Chapter Five #2
As the blacked-out SUV was parked, Tiffany got out and made sure they were safe. There were no civilians around, since it was just about midnight.
When she tapped on the door, it opened, and Kate got out. In a car not far away were two Archangels who would be her protection.
They got out and headed their way, ready to begin their duty protecting her.
Immediately, Raphael and Uriel got ready for the conflict. They had been Archangels until they went to work for Elizabeth. Their old teammates held a grudge.
For bailing for ‘easy’ duty.
If they only understood how difficult it was.
“Hey, Raphael,” Ariel said. “We’re sorry about your loss. Jet was a good dude. We liked him,” the one Archangel said.
The other focused on Elizabeth.
Azrael continued.
“We’re sorry for your loss, and we’re glad you weren’t hurt, Director. When you have Jet’s funeral, let us know. We want to be there to show our respect. He was a good Marine, and he deserves all of us there for him.”
She nodded.
“Thank you,” she offered.
To get this done, Kate put her arm through Elizabeth’s, and she walked her toward the ambulance where Jack and Nova Warner were standing. The second he saw her, he opened his arms, and she headed into them.
“Lyzee,” he said, kissing her temple. “I’m so sorry. We will do anything we can if you need us.”
She sniffled.
“He didn’t even have a chance,” she whispered. “Had he, Jet would have been alive now. We were ambushed.”
He held her.
“I know, Honey.”
He let her lean.
“We’re here for you,” he said. “What do you need from my police?”
She knew.
“Jack, I’m chasing a monster. He’s about to dump some bodies, if they aren’t already dumped. Can your cops keep an eye out for me?”
He nodded.
“Where and what are we looking for?” he asked, needing to be vetted in so he could help.
It wasn’t lost on him that his wife was hugging the two Marines who were protecting Elizabeth. He’d wanted to leave Nova at home, but she insisted. The nanny had their child, and his wife was dressed for protection duty.
With good reason.
While he didn’t like it, there was no one better to step up and add to his security than a Marine.
Kate jumped into the conversation.
“I have the information from the president, Commissioner Warner. You can deal with me directly.”
He lifted a brow.
“And you are?” he asked.
Elizabeth did the introductions.
“This is Director Kate Natalia, the new Director of the FBI,” she said. “And my friend.”
That told him all he needed to know.
Now, he stared.
“Wait. Are you the same Kate who took down the senators? Now, you’re her boss?”
She shrugged.
“Partner. Boss is…meh. I like being a team player. From here on out, I’m here to back her up, and I’ll get you everything you need. I want an open door to the local police to ensure we’re all safe.”
Jack just stared.
And Elizabeth shared.
“He used to bang the old boss.”
He gasped.
“BEFORE I found my wife and had babies with her. Are you trying to get me killed? He’s my brother-in-law,” he said, pointing at Raphael. “And he’s going to help MY WIFE kill me,” he added as Nova gave them a little finger wave.
“I’m the wife. He’s not banging anyone but me, or we have a mass casualty situation going on,” she stated. “Oh, and I will have my bestie Raphael ride shotgun. My brother, Saint, will insist.”
Kate laughed.
“Another Marine? The place is filthy with them,” she joked. Then, Kate shook Jack’s hand to officially make the greeting count.
Elizabeth shared, so Kate was caught up.
“Yeah, Nova used to be on my security detail, until Jack stole her away. Come to think about it, he has always fucked my friends. Does that make me an unwilling wing man?”
He gasped again.
“Jesus. I’m a dead man.”
Nova opened her mouth, and Jack put his hand over her lips to silence her.
“You already own my balls. Let me have a little dignity, Wife.”
She snorted.
Now, Kate was curious.
“Is everyone in DC Elizabeth’s friend?” she asked. “A commissioner, a few cops, a homicide captain, and a slew of soldiers. You’re collecting badges and security.”
Yes, yes, she was.
Since she didn’t think she wanted a genuine answer, Elizabeth ignored that to focus on Jack.
“Devon Slater is a nightmare,” she said. “He’s fucking wealthy, and has been apprenticing under his father, who killed for years. They studied me back when we were young, Jack. He knows everything, and he’s gunning for me.”
Well, he didn’t like that.
NOT.
AT.
ALL.
“Get me the information. I can send my cops out to do this on the DL. You know I’m in if it means protecting this city. Crazies like that are the reason I can’t freaking retire.”
Well, that and he’d be bored.
She took a stab at it.
“He left me a crucifix with the Christ ripped off. Look at churches. They won’t be Catholic. Look at other denominations and see what you can find.”
