There’s a pause. “I-I have no information regarding survivors yet. They haven’t been able to—”
“Whereare we being staged?”
I’ve thrown this guy for an obvious loop. He’s been used to shell-shocked relatives demanding more info about their loved ones, I’m sure, but not…me. “Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson. We’ve already got a charter on standby and leaving at five p.m. for—”
“Text me gate and boarding info, whatever the fuck I need to get on that plane, to the following phone.” I give him my personal cell number and make him read it back. “I’dbetterhave that info on my phone in less than five minutes. If that plane leaves Atlanta without me and I’m not dead, I will hunt you down tonight and strangle you with your own nutsac, do you understand me?”
I hang up on him and we start moving again, with me now holding on to Owen’s upper arm, both to keep him moving and to keep me upright.
I’m afraid if I stop moving for too long, I’ll collapse, right here, in tears.
But Sarge’s in charge to keep me vertical, for now.
Just inside the emergency exit, I stop Owen and make him look at me. “Dray’s going to take over for me.”
“But I need to go with you! I—”
“Dray’sgoing to take over for me,” I slowly repeat. “Drayis in charge.Youhave to stayhere, for now. Youhaveto run the state. When I have news,thenI’ll fly you out. Dray will tell you when you can comment publicly.” All I want to do right now is pull him into my arms, hug him, and cry, and I can’t.
Cannot.
Because if I do that, I’ll cease to function for a while, and that’s a luxury I donothave.
I pull Owen behind a column to block us from possible public view and grab his face in my hands. “Be strong for me, boy,” I whisper. “Please. Be strong forHer.”
He looks shell-shocked, and I know the feeling. But he nods, giving me the long, slow blink that’s our silent cue.
Yes, Sir.
I remember his personal cell is in my pocket. When I look, I see it’s got several missed calls on it, too.Dammit.
I hand it to him, pressing his hands around it as I look into his eyes. “Be my good boy,” I silently mouth. “Love you.”
He nods and silently mouths, “Love you, too.”
“Nopublic statement from you yet,” I add aloud. “Let Dray handle that. Refer everyone to Comms. I already told Dray.”
I don’t know how much of my conversation with Dray that Owen processed, but now I’m simultaneously feeling relieved, and feeling ashamed for that same relief, that I didn’t send Dray and Gregory with Susa. This would be a tragedy compounded.
It also means I still have a trusted deputy to leave behind with my boy.
I send Owen with the security detail, one trooper staying behind with me while they’re scrambling a couple of county deputies to drive lead and chase cars to go with us.
My personal phone is ringing.
Benchley.
Henevercalls me.Ever. I can count on both hands with fingers to spare the number of times he’s called me over the past twenty years I’ve been married to his daughter, and all those previous times specifically had to do with campaign topics for Owen or Susa.
I answer. “I just found out,” I say by way of greeting. “I have to get up to Hartsfield-Jackson.Now. Detail will run me home first to pack and get my passport.”
He sounds choked, emotional. “I’ll call and have a plane ready for you. Same company I always use, Hooper Hathaway Flight. Troopers should know the back entrance to their hangar. They’ll be ready to go wheels-up when you arrive.”
That nearly sends me over the edge into a crying jag, that we’ve banded together now, that he’s supporting me without hesitation. “Thank you. I’ll call you back when I’m en route.”
He hangs up first.
The remaining trooper is waiting on me. “We ready?” I ask.
