Chapter Nine #2
“As you have probably already guessed, it’s not going to be possible for one man—even a man as capable as you—to be able to guard Mr. Calder against threats if he continues to work at Tango’s.
In our opinion, there are just too many access points to the area and the open concept layout will be way too crowded with civilians at peak times for a single man on protection detail to be effective. ”
“That was my take.”
Joshua looked like he wanted to protest.
“There’s a high probability of civilian casualties if another cartel hit squad decides to take another shot at him,” I stated. “Those types of predators don’t give a damn if they inflict collateral damage to get at their target.”
Candy nodded. “Exactly right.” He looked at Joshua who’d slid down in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Mr. Calder understands that one person can’t possibly protect him and as you know, Nash, I need the rest of the team to be available for Tac Team assignments, and not on protection detail.
I’m sorry, but we just don’t have the budget for it. ”
“As I expected,” I agreed. “What about his teaching job?”
“Hello?” Joshua said, shooting me a glare as he pointed to his chest. “Please don’t talk about me in third person. I’m right here.”
“I apologize.” I glanced back at Candy. “How does the classroom set up look?”
“Much better. Mr. Calder teaches a night class at Valley College and as long as you’re with him, it should be okay.
I doubt they even know about the secondary job because—as he informs us—he just started teaching this semester.
On the slim chance the cartel does have access to tax records; they won’t know about it since no W-2 has been issued yet. ”
Joshua twisted in his chair and looked at me.
“The classroom is very small. We can hear anyone approaching the door because the corridor outside isn’t carpeted.
If worst comes to worst, I can lock the door from inside and call for help.
I only have fifteen students, the doors are metal or steel…
whatever. We can shelter in place until help arrives. ”
I nodded as I considered all the angles, eyeing up the captain.
“What do you think?” I dismissed Joshua’s remark about footsteps since it was ludicrous.
It wasn’t going to be practical for him to jump up and run to the door every time he heard footsteps outside.
Presumably, other night classes would be happening at the same time, which meant they’d be a lot of footsteps in the outer corridor.
And in the back of my mind, I couldn’t understand how teaching a night job three times a week for an hour was worth taking the risk.
Nevertheless, if Candy was giving the go-ahead, then I would deal with it.
“Is it possible to keep Joshua safe, if I’m the only one protecting him? ”
He looked thoughtful. “In my opinion, yes, but you know there’s always a risk.” He didn’t wait for my reply before looking at Joshua. “Those classes are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, correct?”
“Yes. Seven to eight o’clock.”
“Okay, good.” Candy looked at me. “Are you comfortable with that?”
“If you’re okay, I’m fine with it.” I glanced at Joshua. “I’m very sorry about the restaurant. I hope you can understand why it has to be this way.”
He sighed. “Honestly, it sucks, Nash. I hate the fact that I’ll have to tell Bruno I’ll be taking leave.
It’s really going to put him in a bind.” He threw up his hands when I opened my mouth.
“But I surrender to your better judgment.” He glanced at Candy.
“Let’s talk about my family. I thought the Marshals were going to be here to tell us about witness relocation. ”
“That’ll be handled this morning in my office.
The U.S. Marshals Service is already in the process of creating new IDs for Miss Calder and the two younger children, They’ll be issuing new social security documents since we have no idea how long the protection will be needed.
” He smiled at the two children happily playing with the dog on the other side of the room.
I noticed they were feeding him tiny bites of muffin which I was almost positive had come from the Continental Breakfast spread in the hotel restaurant. “The puppy doesn’t need an ID.”
I glanced back at Joshua to find him smiling and realized how much more I liked that expression than the sad one from minutes before.
“As far as where the two of you will be staying,” Candy went on, “I think it’s best that he stays with you, Hampstead. Your apartment is small but there’s no way the cartel can know where it is or which team member we have him staying with.”
I swallowed hard as Joshua turned to look at me. “It only has one bedroom,” I lamely protested.
“But you have that lovely couch and I’m sure you wouldn’t mind sleeping on it for the duration,” Candy replied. He was biting his lip to hold back a smile. Bastard. “You don’t have any roommates unless you count those damned plants you rave on and on about. He can take your room.”
Mickey and Patsy snorted, and I threw a glare in their direction. Mickey had the good grace to glance away while the little Irish turncoat grinned openly at me. I turned my attention back to the boss. “I-I…sure. No problem, boss.”
