Page 33 of Beachcomber Danger

Though no one else would have, Dane noticed the quick stiffening of Shana’s spine, the tensing in her jaw. He reached out for her and moved closer to listen with her.

They eased further from the agents, to where the crowd thinned and allowed space to maneuver. He wasn’t sure what kind of show they’d be putting on, but he wanted it to be noticeable so he angled them for the TV cameras. The plane neared, getting louder and was now close enough that Dane could see an indistinct blue circle.

The crowd tensed with excitement and grew louder.

“Now, Andrews. I’m making a move.” Dane turned toward the two agents heading in their direction and opened his jacket enough to show his gun. They speeded up to a jog, shoving people aside.

Dane started backing away toward the perimeter of the crowd with Shana, keeping his eye on the agents. When they reached Dane and Shana, she hit one of them with her bag and they struggled against the two, while other law enforcement moved in.

Not good.

“Call off the others, Andrews. Direct them to do crowd control.” Dane spoke between gritted teeth while he struggled against one agent who looked like he thought this was for real.

Dane’s adrenaline galloped as he watched the other agent pull Shana’s arms behind her back. There were screams and shouts now as the crowd took notice. The TV cameras moved in. The uniformed police turned to forcing the crowd back. The two agents were joined by others as they walked Dane and Shana toward the building.

Guns were drawn. He hoped to hell they were all on the comm and knew this was staged. He scanned the crowd for their perps. A lone man was moving behind the line of police in the same direction, angling to follow him and Shana with their Secret Service entourage. Had to be their guy. He was average height, average build, and wore a USMC baseball cap, white polo shirt and khakis. Bull’s-eye.

“Take us to a car and lose the other two agents,” Dane told the man dragging him away.

“I don’t take orders from you.” The man spoke under his breath.

“Do what he says, Agent Fowler.” Andrews’s voice popped up.

The man nodded at his partner. Then as they rounded the corner of the Aviation building he spoke to the other two agents who still had their weapons drawn.

“We’ll take it from here. We’re taking them in to check out their story.”

The other two agents stopped and nodded. Dane looked around for his man in the USMC cap. He was slipping around the other side of the building.

“I spotted our target.”

“We’ll decide who the target is.” The agent opened the back door of the black SUV and tossed Dane inside.

“Where are you taking us?” Shana said as she was allowed to slip inside next to Dane.

“To State Police Headquarters.”

“Perfect. We’ll stage our escape from there.”

The agent looked at him in the rearview mirror.

“We’ll see.”

“Don’t give me your bull—”

Andrews’s voice cut in, blasting across the comm device.

“We’ll see if the target follows. Dane, keep your eyes out. Agent Vale, you keep your eyes out as well.”

“Yes ,sir,” the agent who’d gotten in the passenger seat said.

“And take it easy. We’re not in a hurry,” Dane said.

“I’ll see you at the station,” Andrews said.

Shana slipped her hands around front and took a mirror from her purse. “We can watch our rear with this. Less obvious.”

“What happened to your cuffs?” Dane couldn’t believe it.