Thank you kind reviewers your
words are truly inspirations. x
Chapter 29
Close Protection
1730 – Hereford, UK
Georgie looked up when she heard the tap at her office door. The familiar cadence causing her heart to flip flop. As she stood, the door opened and the instant she saw Elvis she rushed to him from behind the desk. He immediately reached for her, taking her in his arms for a quick hug, pressing his lips against her forehead. He knew things would begin to heat up on base once Wescott Jones was processed at Colchester and he had to be prepared.
"Are we good Elvis? Is everything OK?" Georgie asked, looking up at him as he rubbed the sides of her arms.
"Yeah. Clear to go. Anythin else ya need to be doin 'ere?"
"Nope. I was just catching up on some reports."
"Good deal George, then let's move. Lock it down and let's get ya home."
Georgie logged out of her computer and grabbed her handbag whilst Elvis waited for her. She noticed how he looked out into the classroom from the partially opened door. He was hypervigilant as if on patrol and that concerned her. She eyed the pistol strapped to his leg and the radio transmitter secured at his waist, the comms cable trailing up under his black tee shirt to his ear.
"I haven't been on close protection like this since the day I didn't marry Jamie." She said meeting Elvis at the door. His mouth quirked as he looked down at her.
"You were never gonna marry him." He said, positioning himself to move out in front of her, ignoring the reference to close protection.
"You sure about that?"
"Affirmative. Ya saved the dress George."
"You didn't know that then."
"I had a feelin ya wouldn't go through with it." He confidently shrugged.
"Did ya now?"
"Yeah. Ya were holdin out for me."
Georgie laughed and dramatically rolled her eyes. He grinned, but returned his attention to their departure. Elvis was carrying an aura of danger about him at the moment and it was unsettling to her.
"You're gonna tell me what's goin on, yeah?"
With a furrowed brow he answered …. "Eventually."
"Hmmmm. So, I reckon now is not a good time to ask how your day was." She quipped. He turned and smiled at her grimly as he led the way down the hallway.
"Wait till we get in the car. There's quite a bit ya need to know." He said, his voice deep and low.
Georgie was stunned. She expected the exact opposite from him. Now her brow furrowed as she tried to sort what could possibly have him this engaged. When he ushered her out of the MSU Training Center she was surprised to find his car at curbside. Obviously he had not wanted her to make the trek to the car park. He unlocked the vehicle with his key fob and kept her close as he opened the passenger door. Georgie looked into his eyes and could see how switched on he was. His senses missed nothing. She was a well-trained combat medic and knew all about being focused and alert, but Elvis had taught her about surveillance and developing a keen sense of one's surroundings. Once Georgie was buckled into her seat he closed the door. She watched him speak to someone over comms as he walked past the bonnet to his side. Her heart began to thud inside her chest and her hands reflexively splayed over her belly, subconsciously protecting their unborn child. Elvis got in and settled into place, keeping his eyes vigilant.
"Who were ya talkin to?" She asked.
"Jackson."
The sniper! Georgie thought and her eyes began to scan the nearby buildings. Elvis noticed her reaction. "Just a precaution." He said.
She huffed a laugh and said. "Should we be checking for bugs?"
"Already did 'at." He said as he started the engine. Her heart skidded several beats.
"What the fuck is goin on Elvis?!"
"Sorry babe. Truly I am. Both Jones' are in custody but Pettigrew is not and unfortunately he has become a key player."
"I thought you said he was a pawn." She said with a frustrated edge.
"Exactly. But now it seems he breached confidential information and we don't know the full extent of his involvement as yet."
"Involvement in what precisely?"
"They have already gone after a captain who was negligent in his duty during the Adam Jones bullshit. It's only a matter of hours before they have further intel on Pettigrew."
What sort of intel?" She asked, rubbing her belly.
Elvis' eyes slid to her hands, then her face as he continued to visually scan their exit from the Garrison. "You two alright?" He asked with a measure of concern.
"Yeah. Fine. If it weren't for being placed on lock-down and professionally escorted by my husband to our car, I would reckon we were having a fuckin smashing day!"
