Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Jeff collected their carryon bags that had been stowed in the overhead bins and moved JT in front of him in line waiting for the door to open so they could exit the plane.
“Damn it,” the man across the aisle cursed as he stared at his phone.
“Honey, looks like we need to find a hotel room for tonight,” the man in front of them told the woman beside him as he stared at his cell phone. “All flights out of Chicago have been canceled.”
Oh, shit. I have to get to D.C. today. Jeff glanced at the young face that looked up at him. “It’ll be okay.” He patted the boy on the shoulder, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. He needed a plan. But first, he needed to get to Lizzie and let her know the situation.
At the end of the gangway, he pulled JT to one side out of the way. When she emerged, she didn’t look happy. Maybe she already knew.
“What’s wrong?” they both asked at the same time.
Being a gentleman, Jeff said, “You first.”
“I was just going to complain about how uncomfortable I’ve been for the last two-and-a-half hours stuck in the middle seat between two linebackers.” She stared into his eyes. “I have a feeling what you have to say is much more important.”
“Our flight to Washington has been canceled.” He guided Lizzie and JT to a less crowded gate and out of the main aisle where hundreds of people were moving as fast as their feet could take them. Discontent filled the airport like a fog as the arrival and departure board continued to add canceled flights. He’d already decided that he was going to call the phone number given to him for Guardian Security’s travel agent when his phone rang in his hand.
“Lieutenant Arwood.”
“Good afternoon, Lieutenant Arwood, this is Steve Norton, manager of Guardian Security Chicago Center. We’ve been notified that your flight to Washington, D.C. scheduled for this afternoon has been canceled. I’m very sorry this has happened to you and young Mr. JT Chambers. Rest assured, we’re going to take good care of you. I need the two of you to go to baggage claim where you’ll meet Drew Lacount, one of my best men. He’s already retrieving your baggage. He’ll escort you to your waiting limousine.”
As Jeff stood very still, listening while trying to block out the airport noise, Lizzie caught his attention. She simply raised one beautifully arched eyebrow. He interrupted before the man could continue, “Excuse me, sir, but we’re not traveling alone. Liz…” He quickly corrected himself, “Elizabeth Hopewell is with us. She is legally responsible for JT as his social worker.”
“No problem. You said her name is Elizabeth Hopewell?” The Guardian man then spelled out each word. “We’re pulling her luggage now. Hopefully it will be there by the time you reach baggage claim. If not, we’ll send someone else to pick it up. Hang on a minute, please.”
Jeff could hear the man speaking with someone else.
“Lieutenant Arwood, you’ll notice two armed security guards heading your way. They will walk with you since you are still in a secure part of the airport. Unfortunately, our bodyguards are not permitted in that area without a valid flight ticket. They will escort you to the appropriate area of baggage claim.”
Jeff’s gaze rose as the hordes of people rushing down the long hallway leading to other terminals parted for two uniformed guards who swaggered down the middle. They were geared up in bulletproof vests, guns with extra magazines, and don’t-fuck-with-me attitudes.
“I see them,” Jeff replied. “The three of us are supposed to go with them?” he confirmed while informing Lizzie.
“Yes.” Steve then added, “Don’t be surprised if they take you through a nonpublic area. I’m very sorry, but I don’t know their names. If you do not feel secure, ask them for identification. We can switch this phone call to video and record their IDs.”
Why the hell would they need armed guards? For Christ’s sake, he was a fucking Navy SEAL. He had been through O’Hare airport dozens of times and was quite sure he could find his way to wherever they needed to go. “Sir…”
“Lieutenant Arwood, feel free to call me Steve.”
“Okay, Steve.” Jeff lowered his voice to just above a whisper as he turned his back on JT and Lizzie. “Is all this security necessary?”
“Yes. Members of the Wolf family are considered high value targets for kidnapping. It’s my understanding that young Mr. Chambers is to be considered a member of the Wolf family.”
Jeff ran through the information that he had researched online about Alex Wolf. Was the man really that rich? Or perhaps it was Katlin Callahan who was wealthy. Maybe that’s why she had very little social media presence. It didn’t matter as the two security guards approached them.
“Sir, Steve, the security guards are here. Hold one minute while I check their IDs.” Jeff said loud enough so both men before him and the one on the line could hear. As the two guards pulled the cards clipped to their breast pockets, Jeff touched the button to change the call to video. He then held the phone over the first man’s card, then up to his face before capturing the second card and face. “Steve, did you get them?”
