“Don’t want you to look ate-up in front of the brass,” she muttered.
Jamie glanced down at his chest candy, making a face.“I could’ve sworn they were fine.”
“You’ve had other things on your mind than medal placement.”
That was putting it mildly.
They would have to deal with the dog and pony show after the press conference.Face time with the brass in the Marines, the DOD, and the MDF behind closed doors and away from the prying eyes of the press wasn’t something either of them wanted to deal with right now.Despite the presser today clarifying his team’s role in defending against the terror attack, neither of them would appear on camera.The photosThe New York Timeshad published with the article had focused mostly on Jamie, for which he was grateful.The longer his team could remain anonymous, the safer they would be.
Jamie could never escape his family’s name.A fine line was drawn between his public and classified identities, and the demarcation was getting thinner with every year that passed.Right now, his two lives were converging more than he liked, but it couldn’t be avoided.
The mission in London had been a mess all around.Jamie knew they had caught Stanislav’s attention.Holding it was something else altogether.It was anyone’s guess if Stanislav’s possible precognition power had seen them coming.They’d managed to contain most of the Splice bombs—the UMG would claim all credit for that part of the mission—but one had still detonated.People had still died, to say nothing of the attack by the Reborn IRA.The damage to the Victoria and Albert Museum was unprecedented.Funnily enough, people were more upset about the damaged priceless art than at the deaths of criminals.
As for them, Katie was overseeing the Saunders & Associates project and would have to fly back to London at some point this week with Alexei to close it out.Jamie wouldn’t be able to go with her, and that rankled.
The door to the room they were in slid open, catching Jamie’s attention.A single figure stepped inside, and Jamie bit back a grimace at the sight of his father.Richard wore a sharp charcoal-colored suit with a deep red tie, his hair slicked back away from his face.
“Jamie,” Richard said as he approached where they stood.“Sergeant Ovechkina.”
“Senator,” Katie murmured with a faint tip of her head in his direction.
“Father,” Jamie replied.“I thought you were making a statement after this one?”
“I’ll make one later at the Capitol building before dinner tonight.As I understand it, you still need to change before you can join me,” Richard said, eyeing Jamie’s uniform.
“I have meetings after this presser.I said I would join you for your fundraiser dinner, not in front of the cameras.The MDF wants me to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible while they try to kill this story.”
“You know that will be difficult.”
“Which is why I won’t be with you when you make your statement.”
Katie nudged him in the side with her elbow, drawing his attention.“It’s starting.”
Jamie looked away from his father, knowing the argument was only momentarily put on hold.On-screen, the press room was quieting down amidst a flurry of movement off to the side.Both he and Katie automatically straightened into parade rest.The Commandant of the Marine Corps would always encompass their full and undivided attention.
General Solomon Herrera stepped up to the podium, his brown-eyed gaze piercing even through media cameras.Several aides with him remained off to the side of the elevated platform, all of them in the same Marine Corps service uniforms.
“Good morning,” General Herrera said in a deep, commanding voice.“I will preface this statement by informing all of you that I will be taking no questions afterward.I’m here today to address the recent terror attack in London and the actions a group of Marines took at the behest of the United States government in concert with the United Kingdom.
“I am aware of the article released on Sunday drawing incorrect conclusions about Senator Callahan’s son, Captain Jamie Callahan, a man and a Marine of utmost integrity, who agreed to aid our allies while on leave.He and several other Marines under his command went undercover using his family’s name and associated wealth to draw out known criminals whose intent was to target the fundraising gala that went forward last Friday.
“During the course of executing their duties, Captain Callahan and his team were caught in the cross fire.Though they sustained no injuries, a Splice chemical bomb was detonated by a suicide bomber in the museum.The UMG sent in the Royal Legion to handle containment and suppression of the enemy combatants.Captain Callahan and his team operated at the behest of two governments, completing their assigned mission to our satisfaction.I am here to make it very clear that the patently false depictions of Captain Callahan as a traitor to this country are dishonest and incorrect.The Marine Corps will not tolerate such defamation about one of our own.
“As the investigation into the terror attack in London is still ongoing, I hope you understand that we are in no position to update any of you beyond this statement.That is all.”
General Herrera nodded sharply at those assembled before stepping away from the podium, ignoring the questions shouted his way as he left the press room.The statement went a long way to explain away Jamie’s involvement with Jansen and the Reborn IRA, but it also stood to kill whatever inroads they may have been able to make with the criminal underworld.
“I can tell you from experience that statement won’t kill the story,” Richard said as the view of the press room switched to an anchor who jumped right into analyzing General Herrera’s words.
“It won’t kill the story only because I know you won’t stop talking about it,” Jamie said exasperatedly.
Richard gave him a cool look.“Considering I lent our family’s name and good reputation to the MDF, talking about it is the least of what the MDF owes me.”
“The MDF doesn’t owe you anything.”
“I have a right to defend myself and my standing just as much as you do, Jamie.From what I understand, you had a chance to stop this story before it even became a problem.The reporter gave you advanced notice of his intentions.All you had to do was have Katie here erase his memories—”
“Stop right there,” Jamie interrupted furiously as he got in his father’s face, so angry his ears were ringing.“You know for afactthere are laws telepaths must obey.Katie using her power that way, without approval, against an American citizen, is something she can’t do without severe repercussions, and it is something I willneverask or order her to do.So get that fucking thought out of your head.There’s a line, Father.You just fucking crossed it, and I don’t appreciate it.This ismyteam, not yours.Stop acting like you own us simply because you were allowed to tangentially be part of one mission.”
