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“You’re okay with this?” Jack asked Logan. Jack caught Logan’s eye behind Sam and Logan could see the concern in his face. He didn’t know if it was for Sam or for him, but he nodded.
“Yeah, I’m okay with this.” Logan wasn’t anywhere near okay with this, but he’d do it.
Monique had moved to the window, but now turned back to the group. “Sam, did you do this?”
Logan had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as Monique jerked her head toward the windows and Sam grinned.
“Yup. Fast, aren’t they?”
Logan just didn’t want to know. But, damn, he could hear people. A lot of people.
Kelly and Jack joined Sam and Monique by the window and peered down. The look Jack gave Logan wasn’t good. It left no doubt in Logan’s mind that whatever he was about to go through wouldn’t be good.
But his eyes fell to Sam and all he could think about was what she’d been through in the last few days. There she was, standing up for him. Baring her soul to the public and the media to defend him after she’d been through hell. After she’d been attacked, sliced open, and scared spitless.
Logan inched forward and looked out the window and down to the parking lot below.
“Who are they?” The sight stunned him. There were some media trucks, but people filled the majority of the parking lot. Citizens with signs, chanting “Support Our Vets, Defend Logan Stone.”
“Friends,” said Sam with a smile as she slipped her hand into his. “I had them on standby in case we needed them. I personally think Westbrook’s state’s rights stance is actually going to lose the election for him, but I’m still not going to stand by and let him do this to you. If Westbrook thinks he’s going to railroad you or make some kind of example out of you, he’s not going to do it without people speaking out and telling him how wrong he is. He’s been playing this out in the media, grandstanding left and right. Well, two can play that game.”
Logan swallowed and tried to speak, but there was no way in hell he could open his mouth right now. The knot in his throat was so dang big, he’d probably just croak if he tried to get anything out past it.
“The detectives are here,” said Monique quietly from her position at the window. “Let’s head on downstairs. I want you to wait inside for a few minutes, everyone. I’ll go out and make a statement to the media and the protesters. I’ll tell them you’ve agreed to voluntarily come in to speak with the detectives and answer some questions, and that you were happy to oblige them. I’ll ask them to please be courteous to the officers and then we’ll get you outside to the cars. They’re most likely going to insist you drive with them. Even in a cooperative situation, they’ll want to use that car ride to get you talking. Smile and be polite. Don’t talk. Do you understand?”
Logan nodded and squeezed Sam’s hand. She looked so concerned. He smiled at her, but he had a feeling it was more a tight showing of his teeth than an actual smile. He’d scare her if he kept it up.
“Wait, Sam,” said Kelly, as she lifted a black raincoat from her arms and held it up toward Sam. “You need to put this on.”
“Huh?” Sam said and Logan had to admit, that was his thought, too. It wasn’t raining, or even cloudy.
Jack answered. “It’s bullet-resistant clothing. The company that makes them makes mostly men’s clothes. They don’t keep a lot of women’s clothing in stock, other than their raincoats, but I’m having a few shirts, some business suits, and even a hat made for you. They’ll be ready next week. In the meantime, the entire chest area and hood of this coat is bulletproof.”
Sam started to argue, but Logan glared at her. She mumbled a response and shrugged into it. She ran her fingers down the coat and shrugged.
“Not bad,” Sam said to Kelly. “How do they make it so light?”
“Hell if I know,” Kelly said, “and, I don’t care. I just care that it works. It’ll stop a bullet from close range. Apparently, they’re big in Mexico.”
“You don’t say?” quipped Sam, and Logan wanted to laugh at the conversational turn these two had taken.
He schooled his expression as Monique walked outside and he heard her make a statement and then respond with “no further comment” when the press called out several questions.
Sam and their friends surrounded him as they left the town house and the detectives stepped up to him, murmured a polite introduction and a quick set of instructions for following them down to the precinct.
“I’m not riding with you?” he asked the male detective in a low voice. He didn’t know why he asked. Probably shock after what Monique had just said about them wanting the car ride with him.
The man smiled at him, meeting his eyes. “No way, Frogman. I’m not sticking a fellow SEAL in the back of my car. We’ll see you there.”
Logan’s answeringhooyahwas quiet but powerful, and he kept his eyes on the back of their heads as they all made their way to the waiting cars.
* * *
“Oh, hell no.” Logan was emphatic. Billy stood by his side, on alert as Logan’s emotions cranked ever higher.
The detectives had questioned him for an hour, but now they wanted to go at Sam.
“Logan, we don’t have a choice in the matter. The police want to speak to Sam and get her side of things. It’s only natural they’d want to hear from the victim exactly what took place. And besides, she’s going to be your best witness in all of this. She’s the one who can tell them what happened.”
