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  “I’m coming too,” JD stood.

  “No.” Tracy shook her head. “You are going to find the person that is responsible for hurting my baby and then you are going to kill him.”

  JD looked into his wife’s eyes and didn’t recognize the woman that stared back. “Tracy?”

  “No one harms one of my children and gets away with it. Now you find that person or don’t bother to come home.”

  The men in the room looked on as JD watched his son being taken from the room. Tracy never looked back. “She’s angry, JD. Just like you.” Brian stated.

  “JC is going to be alright,” Samuel said, “which is more than I can say for others.”

  JD looked over his shoulder at Samuel. “What others?”

  “Mr. President-Elect, we have a room set up for you to work from until you can see your son.” The hospital administrator said.

  “Where are my other children?” JD asked as he followed the men.

  “All secure sir,” an agent replied. “As is your mother and sister.”

  “Where is James?”

  “James and Pearl are in the room waiting for you.” Brian stated.

  “Where’s Calvin?”

  “Calvin was hit.” JD stopped and stared at Brian as he spoke. “We don’t know yet.”

  “Is he here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Take me to him.”

  “No. Jackie is with him and so is Douglas. You are needed in the situation room.” Brian stated. “I will physically take you out if I have to. Don’t make me.”

  JD stormed off, following the agents. “Who else is hurt?”

  “Carolyn, Ryan, three agents and the Vice-President-elect.” Brian replied. JD glared at him, “Keep walking. We’ll give you a full run down as soon as you are secure.” They took him to an expansive suite in the hospital that was sealed off. The hospital administrator met him at the door that was surrounded by agents. “President-Elect Harrison, your son’s cat scan came back clear. There’s a little swelling, but that’s to be expected. Once the shock wears off, we expect he will regain consciousness. Mrs. Harrison is with him in a secure room. He will have around-the-clock care.”

  They walked through the double doors to a room where JD was met by James. “Mr. President-Elect, there are three dead, seven injured from the stage area. The injuries from the floor are minor scrapes and bruises. No one on the floor was shot. The names of the fatalities are on the desk.” JD moved to the area James pointed to in the makeshift office, as James continued. The Vice-President-Elect and the two agents covering him were DOA.

  “I want to see his wife as soon as possible and any information you have on the agents.” JD sighed.

  “Yes sir. Ryan was shot in the shoulder and is being cared for as we speak. If Al doesn’t kill the physician, she should be released within the hour.”

  “She covered Tracy,” JD spoke aloud.

  “It’s her job sir.” James stated then continued. “Calvin is a little more serious; however, the attending doctor believes he will survive. As for Carolyn,” James sighed, “Things are a little up in the air with her.” JD looked up at James, who just shook his head. “They don’t know.”

  “There were two gunmen, one was taken down in the response fire, and the other escaped.”

  JD ran his hand down his face not realizing he still had JC’s blood on his hands and clothes. “What do you mean escaped?” he looked at Brian, then Samuel. “Call Joshua. I want to see him within the hour.”

  “Mr. President-Elect, the President is on the line for you.” An agent held a cell phone out to JD.

  At first JD stared at the phone, then he reached out and took it. “Mr. President.” He listened as the man spoke. He occasionally nodded his head, but never replied until he said. “Thank you, Mr. President.” Then the call ended. JD gave the telephone back to the agent, then sat down and sighed. He looked around. “Is there somewhere I can wash up?”

  “Yes,” Pearl replied as she walked in with a change of clothes for him. “Sorry it took a minute to get by Secret Service at your house. Then by the media.” She sat the clothes down. “I made a statement to the media that you will speak with them as soon as you’ve spoken with the families involved. Take a minute, breathe, change your clothes and then we’ll address the media.”

  “You’re trying for the Press Secretary’s job?”

  “Natural progression,” Pearl smiled, “but we can talk about it later.”

  JD smiled, “It’s yours.” JD said as he walked into the bathroom of the suite.

  Pearl turned to James. “How is he?”

  “Rattled, but dealing.”

  She turned to Brian, “How is Tracy?”

  “Pissed, no beyond pissed.”

  “Tracy?” Pearl questioned.

  “Told him not to come home until he finds and kills the person that hurt her baby,” Brian stated.

  A shocked Pearl questioned again. “Tracy?”

  “Tracy,” Samuel confirmed.

  Chapter 24

  Monique met Joshua at the door of the hospital. Neither said a word until they were away from any ears. “What in the hell went wrong?” he asked. “We took out the two assassins months ago.”

  “But we didn’t take everyone out,” Monique stated. “The Senator is still out there and we never determined who was feeding the information to his camp in the first place. Nor do we know who the woman was that gave him that damn cell phone. There are too many loose ends.”

  “The Senator is out.” Joshua explained. “We’ve had him under surveillance since the last incident. Who was hit?”

