Page 50 of Beachcomber Danger

Chapter 15

Dane’s phone vibrated in his pocket, but since he was sitting in front of the Governor and the President, he didn’t answer it. He paid for the decision with a vicious twist between his shoulder blades.

They sat in the efficient security room in the house that the President had commandeered for the week. Two banks of monitors lined the walls along with several sets of computer controls. There were no windows and two doors. One led outside and the other to a short hall into the kitchen.

As it turned out, this man was the real deal President of the United States, not a look-alike.

“Problem?” Peter asked, not missing a trick.

“No sir, Governor.” Dane kept his face neutral.

“You think they’ll make their move tonight?” the President asked.

Andrews spoke up from the chair next to him.

“No, sir. Not necessarily.”

“Yes. I do,” Dane ignored Andrews. He figured the President had asked for an audience with him for a reason. His friend Peter was probably the reason. He couldn’t imagine the propaganda Peter had filled the President’s head with about him. The legend was old news.

“Explain.” The President met his eyes. So, Dane explained.

“They know we’re onto them. They’re desperate enough to have shot a federal agent and kidnapped a woman who they thought was Shana George, a hired assassin. Once they find out Sassy isn’t Shana, they’re going to either cut their losses and get out of town, or step up their assassination plans.” He paused but he had more to say and the next part was tough for him.

“They’ll likely use the girl for leverage, as a hostage, if they need to. Whatever they had for an exit plan won’t work as well now that we know who they are and what they look like.”

Andrews said, “We haven’t put that intel out there. How would they know we know who they are?”

“They wouldn’t know for sure, except they saw me and Shana captured by the feds, so they’re assuming the worst.”

“Why wouldn’t they cut their losses and leave now?” the President asked.

Dane shrugged. “A hunch. There’s pride.” He paused and added, “They wouldn’t have shot an agent and attempted to take Shana if they’d planned to ditch the job. They would have spent their energy getting off the island.”

The governor spoke up. “From what I understand, because this is a terrorist organization who hired them, perhaps they were told there would be consequences if they failed.”

The President nodded and contemplated the situation.

“Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate your candor. We’ll go forward with our plans. I’ll be talking to your bosses, Andrews.”

“So the party is on then?” Andrews spoke in disbelief but rose with the President.

Dane stood and clapped him on the back as the President walked out the door without a response and was immediately joined by his personal detail. The house swarmed with men in suits.

“Don’t worry, Andrews, we have a good plan.” He didn’t tell him that Shana had been out looking for Sassy and the Chambers couple. He held back from telling them that he hadn’t heard from her because he was fairly certain that the call he’d gotten had been from Shana. He hoped to hell it was a call to report on her progress.

“I’ll see you at 7 p.m. then?” Peter asked as they all exited the security room.

“After I take care of a few things and change into my tux.”

“You’re not going after that Sassy woman, are you? I told you to leave that to the feds,” Andrews said.

Peter put a hand on Andrews’s arm, telling him to back off without uttering a word.

“Yes.” Dane expected an argument. He held the man’s gaze a beat extra just in case. But the Governor’s touch worked its usual magic charm. If formidable power and influence could be called magic charm.

“You’ll be assigned to the front door since you’re most familiar with the suspects and they’ll likely be in disguise. Report through the security door in back at seven. At the latest.” Andrews turned and followed the trail of men behind the President.

“Will your wife be joining you?” Dane asked Peter.