Hope all are enjoying the summer.

Thank you for following along x

Chapter 4

In a Matter of Hours

0830 – Hereford, UK

As the train departed Hereford Central Station Elvis glanced at his watch, calculating the time elements as though he were designing a mission. To him that is exactly what this is. These issues with Laura have to be resolved, he reasoned, looking over at his daughter seated next to him. Everything seemed fine with the arrangements he and Debbie had developed….until Reginald Gwain became involved. Elvis leaned his head back and covered his face with his hands, pressing down on his eyelids with his fingertips. Laura was oblivious to his concerns. She enjoyed watching the train pull out of the station and pick up speed, eventually distorting the images outside the window.

"Is it fun to jump out of a helicopter?" she suddenly asked, bringing her father into her moment. He pondered briefly before responding.

"Yeah. I reckon it is. It takes loads of practice to get there."

"Does it feel like it does when the train moves?"

"Feels a bit faster actually."

"Awesome!" Laura rocked in her seat and stretched to get a better look out the window.

Elvis watched her, the innocence of her enjoyment, almost relieved she did not ask him to take her sky diving. He folded his hands together on the table top pressing thumbs together. This action became his focus until Laura moved to root through her bag.

"Watcha got there?" he asked when she pulled a note pad and pen out, followed by crayons.

"I'm going to write Nonna a letter," she answered folding the blank pages back. "She fancies my notes and drawings."

Elvis smiled visualizing Nonna Sofia's face when she opens the envelope.

Xxxxx

0930 – Hereford, UK

The Medical Support Unit trainees were huddled together around Georgie. Today's session involved extricating casualties via air support. The dynamics of medical care are complicated by altitude, motion, and noise, all of which the medic must overcome.

"Our responsibility as first responders on the ground is to get the casualties stabilized, control bleeding, maintain airway and get any line in ASAP." As Georgie ticked off her instructions, her eyes caught sight of Colonel Godfrey approaching Major Hawthorne on the periphery. The conversation seemed casual until Hawthorne uncrossed his arms and turned towards the colonel. After a thoughtful pause she continued. "Right. Now Corporal Billings has kindly volunteered to become our first casualty."

When she looked up again Godfrey and Hawthorne were walking away. Knitting her brow, she wondered what the meet up was about but quickly shook it off as the simulation was underway.

Xxxxx

"How do you say sunshine daddy?" Laura asked, agitating the pen in her hand, anxiously awaiting the response.

"Luce del sole," Elvis answered as a passenger walked past them heading towards the rear of the car.

"How do you spell it?"

He heard her but his attention was on the passerby. Why was he protecting his left side?

"Daddy….?" She persisted with a penetrating stare.

"Uh…..luce del sole…" he spelled out, rolling his head around the seat back to observe the person of interest walking through to the next car. Elvis looked up and down the aisle. No further movement. He looked at Laura. She was face down close to the notebook drawing a house that resembled their cottage. He smiled assuming she was writing Nonna about her weekend.

Xxxxx

"Is it credible sir?" Hawthorne asked walking alongside Godfrey.

"Affirmative. MI5 has been monitoring adverse activity for months now. This latest intel emanating from Oxfordshire is concerning."

"Are they summoning forces?"

"Negative. Let's just say, not at the moment. Major, any idea how long Harte will be missing?" Godfrey asked scowling at Hawthorne.

"Was to be a day, if that sir. Was a family action."

"Understood," the colonel said clenching his jaw as he glanced at his watch.

Xxxxx

1000 –

Georgie peered up at the overcast sky before checking her watch. They are almost there…..

No messages from Elvis yet. He naturally assumed she would be engaged in training, but the curiosity was getting the better of her. She wished she could be there when he confronts Pyle, if he even gets the chance this go round. A smirk rolled across her face. Nobody says no to Elvis, somehow he will find a way to get the job done.

The jaunt across the Garrison parade grounds felt good. To finally be able to walk at a decent pace without limping heightened Georgie's spirits. Dodging the raindrops of an inevitable downpour, she made her way through the heavy glass doors of the Medical Support building. There was more activity in the halls than usual for this time of day and her eyes were like pinballs taking in the activity. She noticed several SF badged medics clustering into a room followed by Colonel Godfrey. She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard Colonel Patterson's voice booming from within.

"Somethings not right," she uttered to herself. Biting down on her lower lip she moved on to the training classroom. Not even through the doorway, Tad Peters reached out and grabbed hold of her arm.

"What the…"

"Shhhhh…" he urged, waving fingers in front of his lips. "Some shit is goin down," he whispered hoarsely, pulling her over to shut the door.

"Obviously…" Georgie grunted, pulling herself free from his grasp, indignantly adjusting her shirt sleeve.

"I got wind the higher ups are on to a potential threat," he said looking out the narrow window in the door.

"Threat?" Georgie could feel her pulse throbbing in her neck." What king of threat Peters?"

"Well that's the trick innit? I don't know."

"You don't know….." she whispered loudly in disbelief. "But you're keen on getting me going here!" she said pushing at him.

"Sorry. I wanted to tell ya before the others got here."

"But you're not telling me anything!"

"Have ya heard from the captain?" Peters asked anxiously looking out the window again when he saw an officer pass by.

"Elvis? No. He's on his way to London with Laura, why?"

"Because he would be the first one they'd summon." Peters said.

His pointed gaze pierced Georgie. She could not unhear what she had just heard. She shook her head as if to clear it all away. Her eyes locked on Peters. "No!" she said, defiantly pulling her mobile out. With rapid thumbs she texted Elvis and tried to calm her breathing at the same time.