Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Late Morning Dec. 24
Jeff was getting used to the standard operating procedure of Guardian Security. After all the executives and Mary Alice had stepped off the plane, two broad-shouldered men in black winter coats with the company logo embroidered in gray over the left pectoral muscle stepped into the cabin.
Although they nodded to him first, they introduced themselves to JT. “Well, young man, I understand you’ve had quite an exciting journey.” The first man held out his hand to the boy. “I’m William Lancing, better known as Wild Bill, around here. This is my best buddy, Chase Ingle. Most of us call him Ding. It’s going to be our pleasure to escort you to the Washington, D.C. Center of Guardian Security. Are you ready to get off this airplane and take a ride?”
“Yes, sir.” JT grabbed the small Spider-Man backpack Jeff had purchased for him just over twenty-four hours ago. Was that all it had been? Given everything that had happened yesterday, and this morning, it felt as though he, Lizzie, and JT had been together for a week.
The two men turned to Jeff and shook hands with him. “JT is our priority,” Wild Bill told him quietly. “But I understand that Steve armed you back in Chicago. I’ll take point and Ding will bring up the rear. You take JT’s hand and walk beside him keeping your shooting hand free. Let’s go.”
As though in afterthought, Wild Bill held out his hand to Lizzie. “Welcome to Washington, D.C. Please follow behind JT and Jeff and in front of Ding. We’re moving out.”
When Jeff went to get in the backseat of the Guardian SUV to sit next to JT, Wild Bill pointed to the front seat. “You’re going to ride shotgun.” That wasn’t a problem for Jeff. He’d already been through personal protection training as well as the hostile evasion driving class.
“JT, have you ever been to Washington, D.C. before?” Ding asked as they drove out of the fixed base operations side of Reagan National Airport.
“No, sir. But my mother went to college near here. She graduated from the Naval Academy, which isn’t far away. At least it didn’t look far on the map.”
“I graduated from the Naval Academy, too,” Jeff pointed out. “And so did your father.”
“Me, too,” said Ding. That revelation was followed by a brief discussion of graduation years, life as a midshipman, professors that had been there forever, and the very recent Army-Navy game.
“JT,” Wild Bill called from the front seat. “If you look out the window, we’re passing the Pentagon. Coming up next is Arlington Cemetery.”
“Your father is buried there,” Jeff added.
JT strained against the seatbelt as he looked around Lizzie to see out the window. “Where’s the White House? And the building where Congress meets? We studied about that and the election last month.”
“Those are all on the other side of the Potomac River,” Ding explained. “Our office is located in Arlington, on this side. Alex and Katlin live in Virginia, also on this side of D.C.”
Jeff’s phone buzzed with a text notification. Glancing down, he saw it was from Commander Carson who had already arrived at Guardian Security. Damn. Being a lowly lieutenant junior grade, he knew better than to keep a commander waiting. Unfortunately, there was not a fucking thing he could do about it or crawling traffic. Having an almost personal connection with the team commanding officer was definitely not a good way to start his first job in the SEAL teams. Again, though, there was not a fucking thing he could do about it. Tyler Malone’s letter to his illegitimate son had thrown Jeff into his CO’s line of sight.
“Alex grew up here in D.C. and went to college here,” Wild Bill offered. “I’ll bet if you ask him, he’d give you a personal tour of any place you’d like to see.”
Jeff had visited Washington, D.C. many times throughout his childhood because his mother loved history. He knew the city well. Often on weekends, he and his roommates at the Academy would make their way into the city and just wander around through the many museums and memorials.
“Lizzie, have you ever visited our nation’s capital? Toured the White House or the capital building?” Jeff glanced over his shoulder before returning his gaze to the highway and side mirror looking for any kind of threat.
“Once, but I was so small I don’t remember much of it,” she admitted.
Before he could offer to meet her there sometime and show her around one of his most favorite cities, he decided to drop the subject. They weren’t dating. They were simply friends. He’d keep the idea in the back of his mind should they ever move out of the friend zone.
JT, who had sat quietly staring at his folded hands for several minutes, asked in a small voice, “Is he nice? Do you really think Mr. Wolf would show me around Washington, D.C.? Maybe take me to the museum with the dinosaurs?”
“Yes,” both Ding and Wild Bill said at the same time.
“And Katlin is a wonderful person, too,” Ding added.
It didn’t take long before they drove into an underground parking garage and straight to a steel door that immediately opened. A blocky man with a high and tight haircut in a Guardian Security uniform strode toward their SUV. Something about the way he walked screamed Marine. He was followed by Commander Carson, dressed in civilian clothes.
Jeff had only met the commanding officer for a few moments when he welcomed him to Team 4 and officially granted him one week of leave, but no one ever forgot what their boss looked like. Jeff jumped out to…what? Salute? No. Neither of them were in uniform. Shake his hand? Was that even appropriate? Offer him a sit rep? A situational report would be applicable.