Any other time Elvis would have laughed at that response, but not today. His grave reaction caused her to blink and nibble her lower lip as she gave him a sidelong glance. Once the guard cleared them at the gate Elvis stepped on the gas pedal and quickly distanced them from the Garrison. He could feel Georgie's gaze on him.
"You and the baby are OK, eh?"
"Yes. When I feel movement I just want to touch back." She said smiling. She knew Elvis was worried about something and it was clear her safety was uppermost in his mind. He smiled back then.
"Ya gettin loads of action there?" He asked.
"Sometimes. It's just flutters." She said looking down at her belly and tenderly splaying her hand over top.
"Must be a boy George. He's already lookin for action."
"Don't get excited Elvis. I don't want to have to deal with your disappointment when they say it's a girl."
He laughed then. "Babe, I could never be disappointed. I really just want you and our baby well and safe."
That touched her…deeply. "I know. I'm just playin with ya." She said tapping his thigh and looking out the window at the shop fronts along their route. She observed Elvis periodically checking the rear-view mirror. Did he honestly think they would be followed?
"So, you were going to tell me about intel on Pettigrew. I mean, why did you say in a matter of hours?"
"He and Colonel Jones communicated forwards and backwards via phone I am certain of it. Internal Affairs can easily extract that from phone records but findin recent contact on Jone's mobile will add fuel to the fire."
"You reckon Pettigrew fed Jones confidential information?"
"Yes."
Georgie knew better than to dig deeper. Elvis would not disclose all that he knew. At least she understood why he was concerned about Pettigrew and it appeared there was more that could potentially be uncovered.
"Does Toni know Jones was arrested?"
"Yeah."
"Is she alright?" She asked with trepidation.
"Affirmative. She's with Spanner so she is safe."
"Good. Thank God." Georgie looked out the window at the folks walking along the sidewalks. It seemed like any other ordinary day but she knew it was no ordinary day for Toni Blythe. She could quite imagine what Toni must be feeling at the moment. Knowing her rapist was captured and would face his crime. Georgie's own memories began to churn inside of her. Flashes of moments she had suppressed long past. Abu had been executed. Wescott Jones would face a court martial and Toni would be required to testify as to the dishonorable actions of a commanding officer.
"Toni is in deep." Elvis said. "She's got her work cut out for her."
Georgie nodded. "She knows we are both here for her."
"Roger. She will need your shoulder more than anyone's." Elvis said glancing at her.
Georgie agreed. The afternoon she and Toni were alone together whilst the boys were honing their skills on the pistol range was an emotional journey for both of them. It was the day Toni chose to confide in her about the rape. Georgie had listened intently to every word, felt the anguish in her voice and cried along with her as Toni clung to her within the comfort of a much needed, caring embrace. The Hartes were Toni's most trusted friends next to Spanner.
"Do ya reckon anyone else on base is part of their little clan?" Georgie asked.
"At's just it. Don't know yet. This was a new assignment for Pettigrew. He had been brought in whilst I was on mission in Afghanistan."
"He could never fill your boots Elvis. What were they thinking?"
"Good question. I don't reckon they were fancying to replace me. He's good at the administrative bullshit. I think they paired us when I got back because we each have different skill sets. He only saw two tours and bailed. Somethin about an injury but I'm not privy to the details."
"Do ya think he's got a barrister already?"
"If he's got more than rocks in his fuckin head he should."
Elvis turned the corner into their flat car park. Georgie sat up and eyed the area. Elvis always told her that one of the most important elements of self-defense is being aware of your surroundings.
"Hello, this is echo one. We are home base over." Georgie listened to Elvis relay their location over comms but could not hear the copy. "Thanks guys. Channel open. Out." He looked at Georgie. "Ready?"
"I reckon you're not gonna sleep tonight." She said tightly.
"At remains to be seen." He reached back and pulled a black ruck sack from behind Georgie's seat. Her eyes flared wide.
"What the fuck is that Elvis?"
"An insurance policy."
