Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
LINES OF DEFENSE
In the hallway outside Esther’s office, Colin caught Joshua’s arms and pulled him close, forcing his husband’s eyes to meet his.
“Josh. I know you’re scared. Hell, so am I.
But this isn’t just a bunch of lawyer talk — this is how we survive.
Esther knows what she’s doing. I know what I’m doing. You need to trust us.”
Joshua’s jaw tightened, but he stayed silent, his chest rising and falling fast beneath Colin’s grip.
Colin slid his hands up and down Joshua’s arms, then drew him into the alcove, voice dropping.
“Listen to me. There’s a reason guys like Elias don’t go after prosecutors.
They know it’s pointless! The system would replace us the very same day, and every law enforcement agency in Virginia would come down on Moreno Enterprises with a huge, multi-agency sledgehammer.
It would be unending and relentless. It’s bad for business.
Lexi’s gone rogue, but Esther’s putting the right measures in place to keep us safe until it’s over. ”
Joshua’s head bowed, his forehead pressing into Colin’s chest. His voice came rough and low. “OK. I’ll try. But don’t ask me not to be afraid. Because I am.”
Colin wrapped him tight, lips against Joshua’s hair.
“I know,” he whispered. “But we’ll get through it.
” Colin drew him close and held him for a moment, then led him to where Sarah Mitchell was waiting.
At her side was a tall, well-built Hispanic officer, whom she introduced as Sergeant Daniel Lopez.
“Albemarle County Sheriff?” Colin asked as he shook the officer’s hand.
“Yes, sir.”
“Yeah, I recognize the uniform. And you don’t have to call me ‘sir’. I’m Colin, and this is Josh.”
“Colin,” Sarah said, “…could I have a minute to speak with you before we leave?” She turned to Officer Lopez and handed him Joshua’s keyring. “Dan, would you get those keys made and have Emily double-check the SUV? We’ll be right down.”
Lopez conferred briefly with Joshua, who identified the keys that unlocked their house, and then watched as Lopez moved toward the exit.
Colin watched him go, then turned toward his office, nearly running into Norman Clayton, who had stepped out right behind them.
“I’d like to sit in on this briefing, Lieutenant. ”
“Certainly, sir.”
In Colin’s office, Clayton took a seat while Colin and Joshua stood in front of his desk.
“Colin,” Sarah Mitchell said, “You and I have been good friends for a long time. I understand better than most that you’re a veteran—a decorated law enforcement officer with an impeccable reputation and a decade of experience.
However, while you and Joshua are under my protection, I ask that you set both our friendship and that experience aside and abide by the decisions I make regarding your protection without question or hesitation.
If you have concerns, I’ll be happy to address them with you privately at the end of the shift. ”
“I get it, Sarah.” Colin held up his hands. “I won’t stick my nose in, I promise.”
“Well, anyone connected with Charlottesville law enforcement––and that certainly includes me––knows who you are and what you stand for. But your protection detail can only have one boss. I don’t want any of my officers looking to you for orders in a crisis rather than to me.
” She grinned at Colin and winked. “In other words, buddy, I need you to butt the fuck out.”
Colin huffed out a laugh. “I’m used to having a lady boss, Sarah. You’re running this show, and I’ll make damned sure that everyone knows it.”
Sarah gave Colin a half-hearted shrug. “I know you don’t need to hear this, but duty requires me to say it nonetheless.
” She drew in another deep breath. “While under this detail’s protection, all security procedures will be followed exactly.
Do not anticipate your detail’s instructions.
Wait to be told what to do. Routes will differ from what you’re used to, and we will not use normal entrance and exit points.
When we arrive at any destination, do not exit the vehicle until your protection detail confirms it’s safe.
Do not enter a room until it has been swept and your detail tells you it is safe.
Do not leave a room until we give the OK.
If we say run, run! If we say get down, drop to the ground!
Right, that second! And do not get up until we tell you it’s safe. ”
She took a step toward them. “One last thing. If one of you is injured, the other cannot stop to render aid. You must continue to follow your details’ instructions, no matter how difficult it may be.”
Colin and Joshua looked at each other, and Colin saw Joshua’s face go white. “She’s right, baby,” he told Joshua. “If I go down, you go with the team.”
Joshua’s laugh was sharp and bitter as he spun to face Sarah Mitchel. “Are you fucking insane? That’s the dumbest goddamn thing I’ve ever heard. You expect me to walk away while he’s lying there bleeding out? Or him from me? All due respect, Lieutenant. That’s not happening. Not fucking ever!”