“Are you sure?” Joshua asked, sounding worried. “I realize this is a mess of my own making but making you sleep on your own couch sounds like a huge inconvenience.”
I gulped. “It’s a really nice couch.” I held his gray gaze for only a few more seconds before he finally nodded.
“Okay.”
“Good, then that’s settled,” Candy interrupted. “We’ll get the family back to the Federal Building now. I’m sure the Marshals will be waiting for us when we arrive.”
“Already?” Joshua rushed to say. “I mean…I just hoped to spend the morning with them since I have no idea when I’m going to see them again,” he told Candy, eyeballing Barbie.
She appeared to be very composed as she sat on the couch with a textbook on her lap.
I noticed she had a laptop on the table in front of her.
No doubt it was FBI issue since it wasn’t hers.
The captain looked sympathetic. “I’m so sorry, but we don’t have time for long goodbyes. We should get going in a few minutes. The Marshals will be waiting to take you to your new location.”
“Where will it be?” Barbie suddenly piped up, sounding hopeful. “Will we be able to see Joshua?”
Candy shook his head. “Probably not, but the Marshals will go over all the rules with you.” He inhaled, seeming to hate what he was saying.
“That’s not…well, things don’t work that way because it could put all parties in danger.
To be honest, I just don’t know, Miss Calder.
I can tell you this, though. WITSEC—the witness protection program—doesn’t give out locations of their protectees.
It’s for everyone’s protection. To be frank, they don’t even tell us where they’re taking you.
Like I said, that decision is going to be the U.S.
Marshals call. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s out of our hands. ”
“But I’ll be able to speak to Joshua, right?”
The captain nodded. “Most likely, yes, on the phone that they’ll give you. That line will be secure, and you can talk to him on that. Again, though, the U.S. Marshals will go over all the dos and don’ts with you once you sit down with them.”
Barbie nodded, glancing at me as she set the textbook aside and stood.
She walked over to Joshua with tears in her eyes as he met her halfway.
I watched the two embrace, holding tightly, speaking to each other in low tones.
Barbie sniffled and then nodded several times as Joshua talked to her.
“I love you,” she said as she pulled away wiping away tears.
“It’s not for long,” Joshua said as the two went over to Meggie and Pete.
I sighed, really hoping it was the truth for all their sakes.
In the next ten minutes, I watched the tearful goodbyes between the family and Joshua.
There were lots of words spoken quietly, and tons of reassurance that they all loved each other.
Finally, some repacking of things that had been taken out of the duffle bags and backpacks which Candy, Mickey, and Patsy brought while I was in the shower.
When Pete and Meggie finally gave the dog to Joshua and came over to say goodbye to me, I squatted down in front of them to speak on eye level.
I wished I could wipe away the sadness in their expressions and blot their red-rimmed eyes.
Meggie’s nose ran and she hastily wiped it away as she inhaled on a sob.
“You’ll watch him really good, right? You won’t let anything happen to Joshua?”
I made a little cross over my chest. “I cross my heart, Meggie. I’ll take care of him like he’s my own brother, honey, and I’ll make sure he gets back to you as soon as possible, okay?”
She nodded with tears in her eyes. “We love him.”
“I know.” I reached for her, hugging her the same way Joshua had as I looked at the man in question over her small shoulder.
Tears glistened in his eyes. When I let her go, I looked at Pete.
All the humor had vanished from the little boy’s expression and his lower lip was quivering as he stared at me with big, gray eyes.
I felt a lump in my throat, so I just pulled him to me and hugged his small frame as he began to shake in my arms. When he finally loosened his grip on me, I let him go and ruffled his hair. “Take care of Garbanzo, honey.”
He inhaled shakily. “I will. Take care of Joshua, Nash.”
“I will, buddy.” I stood to my full height.
Barbie was next. She walked over and took both of my hands, staring up at me. “Take care of my brother. He’s not as tough as he wants you to believe.”
I smiled at her. “I will.”
She hugged me then, making it brief, but I could sense the trust she was putting in me.
After all, the family was putting the fate of their own protector in my hands.
It was trust that I wasn’t accustomed to and for the first time that morning, that fact really sunk in.
I was responsible for the happiness of the entire family, not only Joshua, the one who’d made himself into the glue holding all of them together.
The burden of the job should’ve felt crushing but as I stared at Joshua who’d watched the goodbyes play out, it didn’t feel that way.
It felt like an adventure was just about to start.
And hopefully, there wouldn’t be any bullets involved…none at all.