He could do that, and by ‘he’, what he meant was his team. Nova was NOT letting him wander around.
“I’ll send out Detective Gaines tomorrow.”
Oh, and he wouldn’t be alone.
That was for damn sure.
She appreciated that.
“Let’s get this done,” Uriel said with tears in his eyes. “I want to say goodbye to my friend,” he stated.
Yeah, it was time.
Going to the back of the ambulance, there were two drivers waiting for them.
“We’re sorry for your loss, Director,” the one said, as he opened the door.
She simply nodded.
What was she to say to that? No one was sorrier than her. That was for damn sure.
Together, they pulled the gurney out, and on it, there was a black body bag, zipped closed.
As it came out, she moved around it to the zipper, and her hand paused for only a second. She wanted to rage, weep, and burn the world down, but she knew she had to stay in control.
For now.
Slowly, she opened it, and with gentle fingers, she pulled the flap back. The second she did, she saw Jet’s face. The bullet went in the left side, and out the right.
The tears came.
“I told you I wouldn’t leave you for long,” she said, putting her hand over his chest. He was wearing expensive Kevlar, and it didn’t protect him.
It wouldn’t protect any of them.
With the love of a mother, she found his hand, and she held it in her own. He wouldn’t be alone.
He wouldn’t go into the hospital zipped up in a bag. Jet would go in with the honor of a warrior.
“Let’s walk him in,” she said. “The bag stays open. He deserves this last walk with his family. We deserve to do this for him because he was ours.”
And that said it all.
Raphael went to one side, and she and Uriel walked the other side. As they rolled it into the hospital morgue, staff held the door for her, clearly alerted for a hero walk.
She said nothing, but he was getting cold as life left him. Still, she refused to let go as she held on out of love.
A mother would hold onto her child, and she meant what she’d said countless times.
He was her child.
Staff held the doors, and Elizabeth walked alongside the gurney. The only sound was their boots hitting the floor as they escorted him.
Inside, when the door opened, there stood familiar faces. It was Doctor Legend, and with him, Doctor Dalia Cooper.
Her MEs.
As soon as she saw them, tears slipped past her lashes. Them being there to take care of Jet was the kindest, most compassionate thing they could ever do for her.
She’d never forget it.
Ever.
Seeing her, Zane headed her way.
“Hey, Boss. We thought we could do this for you, so you didn’t have to leave him alone with anyone. We loved Jet, and we wanted to be here for him too.”
She wasn’t sure how.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Dalia kissed her.
“Chris called us, and he asked us to do this for your family. He said that Jet should be taken care of by the people who knew him, because he deserved that.”
Raphael dropped his arm over her shoulder and let her lean on him.
At that moment, they all needed this.
Desperately.
“Thank you for that,” she said. “I want him to be loved because he was special. He’s one of my children. He’s one of mine,” she whispered.
Oh, they understood.
Working with Elizabeth, you learned one thing about her.
She was loyal to a fault.
Once you were hers, you stayed hers. There was no doubt that she’d want them to protect Jet now that he could no longer protect himself.
She was honest.
“He wouldn’t want an autopsy, so can you just stay with him and make sure the paperwork is done. He’ll be interred in Arlington, and I want him to look his best.”
Dalia squeezed her hand.
“You got it, boss. We’ll get him cleaned up, and ready for the funeral home.”
Zane made a clipboard appear, and she signed off on it. Since Jet had no wife, family, or kids, she was going to make sure his last will was handled.
“COD is GSW to the left temple,” Zane said, signing off on the cause of death. “What time?” he asked her.
Elizabeth knew.
“Ten oh six tonight, he took his last breath in service to his country,” she offered.
This was the dignified transfer he deserved.
He scribbled in the information, and then had Dalia sign off too.
“I need to say goodbye,” she said. “Then, my Marines do too.”
They understood.
Chris had friends at this hospital, since he donated a lot of money, and he’d cleared the way.
Everyone stepped back, minus the two Marines who worked with the man, and they stayed by her side.
Staring down, she touched his face, the side that wasn’t too damaged from the gunshot.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “If I could go back and fix this, I would do so many things differently. I regret that this cost you your life, Jet. You served and stood your watch for me and this country. This is your last call, and wherever you are, find my old man, and he’ll keep you company.
Dad, take into your arms this Marine, for he has served his country, the people of the United States of America, and the Constitution.
He has served it with dignity, honor, and strength befitting the best Marines. ”
She unbuttoned his bloody shirt the best she could while he was in his vest, and pulled out his tags. There were two on the chain, and she knew he wore them.
Then, she pulled one off and tucked it into his cold hand.