Chapter 20 #2
“I don’t mean to be a wet mop,” Mary said hesitantly, “but Owen has told me a little about what’s been going on.
I know I have my Ph.D. in piracy, but I also majored in international relations undergrad.
Sneaking one civilian into the country isn’t so hard, but sneaking a government official from a different country?
That will be a political nightmare if exposed.
Brazil could accuse the U.S. government of kidnapping him or accuse Jordana’s father of crimes, too. Maybe selling secrets or something.”
Jordana deflated and ran her hand over her face, swiping the tears from her cheeks. “You’re right. His political opponents will use this as a way to turn something temporary into a prison term.”
“Maybe you can reach out to your state senator and try to move this through diplomatically?” Mary suggested, but Forrest knew there wouldn’t be time for that. Pedro Alves was a sitting duck in that hospital.
“Hunter?” Maggie softly said. “You think we should?”
Hunter nodded. “Let me make a call and see if we can cut the red tape.”
Jordana turned to Rowan. “Rowan, tell me everything. If we can somehow get him here, is it safe to move him?”
Rowan stepped forward and explained the surgical risks, the initial post-surgery concerns, and then went on to explain that there’s usually a long rehab period. “From what I’ve heard of your plant-based medicine for sepsis, it would be very useful here.”
Forrest was keeping an eye on the door and saw the moment Hunter walked back in. “Jory,” he said using the nickname her father did. “Hunter’s back.”
Hunter stopped at the table and took a deep breath.
“Okay, I think we have a plan. Jordana, I don’t know if you’re aware, but Maggie and I met Secretary of State Sutton Ramsey at the Olympics.
I called in a favor. She’s going to reach out, as an ally, to offer her condolences to the Brazilian president and then offer a military transport to New York where a specialty doctor can help your father recover. Do you know the president?”
“Kind of. He was friends with my parents when I was a little girl and very kind after my mother was killed. He’s the one who appointed my father. He also knows there are people who aren’t happy with him or my father.”
“Do you know how to reach him? Maybe having the family’s support to move your father will sway the president to accept Secretary Ramsey’s offer?” Forrest asked.
“I only know the public office phone number that comes up on their website. I doubt I can get to the president, even if he does know of me.”
“Ask Ryker,” Maggie suggested. “No president turns down a call from Ryker, especially one where Ryker does so much business.”
“Won’t that hint at their location?” Damon asked, shooting down the suggestion.
“Not when he’s currently in New York. He left this morning and is there for the next couple of days according to Kenzie,” Maggie said with a smirk.
“Call him, please!” Jordana tightened her hand on Forrest’s as her legs began to bounce with nerves.
Maggie didn’t bother leaving the table when she called Ryker. She told him what was going on and what they wanted to do. Forrest couldn’t believe it when Ryker put her on hold and told her he’d have the president on in five minutes.
“We need privacy,” Forrest told her.
“Go to the bathroom and lock the door. We’ll stay on the outside of it to keep anyone from knocking,” Damon told them. “Go.”
Hunter, Maggie, Forrest, and Jordana hurried to the bathroom, locked the door and waited as Maggie put the phone on speaker.
“You ready?” Ryker’s voice said suddenly. “I have President Vara on my office line on speaker. I’ll put you all on speaker when you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Ryker,” Jordana said, looking around. “We’re ready,” she said after everyone nodded.
“Mr. President,” Ryker said clearly and in complete control. “Thank you for taking my call. I’m so very sorry to hear about General Alves.”
“Thank you, Mr. Faulkner, but what does this have to do with you?” Forrest heard the president ask.
“Through many different channels,” Ryker said, “I found myself talking to someone who knows Jordana Alves and they said she was frantic to get in touch with someone in Brazil to check on her father. I figured she should go straight to the top to avoid confusion. I was able to get her on the phone. Miss Alves, are you there?”
“Mr. President,” Jordana said, her voice shaking with emotion. “Thank you for taking my call.”
“How do I know it’s you? No offense, but Jordana Alves has been missing for over a month and someone just tried to kill her father. I’m not very trusting at the moment.”
