Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
MAYA
I've just been discharged from the hospital.
Two fractured ribs, several small shallow punctures from the fragments, and more bruises, including my shoulder.
Philly PD wants us to stay, but I use my last favor with the Secret Service and my new Securities International partnership to go home.
Greg helped pull strings to get me home too.
He's worried and upset, he knows I put myself in danger.
Ana and Duncan have stayed by my side. I refused pain meds for now so I can drive and help Duncan protect Ana.
What's Jonathon involved in? My stalker and Jonathon have got to be connected because they were after Ana, but what they said still haunts me.
They called me girly just like the last two attacks. My mind is spinning with scenarios.
My captain has suspended me, pending an investigation. Guess I'll be getting up early to meet with him. The best part is security footage shows me identifying myself as police and Secret Service. I notified every guard we passed of my position and showed them my badge.
The problem is my captain knows me and I walked into a situation I thought could go sideways with no backup and without notifying local PD.
Good thing they never searched my truck, they don't know how bad it could have gotten.
They made me strip down because of the goon's blood all over me.
That's when they found the knife in my bra.
The X-ray tech had me confirm I was completely unarmed before they took the X-rays. I laugh to think about it. Duncan didn't find it amusing; however, he knows me well enough to know I'm going to thoroughly arm myself if I can.
First time being shot sucks. Because the guy was carrying a .45 revolver is why I got hurt so bad. The lighter vest and the two shots also contributed to my injuries. I wouldn’t change anything, I love Duncan, and I can't lose him. I feel calm with that thought.
"Come on, baby, just let me help you into the scrubs so we can get you home. Why won't you take the pain meds? I can drive."
"Big Guy, I love you, but not enough to trust your English driving with my truck." They let me keep my sports bra and thong, they didn't have any blood on them.
"Ha, thanks, baby. Love you too and I'll remember this when we get to London. I seem to remember someone liking my DBS."
"Oh, low blow, babe. I won't be able to go to London for a while.
I have to meet with my captain and the ERT division chief.
Then I'll have to meet with my superiors at the Secret Service.
I think if Greg could ground me right now, he would.
I'm going to lose part of my ass, hope you won't miss it. "
"It will be alright. Joshua is flying in tonight to help you and he hired you an attorney."
"Really? That's very nice of him, but I'll have a union rep there too." I haven't told Duncan the extent of my involvement with Securities International. I'm waiting until I can sit him down to tell him I'll be his boss now.
"Baby, we got your back. Where's your sidearm hidden? That was crazy going in with only knives."
"I didn't want to keep flashing my badge or go through the extra security procedures to carry it through the airport.
I hoped that they'd try something at the terminal.
Plus, I didn't expect Goon Three to get off the plane with Ana.
Besides, I did pretty damn good myself. I did hit two with my knives. "
"Where's it at? I found two in your truck on the way here, but I know enough about you to know they're not your actual sidearm."
"Well, to be honest, I have two sidearms, one issued by MPD and the other from Secret Service. However, you’re right, the two in my truck are both my backups. My actual sidearms are in the safe in my truck. My rifle is also in it, in another safe."
"Okay, baby, let's get you ready to get out of here." He grabs the scrubs the nurse left me and helps me get dressed.
"Duncan, get out of here. I'll help her dress," Ana says.
"Sis, I've seen enough, I can help her."
"Both of you can help if you're going to fight about it." I laugh, and groan from the pain of laughing.
After finally getting dressed, I assure the Philly detectives we won’t leave the country.
We head out to the parking lot. As I come to my truck, I do a full walk around and check everything.
My proximity alarm never went off, so I know that no one has put a tracker on my truck.
I disengage the alarm and check my exterior boxes.
"Baby, you're making me think you don't trust my driving."
"Hilarious, I'm checking for trackers and to make sure no one has messed with my equipment."
"Baby, your proximity alarm was on."
"I know, but I'm worried. I feel like all we're doing is responding to Jonathon's threats. We need to be getting ahead of him. I feel like we're being watched."
I pull my go bag out, pull out another burner phone, and check my regular phone for messages. Derek called, but I'm going to wait until we get closer to the condo before I call him. I have several missed calls from Greg too.
"Don't call your dad yet," I tell Ana.
I try to pull myself up into the driver's seat but can't without making the pain worse. Duncan walks up behind me and lifts me up. Before he sets me into position, he turns me and kisses me.
"I thought I lost you today. I wouldn't be able to survive that. Since you left me, I've learned how hard my life would be without you. Baby, I don't want to ever lose you," he tells me as he looks into my eyes.
"I know. Seeing that gun pointed at you, all I could think was if you die, they better kill me too," I confess. He hugs me to him, being gentle with my ribs and arm.
"Come on." He turns me into the truck. He helps Ana into the back seat and then climbs into the passenger seat.
"Duncan, do me a favor."
"What?"
"Open that center console and make sure my lock box is secured." I know I'm paranoid, but I really feel like not only am I being watched but that this isn't over.
"Okay. Why is your rifle in the boot instead of in here?"
"The boot? I love how you call the bed of my truck a boot. Isn't a boot a trunk?"
"Yes, the trunk is the boot. Answer my question, why is your rifle in the boot?"
"Oh, that's just my competition rifle and my .50 cal. My SR-25 is in a custom compartment in the back, under where Ana is sitting."
"Oh, baby, you talking firearms turns me on. You have a .50 cal. Bugger me, baby, we're going to a range and playing one of these days."
"Yuck, I'm back here." We all laugh at Ana's statement.
"Okay, little momma, do I need to get you anything special to eat?"
"No, just food." We head to the closest fast-food joint to feed her. We do the drive-thru so we don't have to get out.