  “The Vice-President, Calvin Johnson, Ryan, Carolyn Roth-Roberts and a few agents. You still think the President-Elect was the target?”

  “I don’t know. But there is no chatter on another assassin.”

  As Joshua talked, Monique watched as an elderly couple and a woman spoke with a member of the security team. He pointed in the direction of the emergency rooms and the small group walked away. She tilted her head to the side. The woman in the group looked familiar. Joshua stopped talking; her body language was telling him that something was up. “Follow your instincts.”

  Monique glanced in his direction. “I’ll get back with you,” she said as she walked away.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  “Mr. President-Elect.” Joshua joined in step with JD as he exited the suite. JD stopped, “Secure area.” The agents stepped back allowing a decent space between them and the President-Elect. Brian and Samuel stood nearby as they spoke. “I want the person that shot at that stage in custody before the night is out.”

  “By any means necessary?” Joshua asked.

  It took JD a moment, but remembering his son on that stage smiling up at him one moment, then bloodied the next prompted him. “By any means necessary.”

  “Yes Sir,” Joshua replied as JD strolled away.

  “Before you kill him,” Samuel cautioned his brother, “we need to know who is behind the latest threat.”

  “Who was on the man that escaped?” Joshua asked.

  “Calhoun,” Brian replied.

  Joshua put a call into Ned as he walked away. “Ned, give me a location on Calhoun.” He paused for a moment as a thought occurred to him. “Then run a check on him, the normal, connections, recent movements and financials.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  After speaking with the Vice-President-Elect’s wife and family, JD found Ryan outside the room where JC had been taken. “How’s the arm?” JD asked.

  Ryan glanced up at him. “Hurts like hell, but I’ll survive.”

  “You saved Tracy’s life.”

  “That’s why you pay me the big bucks.” She replied. “There were two shooters. Did they get the other guy?”

  “No. Joshua is on it.”

  Ryan nodded, “Heard she put you out.”

  “Humph,” JD smirked, “She’s pretty angry.”

  “Angry or not, that’s your son and wife in there. Don’t
you think you should be the one comforting them?”

  “I wanted to be,” JD sighed, “but I can’t.”

  Ryan turned to him. “You’re the President-Elect of the freaking United States of America. You can do anything you damn well please. Even piss your wife off a little. All I know is if it was me lying there, when I opened my eyes, I would want to see my mom and my dad.” She shrugged her shoulders.” But I’m just a security guard, what do I know?”

  He kissed Ryan on the cheek. “I have no idea how Al puts up with you.” He walked into the room. Tracy looked up then turned back to JC lying in the bed. Al stood.

  “How’s it going out there?”

  “Rough,” JD replied. “Seven injured three dead.”

  “Who?” Tracy asked without looking up.

  “Vice-President and two agents.”

  The shocked look on Tracy’s face told the anguish she felt inside. “I have to speak to Joanna.”

  “I spoke with her and the family and conveyed your sympathy.”

  Tracy nodded. “Who’s hurt?”

  JD walked over, picked her up from the chair, then sat back down with her in his lap. He rubbed her stomach as he replied. “A few agents, Ryan, Calvin and Carolyn.”

  “Carolyn?” Tracy moaned. “Is the baby okay?” JD shook his head no as he held his son’s hand. “Carolyn?”

  “Still in surgery, but it doesn’t look good.” Tracy’s head fell against his. “Why?” she asked as a tear fell from her eyes.

  He wrapped his wife in his arms and held her as she cried. “I don’t know babe, but I’m going to find out.” He rubbed her back for a moment then he wiped her tears away. “I’m going to stop in on Calvin and Carolyn when I leave here.”

  Tracy stood and looked at her husband who remained seated. “Go. I’ll be here with JC. You find the person that did this terrible thing Jeffrey. I meant what I said. I want this person dead. I don’t want them to have another opportunity to hurt my babies.”

  JD stood, “Tracy, you don’t mean that.”

  “Yes, Jeffrey. I do.”

  For a moment JD just stared at his wife. He kissed her temple, bent over, kissed his son’s forehead and left the room.

  Al followed him out the door. “Someone hurt her baby. She’s going to lash out at the closest person and that’s you.”

  JD shook his head. “It’s more. I think she blames me for this. Hell, I blame myself.”

  “JD, there’s this theory referred to as the propensity for violence.”

  “Even the mildest mannered person will result to violence if pushed.”

  “So you know this.” Al nodded.

  “Your sister introduced it to me years ago.”

  “Think back to how you reacted when you found out that Munford killed your father. That should help you understand how she feels. Right now, you’re hurt because it’s Tracy and you’re her target. In her mind, you are supposed to be their protector, so protect. You can’t do it the way that I would. But you will find a way to place the responsible person’s head on a platter and serve it to your wife.” Al held his stare, “Do it your way—by the book.”