“They both check out. Please follow them to the baggage area.” The Guardian manager then added, “Don’t forget you’ll be meeting Drew Lacount there. He will escort you to the Guardian Security Chicago Center. Because of the storm most of the hotels in the area are filled so you will be spending the night here with us. We have all three of you booked in the morning on the private jet service our company uses for executives. I’m looking forward to meeting you when you arrive. If you run into any problems, call me at this number.”
“Thank you, Steve.” A little bit shell-shocked, Jeff touched the icon to end the call before he looked at the security guards, then at Lizzie and JT who hadn’t heard any of the previous conversation.
“Gentlemen, this is all new to us so please give me a minute to explain everything to them.” Jeff gestured to Lizzie and JT. He focused his attention on the nervous woman and small boy as they sat anxiously in the uncomfortable airport chairs. “These men have been sent by Guardian Security to escort us to baggage claim where we’ll be met by another man from the company. They are collecting our bags.” He looked directly at Lizzie. “Including yours.” His gaze widened to include both of them. “We are being taken to their Chicago office where we’ll spend the night and catch a private jet to Washington in the morning. That’s about all I know.”
He then turned his attention to the two security guards. “Steve, the manager of the Guardian Security Chicago Center said that you may prefer to take us to baggage claim a more secure way?”
“Yes, sir. Please follow me.” Several feet down the large hallway they turned left into a smaller and much quieter area. The second guard pulled out his badge and unlocked the door marked no entry. With one guard in front and one behind, they trooped through several nearly empty white hallways. When they came to a set of steps heading down, the second guard grabbed the carryons from JT and Lizzie and carried them down the commercial-grade steps, allowing them to use the handrails. At the bottom, he returned the bags to Lizzie and JT.
“Thank you, mister policeman,” JT said as the guard extended the handle toward him. “I can get it now.” The boy glanced over his shoulder and added, “That’s a lot of steps.”
“You’re very welcome, young man.” The second guard smiled down at JT.
“Thank you,” Lizzie added as she lengthened her stride to catch up to the first guard.
“You’re very welcome, ma’am.” He nodded toward JT. “You have a very polite boy there.”
Jeff glanced over his shoulder ready to correct the second guard, only to see Lizzie reach out with her free hand and give a small hug to JT.
“He’s such a good boy.”
No one spoke as they were guided through several turns and finally to a side entrance into the baggage claim area.
Jeff saw the Guardian Security man at the same time the first guard did. He wasn’t hard to miss in his gray polo shirt with the logo on the pocket underneath a black cold weather jacket with another logo in the same place. The guns strapped to each of his thighs over top black cargo pants with at least half a dozen pockets and the ass-kicking black boots were a sure giveaway. They were led directly to him.
Suddenly, Jeff wondered how much cash he had in his wallet, unsure if he should tip the security guards who had escorted them through the bowels of the huge airport and delivered them safely.
The Guardian Security man held out his hand and shook the hands of each security guard. “Thanks, guys. We really appreciate you escorting our little man to us. This was all a last-minute deal for us as well. We’ll owe you one.”
With a smile, the first security guard said, “If things don’t get any better around here, we just might collect on that promise.”
“I’m so tired of breaking up fights over stupid shit.” The second guard glanced over his shoulder at Lizzie. “I apologize for my language, ma’am.”
She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve heard a lot worse from third graders.”
“I don’t know if it’s the pressure of the holidays or people are just meaner after the COVID-19 lockdown, but we’re seeing a lot more assault and battery inside the airport.” The first guard shook his head side to side. “It’s not our fault the weather has grounded so many airplanes, canceling hundreds of flights. Sometimes this place makes me want to go back into the Marines.”
A man in an airport uniform designating him as a baggage handler approached the group with Lizzie’s large checked suitcase. “I believe this is the last one you’re waiting for.”
When she tried to grab it, the Guardian man reached the handle first. “Thank you. I believe this is it.” He turned his attention to Lizzie. “I’ll get this, ma’am. The rest of the bags are already in the trunk.” He swept his gaze over the three of them before extending his hand once again to the guards. “Thanks again. We really appreciate your help.”
After a quick shake of each man’s hand, he gestured to the door. “Your limousine is waiting outside.”
“Limousine?” Lizzie looked up at Jeff, that sexy eyebrow cocked once again.
He just shrugged and grabbed JT’s hand.
