“Absolutely. I want you there personally to oversee the whole thing.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Take a small detail and keep this quiet. This is a need-to-know situation. I’m in the process of burying this. It never happened. It’s a false report. The Red is not on our soil. We don’t need a parade through the hospital. The Council does not want this on the news. As far as the Mainland and the public are concerned, this never happened. Are we clear?”
“Yes, of course.”
We end the call.
I’m almost back in the bullpen. Jess is already standing; her eyes narrowed on me.
I wave Flint over as I walk.
Flint comes in at a half-jog.
“Follow me,” I tell him.
“What’s up?” he asks as we enter my office. He closes the door, and we both remain standing.
“A Red crossed the frontline a few minutes ago.”
“Shit!” Flint growls.
I brief him quickly. “You’re on point at the perimeter, and I’ll take the trauma floor. Get me Snare and five of his team, and meet me in the underground parking in five. We’ll take two of the SUVs.”
“Understood.” He’s already backtracking toward the door.
I call Jess in and brief her on the situation. I need someone I can trust here.
“No problem.” She sits at my desk. “I’ll set up here for privacy.”
I nod as I rush out.
We’re in the basement in under four minutes. I take the wheel of the lead SUV. Flint slides in behind the wheel of the second vehicle. Snare and his team jump in three per vehicle, and we’re racing for Draig Hospital.
“This is big,” Snare says. He’s one of my longest-standing captains. We used to fly together back when I was still on the frontline. He was there the day my mate died.
“It is.” I push out a breath.
“Do you think this is an attempt to derail the peace treaty?” Snare asks.
It’s an angle I thought of. “It’s impossible to say. Whether it was or wasn’t, we need to prevent it from becoming an issue.”
It doesn’t take long before we get there. I take us through the rear entrance, and we park. Several males jump out and take the perimeter positions. Flint remains with them.
Everyone has been briefed. They know their duties.
The corridor inside is bright and too quiet. It smells of bleach and disinfectant.
“Snare, you stay with the patient at all times; that includes during surgery and in recovery. I want two guards in here with you and the rest outside the exits and on patrol with Flint. He will take point outside those doors.” I point.
“Got it.”
“I’ve been told I’m in the consult room next to the trauma bay, where I can keep an eye on the floor in case things go to hell.”
“Copy.”
He goes to the trauma bay ahead of me.
