The media would put two and two together at some point. That was always what happened. The second those Secret Service vehicles hit the scene, tongues would wag, and talkwould start. There were only so many people who would be picked up by the Secret Service.
Gabe.
Alessandra.
Her.
One of the president’s children.
“Go. I’ll help them. I don’t want to talk to them,” she said. “I can’t. I’ll break. I need to hold up. When I’m changed, I need to get to the hospital,” she said. “I need to see Jet.”
Oh, he didn’t want her to do that.
“Elizabeth.”
She stopped him.
“Gabe, I can’t stop running as fast as I can. If I do, he’s going to keep killing people. This was his way of slowing me down. If he wins, more of my family will die. He could be testing to see who else is in my circle. You saved me. You and your family are now in danger too.”
He knew she was right, but more importantly, he trusted her gut.
“What do you need?” he asked.
“I came here for a meeting. Get that done. Then, I handle the situation at the hospital. Then, I focus on what he left me. There will be bodies somewhere in DC. Once I find them, I move to the next location.”
He stood.
“I don’t like this.”
She was to the point.
“Can I speak in front of your head of the Secret Service?” she asked. “It’s going to be classified.”
He nodded.
“Tiffany is trustworthy.”
She hoped so.
Don’t get her wrong. She liked the woman, a lot. Tiffany was the best employee that Gabe had managed to find since Ian Patterson. Still, what she was about to say wasHIGHLYclassified.
Tiffany spoke.
“I wouldNEVERburn the President of the United States, or the Deputy Director. Ever.”
Well, that said it all.
Elizabeth updated the president.
“Major Maura Armstrong is on her way to the UK to handle the Von situation. When they complete it, they have offered to come back and assist. I think I’m going to need help. I don’t think I can handle this on my own.”
Gabe knew how much that cost her to admit that. Elizabeth wasn’t a quitter. Not even close. That she was calling backup meant she saw the writing on the wall.
This was escalating to the point where her hands were tied. The law wasn’t going to be enough.
“I have to clean this up, or it’s going to be problematic in the long run. I don’t have the capabilities to handle this on my own anymore. We’re all in lockdown. I’ve had both hands tied, and have already lost one Marine. If I hesitate, more will die. Devon Slater knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to take them out first to get to us. He’s going to whittle away at my protection until he gets a high-value casualty.”
Gabe understood what she was saying.
