Page 59 of Cold Silence
He groaned. “Please tell me how it’s a good thing you’re not.”
“A discussion for another time.” She nodded at Gage, who was giving them a pointed look.
“Okay, forget about kissing and get your head in protection mode. Release that shoulder strap and keep your hands available.” Gone was the warm, flirty guy from a moment ago to be replaced by a hard-as-nails operator. “Ready?”
She had to admit to finding both sides of this fine man equally as attractive. But she had to focus. She released the straps and let her hands hang free. “Ready.”
He pushed the door open and held up his hand. “Wait here for a second.” He stepped over to Gage. They had a brief conversation, and then Travis took an earbud from Gage and put it in his ear. He returned to her. “We’re good to go.”
She stepped into the sultry night. She’d lived in Orlando for six years now, moving here from Pittsburgh after obtaining her PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University, and still couldn’t get used to the summer weather. She would leave again when this project concluded in a couple of years, but where she would go would depend on the open jobs in her field.
She slid into the vehicle, and Travis fairly hurled himself in behind her and slammed the door. Gage and Jackson didn’t waste a beat but raced to their SUVs.
“Buckle up,” Travis said as he grabbed his strap from the sidewall.
Her brain complied, sending a signal to her hands, but they shook, and she fumbled. She might’ve been joking about kissing Travis, but a good kiss right about now would end these jitters. Still, it would likely replace them with jitters of another kind. She got the clip into the buckle and the sharp click signaled to everyone that she was ready to depart.
Travis pressed his earbud that Gage had given him earlier, then said, “We’re good to go.”
Gage took off in the lead vehicle, Coop on his heels, then Jackson. They had to wind around the building to the front gate, where Gage stopped and jerked a thumb back at her vehicle as he talked to the guard.
She started to lower her window.
“No,” Travis said. “We had Colonel Lynch arrange for an easy exit.”
She glanced at him. “Is there anything you guys didn’t think of?”
“If so, I can’t imagine what it could be.” Travis leaned forward. “What about you, Coop? Think we forgot anything.”
“No.”
She was starting to think Coop would be a one-word guy if given a chance. Gage’s SUV took off, and Coop moved forward without stopping by the guard. She glanced over her shoulder. The gate remained upright long enough for Jackson to exit and then it soundly fell.
The drive turned out to be uneventful. Travis’s and Coop’s constant checking around for any threat was the only action. She’d always been impressed with Travis’s skills, but she could now see the Blackwell Tactical team was trained at the same level.
At her house, she remained in the vehicle with Coop and Travis while Gage and Jackson entered her house. Gage carried a small plastic case, but she had no idea what it contained. She did know they were making sure her house was safe for her to enter.
Her house. Safe? Would she ever be able to come here and not remember this ordeal? She would hate to have to move as finding a good rental house was hard, but if that was what stood between her and peace of mind, she would risk the change.
As she waited, she bounced her knee and couldn’t seem to stop.
Travis gently rested his hand on it, and she glanced at him.
“You’re safe.” His firm tone was comforting but didn’t do much to ease her stress. Even with these guys surrounding her, she didn’t feel completely safe. They were doing their very best for her, but human best might not be enough. Only God could protect them fully.
Oh, please. If You’re listening, please keep everyone safe.
Gage and Jackson soon came out. Gage pressed his earbud, and his lips moved.
“We’re clear,” Travis said.
Coop killed the engine and got out.
“Wait here until I open your door.” Travis slipped out and came around to her door. He stood at the ready while Jackson moved halfway down her sidewalk, and Gage remained near the door. A wall of protection.
“We’ll reverse procedures from exiting your office building.” Travis quickly whisked her into the house, and the men filed in behind her before securing the door.
“First task,” Travis said to the men. “We look for hidden cameras.”