“Sir, Lieutenant Junior Grade Jeff Arwood. It’s my honor to meet you again.” Jeff’s hand popped up of its own volition. He was surprised when Commander Carson shook it.
Jeff was even more surprised when JT stood beside him and his hand sprang forward. “Sir, I’m JT Chambers.”
“Nice to meet you, young man.” The commander took the small hand in his and gently shook it, staring at the child. “Damn, you even look like him.”
JT’s eyes grew wide. “You knew my father?”
“Probably better than anybody on this earth,” he declared. “We were roommates for four years at the Naval Academy, BUD/S buddies throughout SEAL training, and kept up with each other...throughout our careers.”
“Did you know my mother, too?” JT asked in a hopeful voice.
“Yes. I knew her at the Academy and ran into her again a few times during her career.” There was a short pause before the commander added, “She was an excellent naval officer.”
“I’m Top Cooper, the manager of Guardian Security D.C. Center.” He shook hands with Lizzie then Jeff. “We’re on a tight schedule. Katlin and Alex are expecting us for lunch.”
A limousine pulled up next to the SUV that had brought them from the airport. Two men jumped out and began moving their luggage into the limousine’s trunk with the help of Wild Bill and Ding.
“JT, Ms. Hopewell, Lieutenant,” Wild Bill gestured toward the door, “it’s been a pleasure meeting you, but we need to get back to work.”
“See you around, JT,” Ding called over his shoulder.
“Bye,” JT called while waving vigorously.
“Thank you for the ride,” Lizzie said to the retreating backs.
“You’re welcome,” one of them responded just before the door closed.
“We will be more comfortable in the limo.” Top strode over and opened the back door. “Ma’am.” It was as much an order as a request. Lizzie wasted no time stepping into the back.
“Master JT.” The salty Marine stared at the young boy and gestured to the door.
“Yes, sir,” he answered as he scooted into the limo.
Top Cooper scanned the empty garage then said quietly, “Lieutenant, are you still carrying a Guardian weapon?”
Jeff glanced at the commander before returning his gaze to the Guardian D.C. Center manager. “Yes, sir.” He started to take off his jacket to return the holster and weapon.
“Keep it on,” the retired Marine ordered. “I’ll get it back from you after we deliver the boy.” He turned his attention to Jeff’s boss. “Commander Carson, I’m sure you’re carrying. Not that we’re expecting trouble, but JT, as a member of the Wolf family, has been assigned our highest level of security.”
Commander Carson raised his salt-and-pepper eyebrows. “Have Katlin and Alex’s lives been threatened?”
The old Marine paused before he answered. “Alex, sometimes. Katlin, always. And plausible.” He once again glanced around the highly secure garage before returning his gaze to the two men. “This goes no further because her life depends on it. Katlin is the operations director for Section 7 at Homeland Security.”
“Holy fuck.” Commander Carson swiped his large hand over his face as he turned his head away.
Jeff had never heard of Section 7, but by his commanding officer’s reaction, it was either some very secret department or one that had a very bad reputation. Jeff’s face must have revealed his lack of awareness.
“Most officers never learn of Section 7 until they wear stars on their shoulders,” his CO explained. “I only know about that department because they tried to recruit me just before I was promoted to commander. They are one of the few covert special operations groups that can work anywhere in the world including within the United States. They exclusively recruit the best of the best special operators from all the services.”
“That explains why she knows the general in charge of U.S. SOCOM,” Jeff noted quietly.
“And that is exactly why JT is so valuable.” Top Cooper looked at his watch. “After you, gentlemen.” He tapped twice on the roof before he slid into the backseat with everyone else.
As Jeff sat across the car from Lizzie, their backs to the windows, he realized that he could not say anything to her about Katlin’s job. He wondered if her highly secretive position at Homeland Security would negate the possibility of them fostering or adopting JT. The more he thought about it, the more he doubted that there was any way that Lizzie would ever find out Katlin’s real job. Hell, he wasn’t even supposed to know about Section 7.
“Can you tell me something about my father? Anything. Please.” JT asked Commander Carson as they pulled out of the garage.
“Your father was a hard-working, dedicated SEAL. He had to be the best at everything or else he didn’t do it.” The commander looked down at his hands as though he was searching for something else to tell the young boy. “He didn’t believe in failing. If he couldn’t make it work one way, he’d try until he figured out a way to win.” His CO smiled. “When he wasn’t at work, he loved to have a good time. He was a lot of fun to be around. But when things got serious, so did he.”
“What about my mother?”
Commander Carson took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll be honest with you, JT, I don’t remember much about her. Your father had a lot of female friends.”
“What do you know about Mr. and Mrs. Wolf?”
“Very little,” the commander admitted. “Although I have met them both a time or two. I was in your father’s wedding when he married Katlin.”
“Katlin, as in Mrs. Wolf?” Lizzie sat up straight and stared at Commander Carson.
Oh, shit. Lizzie didn’t know about the last letter.