let me in there!” snapped Razorback. Cowboy had secured safe passage for him into the convention, but his reach didn’t extend past the security checkpoint.
He’d just gotten off the phone with Sloan and Selena when he’d rounded the corner and watched Jackie enter through these doors.
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s a restricted area. You need security clearance to get through.”
“I’m Ian Rhodes, a former US Navy SEAL charged with protecting Jacqueline McGrath. I need to get to her immediately.”
The woman at the table with the patriotic bunting looked seriously stressed. McGrath’s new wife must have been done speaking, because a man had replaced her, his voice booming through the structure.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as we meet here today to join our voices in support of one candidate for president of the United States, there is a shadow from the past that lingers over us, even now.”
“Please,” demanded Razorback. “You have to let me inside. I work for HERO Force, a private security firm. It’s imperative I be allowed to pass.”
“The death of Jacqueline McGrath left a pallor over her husband, Doug, for years after the tragic accident believed to have taken her life.”
Chatter broke out in the crowd, a low buzzing.
“HERO Force?” asked a man’s voice behind him, and Razorback turned to find a Navy official in full dress whites. Razorback saluted and stood at attention. “Yes, Admiral, sir.”
“Who is the leader of your organization?”
“That depends who you ask, sir. Jax Andersson runs the Atlanta office with Leo Wilson. Mac O’Brady runs mine in New York.”
The man laughed. “I’ve known Jax for a long time. I don’t think he’d agree it’s a matter of opinion.” He pulled out a cell phone and dialed.
“But Jacqueline McGrath didn’t die that day.”
The room erupted in confusion.
“Jax, it’s Admiral Wheeler. I have a man here claiming to be one of your men. Says his name is Ian Rhodes.” His eyes combed Razorback’s features as he listened. “That appears to be him. Thank you for your help.” He hung up and addressed the woman. “Let him in, on my authority.”
Razorback was running as best he could through the crowd that had gathered backstage.
“She narrowly escaped tragedy and wants to take this opportunity to tell us about it, so she can move forward with a clear conscience. Jackie?”
“Excuse me. Look out. Right behind you. Coming through!” Razorback weaved through the throngs of people as Jackie’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