Sarah looked at him for a moment, then shook her head and turned to Colin. “And I thought you were going to be my pain-in-the-ass!”
Colin shrugged. “C’mon, Sarah. You knew it was bullshit when you said it.”
“We won’t do it. Period,” Joshua told her. “So you’d be wise to factor that into your procedural details. We do not leave each other. We will not leave each other. That’s not the way Colin and I operate.”
Norman Clayton rose from his chair. “OK, everybody, calm down.” He turned to Sarah. “Anything we need to change here in the office to meet your security needs?”
“No, sir,” Sarah replied crisply. “Colin will have a three-person team at all times. Two officers will stay with him; the other will be stationed at the CAO entrance. Same setup in court. We’ll also sweep the courtroom and judge’s chambers before each session.”
“Oh, Judge Robinson’s gonna love that,” Colin muttered under his breath.
“He’s fine with it,” Clayton told him. “Not our first rodeo.”
“Excuse me one second,” Sarah said. She ducked into the hallway and returned holding two dark vests. She handed one to Colin. “Level Three-A Kevlar. Strap it tight. It’s not supposed to be comfortable — it’s supposed to keep you breathing.”
Colin snorted as he yanked off his tie and shrugged out of his jacket. “Sarah, I wore Kevlar for a decade. I know the dance.”
He removed his dress shirt and pulled the vest over his head in a smooth, practiced motion.
Sarah extended the second vest toward Joshua.
Joshua stared at it. Then at Colin. Then at Sarah.
“This is ridiculous.” His voice was tight. “It smells like… like a goddamn high school locker room.”
Sarah didn’t flinch. “Better than lying on the sidewalk in a pool of blood.”
Joshua didn’t move.
“Josh,” Colin said gently. “Put it on.”
Joshua took the vest with stiff hands. He peeled off his jacket, tie, and shirt, unable to hide the trembling in his fingers. As he struggled to pull the Kevlar over his head, his frustration boiled over.
“This is nuts!” he snapped, wrestling with the stiff straps.
Colin stepped forward and helped him secure the vest.
“I hate this,” Joshua hissed out through clenched teeth.
“I don’t care,” Colin told him, voice flat. “It stops a bullet and keeps you safe.”
When they were finished, Sarah inspected them both with a practiced eye and gave a curt nod. “Good enough.”
She pressed a button on her radio. “Moving now.”
Then she turned to them, all business again. “We’re going out the back stairwell to the freight entrance. Vehicle’s staged in the alley. Stay close and keep moving.”
Colin bumped fists with Clayton. “Back in a few, boss.”
“Behave yourself!” Clayton commanded.
“Why is everyone always telling me that?” Colin fumed.
“Gee,” Joshua replied, linking their arms. “One wonders!”
Clayton patted Colin’s shoulder as he moved to follow Sarah. “Stay safe,” he murmured.
Colin paused and gave him a one-armed embrace. “Will do, boss.”
They moved down the corridor to a seldom-used rear exit and then descended a narrow staircase to the ground floor.
As they stepped out of the stairwell, Sarah Mitchell lifted a hand.
“Wait.” She nodded to Sergeant Lopez, who moved to the exit, checked the surroundings, and met up with a third officer who confirmed that the area was safe.
“OK,” Sarah told Colin and Joshua. “Straight out the door and into the vehicle.”
Sergeant Lopez stood at the exit, and the third officer stood beside a black Chevrolet Suburban. Both officers had their hands on their weapons, and their eyes constantly searched the perimeter as Sarah Mitchell walked behind Colin and Joshua.
“Straight in,” she murmured, then turned her back, scanning the area as they scrambled into the SUV. Once Colin and Joshua were secured in the vehicle, she got into the back seat with the other two officers in front.
“My god!” Joshua said, clutching Colin’s arm. “This is… crazy!”
Colin heaved a huge sigh. “We’d better get used to it. It’s going to be SOP for a while.”
Once they were underway, Sarah introduced Colin and Joshua to the third member of their detail. “This is Officer Emily Hayes,” she told them. “She has ten years of experience in private security and law enforcement. She will be Joshua’s primary bodyguard.”
They greeted the newest member of their team, then settled in the back seat as they began the ten-mile drive to their home.
As they traveled, the agents maintained what Sarah described as ‘heightened situational awareness,’ constantly checking for suspicious activity or vehicles that might be in pursuit.
When they arrived at the house, Sarah held Colin and Joshua in the Suburban while Sergeant Lopez conducted a quick perimeter check of the property, and Officer Hayes swept the house. Once they had secured the area, Sarah allowed Colin and Joshua to leave the vehicle and enter their home.