She vowed to herself she wouldn’t point out the way he sandwiched a bomb between their bodies. He’d acted on instinct, she knew, but still she appreciated his intentions.
“Cass.”
“Huh?” she managed to grunt as she uncurled her body.
“Cass, look.”
The command in his tone sliced through the layer of fuzziness in her head. All of her fragmented thoughts coalesced once again as she snapped back into the here and now.
Blinking rapidly, she took it all in.
More shouts from the midway. A medic pushing people aside to get to Rhodes. Manny’s corn dog stand a mess of twisted metal and broken glass. Someone shouting something about propane tanks. Boots scraping, scrambling, thumping as people ran into and away from danger.
“Cassidy,” Jake said her name a third time, but this time it came out infinitely gentler.
She looked down at the screen. There, under the first two instructions the bomber had sent, they’d added a third.
Do not stop the ride.
Do not get off the ride.
Do not remove your gear, Lieutenant.
“Lieutenant again. Is it possible they know you,” he said, his voice shaky with urgency.
She blinked at him, incredulous. Did he think she hadn’t already gone there? Was it possible he believed she wasn’t nearly as panicked as he thought she should be? Had she brought this mayhem in with her? She wagged her head in a desperate attempt to shake off some of the intrusive thoughts crowding in in on her.
“Anything’s possible,” she conceded at last.
“You need to think. Who could this be?”
Lieutenant. She’d spent most of her career in Security Forces. What used to be known as Military Police. How many people had she arrested? How many careers derailed?
She clenched her jaw and swallowed hard. It wasn’t her fault people couldn’t keep their lives straight. She hadn’t been the one who’d broken the law. All she’d done was do her job well.
“Like you, I’ve spent most of my career catching the bad guys.” She lifted her chin in defiance. “I was good at it.”
He nodded, digesting her assertion as simple fact. “Okay.” He pushed himself up and brushed his hand down his vest. “While you think on that, I’m going to go check on the situation.” He nodded to the mangled food concession. “Then I’m going to meet with Aronson. Can your guy get us detailed maps of the fairgrounds?”
“I’ve already asked Bud to supply them. Your people should have everything they need.”
Jake gave a soft huff as he brushed down his pants. He peered at her, then offered his hand.
She wanted to bat it away, but then she met Max’s concerned amber eyes. The dog had scrambled to his paws when his partner rose. Now he stared back at her, as earnest and eager as his partner. Jake was trying to help, and she was clinging to childhood hurts. The realization made her feel more than a little petty.
Wetting her lips, she shifted onto her hip and placed her hand in his. He hauled her to her feet and steadied her, which wasn’t easy, considering the weight of the backpack and the fact they still spun in slow, sweeping circles. She stumbled into his chest, but he caught her easily, his booted feet spread wide for balance.
“Thanks.” Her voice came out too breathy for her liking, but she cut herself a little slack. She was dizzier than she cared to admit to anyone, even herself.
He guided her back onto the bench and placed her phone beside her on the seat. The battery saver kicked in and the screen was black once more, but she’d never be able to erase the glaring green message bubbles from her memory.
She was the reason someone was doing this. But why? And why now? She’d been out of the service for years. Nothing made sense.
“I’m leaving Max here with you.” Jake placed his hand on the dog’s head.
“What? Why?” She looked from the German shepherd sitting at attention to his partner and back again.
“He’s a good guard dog, and I don’t think you need to be alone right now.”