  JD nodded, “Thanks Al. Would you stay with Tracy? And by the way,” he nodded towards Ryan, “Good luck with that one my brother.” JD patted him on the back then walked away.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  JD watched Jackie stand as he approached. She walked right into his open arms and cried on his shoulder. A moment later he took her hand and sat her back down. “Where’s your family?”

  “They haven’t cleared Secret Service yet,” she said as another tear dropped.

  “I don’t want you here by yourself.” He turned to Pearl, “See if we can find her family and have them brought directly here.” He turned back to Jackie. “What is the doctor saying?”

  “He was shot in the shoulder. The bullet tore some ligaments, and they are going to try to repair what they can. They are pretty sure he’s going to be alright with some physical therapy.”

  “I know he’s going to be alright. Hell, he’s going to be my Chief of Staff, he has to be alright.”

  Jackie smiled as tears stained her cheeks, “Have you told him that?”

  “No, not yet and don’t you tell.”

  “I won’t, besides he needs to hear it from you.”

  “I’m sure he already knows.” JD smiled.

  “No, he doesn’t. He thinks it will be James.”

  “James is my campaign manager, that’s what he is good at. Calvin has been my advisor and friend all my life. Having anyone else in that seat never crossed my mind.”

  “You’re a good man, JD.” She kissed his cheek.

  “Make sure you tell my wife that.” He stood, “I’m going to leave an agent here.” He turned to one of the agents. “Have someone find me the minute he is out of surgery.”

  “Any word on Carolyn?” Jackie asked.

  “Not yet,” JD shook his head. “I’m going to check on her now.”

  “Okay. Stay clear of her mother. You’re not one of her favorite people.”

  “Thanks for the heads up,” He smiled, then walked away.

  “What do you think she meant by that?” Pearl asked as they walked down the hallway.

  “I have no idea. Carolyn’s mother is the last person I’m concerned with. Who’s next?” JD asked Pearl.

  “Senator Roberts. Carolyn is still in surgery. It’s touch and go. They lost the baby.”

  JD sighed, “This job has got to get easier at some point.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Monique followed the trio into a private area secured by Secret Service agents. Two of the members of the group were rather elderly, and looked to be members of society’s elite. The woman who held her interest was a little offbeat. She was elegantly dressed, but there was something not right about her. Monique was surprised when they were ushered into the suite occupied by Senator John Roth, Senator Gavin Roberts and her grandmother, Lena.

  Senator Roth stood as the woman approached him. Monique missed the first exchange, for the Secret Service Agent stopped her. She flashed her credentials, then walked forward.

  “Hell must have frozen over. The Worthingtons are here.” John stated.

  “How is she?” Elizabeth Worthington, Carolyn’s maternal grandmother, asked in her normal, holier than thou fashion. No one replied. “I asked you a question and I expect an answer.”

  The only word missing from the question, in Lena’s mind, was the word boy on the end. Her husband wasn’t anybody’s boy. “Who are you addressing?” Lena asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Certainly not you,” Carol Worthington, Carolyn’s mother replied.

  “Get Gavin down here.” Elizabeth commanded her husband, Edward. “We may be able to have a sensible conversation with him.”

  Lena’s hands went to her hips as she stepped away from her husband. “Gavin’s mind is on his wife, where it should be. If you want answers, I suggest you ask in a respectful manner and I believe John will answer you. If not, there’s the door, show yourself out.”

  “Excuse me,” Monique kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “Hello Grand’Mere. Senator, how is your daughter doing?”

  “We’re waiting for the doctor to join us.” John replied as Gavin walked up.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Worthington,” he nodded. “Carol.” He spoke. “We don’t have anything new at this time. They took her straight to surgery. This is not the time to cause confusion. I’ll call you myself once we have news.”

  “I’m staying here with my daughter,” Carol stated defiantly. “I want the person that caused all of this behind bars.”

  The doctor came out and walked over to Gavin. “Senator,” he looked around at all of the people. Gavin nodded indicating he was free to speak. “We were able to stop the internal bleeding. That was our biggest concern. That’s the good news. There are a few things we cannot make a determination on until she awakens.”

  “May I see her?” Gavin asked.

 
“Yes. The nurse right inside the door will direct you.”

  Gavin turned to John as he walked away. “I’ll let you know the minute she is awake.”

  “Doctor,” Monique called out as she flashed her credentials. “How long will it be before we can speak with Mrs. Roberts?”

  “I don’t want her upset.”

  Nodding, Monique agreed. “I totally understand. However, I believe Mrs. Roberts may have vital information concerning the events of the evening. I only have one question for her.”

  “She should come around in an hour or two.”

  “Thank you, doctor.” Monique returned to the group just as Lena was explaining to the Worthingtons that their presence was no longer needed.

  “We have wings in this hospital with our name on it.” Edward spoke. “You don’t show us the door, we, have you removed.”

  “Really?” Lena smirked. “Do you think you can have the mother-in-law of the President-Elect removed? Think again!”