A chauffeur dressed in a typical uniform of crisp white shirt with a perfectly knotted black tie under a black suit coat and matching black pants stood with the back door open. As they approached, he removed his matching black hat and held it over his heart. “Welcome to Chicago.”
Jeff held in a grin as Lizzie’s wide eyes scanned the length of the long black limousine. It was no doubt her first time being this close to such a luxury vehicle. During June Week at the Naval Academy, several of his classmates had gotten married within days after graduation. He’d been in and out of limousines several times that week as a groomsman. After the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia his Second Class year, as a junior, his roommate had rented a limo to take his longtime girlfriend out to supper and to the hotel afterward. Jeff and his date, and two other couples had also been invited as witnesses to his over-the-top marriage proposal.
Following Lizzie into the limousine, Jeff glanced around at the seats that lined three sides, facing a small bar.
JT’s mouth hung open. “This car is bigger than Poppa C’s work truck.” He ran his small hand over the seat. “So soft.” He changed to another seat, this time facing backward. “It’s kind of like a bus.”
Jeff glanced at Lizzie who was running her fine-boned hand over the butter-soft leather seat, smiling in awe. Jeff sat down next to her, grinning.
A moment later, the Guardian man crawled in the back with them and the door was shut. He made himself comfortable along the back seat. “Greetings. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Drew Lacount, one of the assistant managers at the Guardian Security office here in Chicago. I hope your flight here was comfortable. I’m sorry that you’re unable to continue to Washington today.” He smiled. “But you’re going to love the flight tomorrow. You’re booked on the private executive jet service that the company uses for its senior management team. I’ve been fortunate to use it a few times myself and I can attest it is the best way to fly.”
“I understand we’ll be staying in your office tonight?” Lizzie asked, worry laced through the question.
Drew’s smile widened. “Yes, you’ll be staying with us. It’s the most secure location we could find, especially the last minute. With so many flights being grounded the hotels are filled. Our office has several apartments, primarily used by employees transitioning into the area, training teams that cycle through each of the ten Guardian centers, and the occasional guest such as yourselves.” He snapped his fingers as though he’d just thought of something. He leaned toward the bar. “May I get you a drink? I forgot to check to see if you had the beverage service on the plane.”
Timidly, JT raised his hand. “The nice lady on the plane brought me some milk and cookies, but breakfast was a long time ago.”
Drew’s smile gentled. “You must be JT. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I understand you’re going to meet Alex and Katlin for the first time. I can tell you they’re very excited about meeting you.”
JT’s eyes grew wide. “They are?”
“Most certainly. They’ve both been on the phone several times to our office making sure that everything was arranged for you.” Drew’s gaze raised to Jeff’s before glancing over to Lizzie. “They’re also very thankful to the two of you for escorting their new family member to them.”
“If you speak with them, please assure them it’s been my pleasure.” Jeff hoped that the message would reach Mr. and Mrs. Wolf.
While he opened the bar and ran through the offerings, Drew suggested, “I’m going to call our cook and make sure there is food waiting for you when we arrive. I believe we had beef stew and homemade French bread served for lunch, but if you would like something else, she’s an excellent cook,” he reassured. “We have an entire refrigerator that is kept stocked with hoagies of every flavor from meatball and Italian sandwiches to turkey with bacon. Her homemade baked potato soup is better than my grandmother’s.”
“All this talk of food is making my stomach hungry,” Lizzie confessed. “At this point, I’d like one of everything.”
That made everyone laugh. She was so cute.
Jeff’s phone vibrated with the text from Commander Carson. He debated only a minute before he apologized. “I’m terribly sorry, but I need to call my commander and inform him of the change in plans. He was going to drive to D.C. and meet us this afternoon.”
It took Jeff only a minute to summarize the situation to his CO. “Sir, I will text you our flight information as soon as I receive it.”
“Lieutenant, I’m actually thankful for the delay. My daughter is in a Christmas play at church this evening that I now get to attend. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as Jeff ended the call, he was handed a Coke in a crystal glass.
“I can add some Jack or rum to that if you would like,” Drew offered.
Jeff tilted his head toward JT. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m on duty.”
Drew smiled. “Your apartment has a fully stocked bar for when the little guy goes to sleep.”
Jeff glanced to the well-stocked bar filled with top shelf alcohol. If the bar in his room was anywhere near as good as the one before him, he would be thrilled. He needed to text his mother and find out what time kids JT’s age went to bed. Oh, yeah, and update her on the change in plans.
He glanced at Lizzie and wondered if she would join him for a drink. After the day they’d had, they’d both need one.