Faith froze, confused.Then she noticed that the old man hadn’t reacted to Turk’s presence.He was breathing heavily, clutching his chest with his hand.The woman sitting next to him stared at him in dawning horror.“Dad?Dad!”
The man struggled to his feet.Turk immediately pressed himself against his legs, trying to offer support.Faith cursed and fumbled for her radio.“We have a medical emergency,” she said.“We need emergency services ASAP.”
The old man collapsed to his knees.Turk barked in alarm and started licking his face, desperate to keep him conscious.The old man’s daughter screamed and dropped to her dad’s side, grabbing his face and slapping it in desperation.
The congregation was in panic.They were on their feet, milling around, unsure how to help but unable to sit still.Several of them dropped to their knees and started praying, begging God to show their brother mercy.
Walter spoke firmly into the microphone.“Everyone, stay calm.Do we have a doctor in the auditorium?Can anyone help our brother in Christ?”
“God da—For Heaven’s sake, can we get an ambulance?”Faith said.
“One’s on the way, Special Agent,” a clipped military voice replied.
“Should we do CPR or something?”Jessica asked.
Faith started toward the suffering man, but she’d barely taken three steps when Turk’s head whipped around again, this time at a man working his way down the aisle.He stared at the man intently, then growled and sprinted for him.
Faith looked at the man.He was tall, maybe six-two, around forty years old.He was clean shaven and had close-cropped brown hair and dark intense eyes.He was Caucasian but heavily tanned with an olive tone that made him look almost Middle Eastern.
Oh, shit.It’s him.It’s Sullivan
That thought crossed her mind just before the man pulled a hideaway gun from his pocket.Turk leaped at the weapon, but the man shifted his feet and smacked Turk on the temple with the butt of the gun.He yelped and hit the ground, skidding down the aisle.
“Turk!”Faith cried.
She rushed to her dog while Jessica drew her weapon and aimed at Jimmy Sullivan, her hard eyes communicating her deadly intent.
“Wait!”Walter cried.
He jumped in between Jessica and Jimmy, spreading his arms and blocking her shot.
The crowd cried out again.Faith stared in utter shock.Jimmy blinked, showing the same shock.
“Sir, get out of the way,” Jessica instructed.
Turk moaned and shook his head, getting to his feet.He growled and rushed Jimmy again, but Walter commanded firmly, “Dog!Heel!”
Turk did, staring at Walter with an incredulous expression.Are youserious?
“Turk, take him down!”Faith commanded.
“No!”Walter shouted.“I know him!Don’t, please!”
“Sir, stand down now!Jessica, move him out of the way!”
Jessica stepped toward Walter, who pleaded, “No, please!”He turned to Jimmy.“Jimmy, I need your help.Will you help me?”
Jimmy, just as incredulous as the two agents that Walter was talking to him when he was advancing on Walter with a gun, snapped.“I’m gonna kill you, you false prophet!”
“Jimmy,” Walter said, his voice calm.“I need your help.”
Another gasp ran through the crowd.They started murmuring to each other, wondering what on Earth had gotten into the chaplain.
“Help?”Jimmy blurted.“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Language!”a woman from the back of the crowd called.
Yeah, that’s important right now, lady.