“You gave me a scientist doll for my fifth birthday. You and my father only drink Kalvelage Blended Whiskey when at our house. After my mother died, you took my father out to a rural military base and let him blow up everything he could to help him in his grief.”
“Jordana!” Suddenly President Vara was talking a mile a minute asking what happened to her, where she was, and what was happening.
“The same people who hurt my father are after me. Did Dad tell you I was held hostage?”
“Yes, he did. He told me you escaped and then that’s it.”
“The note in my father’s study said that I’m next.
I’m in hiding since Dad and I were both worried about leaks from his office.
But I need your help. I’m fearful we don’t know who to trust and he’s so sick.
Is there anything we can do?” Jordana knew there was something, she was waiting to see what the president suggested.
“Well, I hate to think someone in my government would put him in danger, but I’m worried that might be true.
” The president paused for a moment. “Before your call, the United States Secretary of State called and offered their specialty hospital in New York City for your father. I turned it down, but I could call her back if that’s what you want. ”
“New York? That would be great. Send no one with him, though. Don’t tell anyone. Just move him. I’d feel so much better, President Vara. Thank you!”
Hunter smirked and Maggie gave her a thumbs up as the president promised it would be done immediately. They hung up and Jordana sagged against the wall. “You really think my dad will be safe here?”
“Yes,” Forrest told her. “And I also think you need to get that plant here to make your medicine. Hunter, do you know how to make that happen?”
“Sure do. Tell me exactly what you need.”
Jordana texted him a list and even told him how to get into her lab to get what she would need.
Then Hunter motioned for Landry Sr., who had just arrived to pick up a somewhat tipsy Lydia, to join him.
They both got on their phones after a couple of whispered seconds before heading out the door to try to get this done.
Forrest put his arm around Jordana and pulled her to him as they all walked back out to the bar.
Mary had moved to a smaller table and Skeeter now sat across from her.
He casually reached out and placed his hand over hers as they talked.
“Do you really think they can make this happen?” Jordana asked as he led her to the table full of his brothers and sisters-in-law.
“I think so. My family can be a bit stubborn.”
Gavin rushed in with Kenzie and as soon as they saw them, made a beeline for them. “I heard we will be needed for a very special patient,” Gavin said, taking a seat at the table.
Jordana looked exhausted so Forrest filled them in with help from Rowan, who then took over as the three medical professionals set up a care plan.
Hunter and Landry Sr. hurried back in and the smile they wore was a lifesaver at this moment. “We got it all set,” Hunter told them.
“What? How?” Jordana asked, grabbing Forrest’s hand and squeezing hard.
“Between Kane’s contacts, Hunter’s military contacts, and my Marine
Raider contacts, we have a team en route right now. They’ll call us when it’s done or if they have any questions once inside,” Landry explained.
“Also, I got a call from Sutton Ramsey. There’s a military cargo plane delivering a weapons order to Brazil to help combat drug cartels.
It’s due to land in the capital in four hours.
When it lands, your father will be waiting for it.
In the midst of the unloading, your father will be secretly loaded onto the plane.
Only two men from President Vara’s command will know about it.
After it’s done and your father is supposedly in New York, the president’s office will release a statement thanking Sutton for being a good ally and offering specialized treatment for your father. ”
“How do we get her father to Shadows Landing?” Damon asked.
Hunter took a deep breath. “That’s where we have to depend on the pilot.
He’ll turn off the plane’s transponder after calling in turbulence.
He’ll have to maintain radio communication while he basically nosedives into Charleston.
No twenty-minute descent. He’s going to drop like a rock, land, deplane Mr. Alves, and then he’s going to take off and climb back up to thirty thousand feet while pushing the plane to max speed.
He’ll turn the transponder back on when he’s where he should be and it will be as if he’d never stopped to unload Mr. Alves. ”
“Everyone is doing this to protect my father?” Jordana asked, clearly in disbelief.
“And you.” Forrest kissed her temple and held her close. He’d take on even more than an international diplomatic kidnapping if it protected the woman he loved.