Mitch laid out the protection strategy in his mind. Devised his plan. Worked through all foreseeable obstacles. There were a lot of unknowns. Always were.
“Who’s in charge?” the crewman asked.
“Me,” Mitch replied.
“Where to, sir?”
“First, Dallas. Need a small jet waiting. Pilot ready for takeoff.”
The crewman relayed the info to the front.
“Reese, make your way from Dallas to Utah the fastest way possible. Coordinate with Josh on arrangements. I want you to find out everything you can on her dad.” Mitch stared into his eyes. “Talk to friends. Enemies. Get a photo and show it to people who don’t recognize his name. Check out his house. Top to bottom. Inside and out. You know the routine.”
Liz leaned forward. “Don’t forget the secret room in the house.”
“Got it.” Reese nodded. “Where and when should I meet up with you two after that?”
“I’ll be in touch.” Mitch motioned to the crewman.
“Yes, sir.”
“Make the drop in Dallas fast. Set down. Ten seconds. Up. Head straight north thirty minutes. Send the bill to OPAQUE.”
“Yes, sir. Where should I tell the jet pilot you’re headed?”
“California. Coronado. NSWC. Have them get permission to land.” Mitch leaned his head against the backrest, crossed his arms across his chest, and closed his eyes. “Tell them SEAL Reserve Lieutenant Mitch Granger requests shelter…for two.”
Chapter Fourteen
Liz still didn’t quite understand the difference between the Naval Special Warfare Command and the Naval Special Warfare Center, but she knew she was in Coronado, California. She’d always loved this area of the United States. Coronado…San Diego…Pacific Ocean…everything needed for a great vacation. Only one problem—this wasn’t a vacation.
Changing from the rescue helicopter to the jet in Dallas had been quick. Reese had headed in one direction. She and Mitch, the other. The jet had certainly been a faster ride.
Before they landed, Mitch assured her she was completely safe at the NSWC base. And, from what she could see—the firepower, boats, aviation, and the military personnel—she had no doubt.
The moment the chopper had landed in the middle of the night and they disembarked, Mitch had taken on a different swagger. Most people wouldn’t have noticed, but she prided herself on reading people. He stood a bit taller, straightened his shoulders a notch, and his walk took on a rhythmic manner that said, with or without a uniform, “I belong here.”
She’d even lifted her chin and stretched her gait to keep up with his, just to be part of the shine that had encircled him the second his feet had touched ground. She’d never seen someone so much in their element.
“There’s a theater close to here,” Mitch said. “How about a movie this afternoon? Give you something different to think about.”
“Sometimes I don’t do well in movie theaters.” She bit the side of her lip, struggling to tamp down the tinge of fear. “Too dark and confined.”
“Are you okay sleeping in the dark?”
She nodded. “That doesn’t bother me. Neither does a dark house or a million other things. But there’s just something about a movie theater that doesn’t sit well with me. There has to be some kind of connection between that and the safe room my dad put my mother and me in when CT came.”
“Don’t worry. I hate being in a mini-mart late at night. Everybody’s got something.” Mitch’s nonchalant tone let her know there was no harm in what she felt.
Walking down the hallway to the barrack’s sleeping room Mitch had arranged for them, she realized they would be sharing. He’d told her there would be two beds. Sounded okay to her. All she wanted was a shower and some sleep in a nice safe place. Like here and now and two beds in a room.
He opened the door and motioned her in. “I’ve requested a guard outside while I’m gone.”
“Gone? Why are you leaving me here?” Surely he hadn’t brought her all the way to the West Coast just to hand her off to another protector. She bit her lower lip to keep from asking him to stay. Even more so to keep from making a fool of herself.
“I need to make some phone calls and pick up clean clothes. I won’t be gone long.” He handed her a paper with a couple of phone numbers. “Call either of these shops and tell them what you need in the way of…clothes…and whatever else you might need. Just give them your name and they’ll deliver them. I’ve set it up for them to bill me.”
“Seeing that it’s still technically nighttime, they may not be open yet.”
