by Desiree Holt
Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Stoker Aces Production, LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Special Forces: Operation Alpha remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Stoker Aces Production, LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.
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Protecting Maddie
When Maddie Winslow talked a student out of his gun in her classroom, she never figured it would set off a chain of events that put her life in grave danger, and the lives of her parents. Hiding in WitSec for thirty years, the her parents thought they had beaten the odds—until the image of Maddie, an identical replica of her mother—hits the television airwaves and the people who have been seeking revenge all these years find her. Intent on learning where her mother is hiding, they break into her home and then try to kidnap her. Frightened, she goes to her friend, Zee, who once dated someone in Delta Force. She calls him to explain her friend’s situation, but he’s prepping for a mission and can’t leave the base. Hunter “Hawkeye” St. John, a Delta Force team member, is on medical leave recuperating in Tampa and chafing for some action. When the he and Maddie meet, the sparks flying between them sizzle the air. But if Hawkeye wants to move forward with Maddie he first has to keep her safe and then eliminate the bad guys.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
From Desiree
People ask me all the time if I always wanted to be a writer. I don’t know if “always” is the word but certainly for all the years I can remember. I was a voracious reads, as were my mother and sister and books held a royal place in our home. The funny thing is I always thought I would write mysteries because that’s what we all read. I didn’t read my first romance until 2004, when I was sitting with the same three chapters of a mystery on my computer that had been there for three months. But then my eyes were opened and they never closed.
Submitting that first book was scary, but after a lot of rejections you stop being scared and become determined I’m glad I never gave up, because I am having the most fun in my life I have ever had. (Well, maybe not ever! LOL!) So here I am, with all these titles under my belt.
Writing a book is a solitary experience but it never comes to the bookshelves, virtual or other, alone. For me it starts my treasured friend and beta reader extraordinaire, Margie Hager, who has the best eagle eye in the world. Thank you, Margie my love, for all the hours you put in to help me bring my stories to life. And for your friendship, which is a highlight of my life. And to Janet Rodman who always looks out for me. And of course to Phuong Phan and Fedora Chen, my stalwart supporters.
Then there is my family. Do they read my books? Absolutely not! But they are the best public relations team in the world. From my daughter Amy who tells all her clients about me to my son Steve who makes sure he lets everyone he knows when I have a book released to my younger daughter Suzanne who is my good right hand and my granddaughter Kayla who is my wonderful left hand. Guys, I could not do it without you. If you see me at a convention, Suzanne will not be far from my side.
My cats, of course, keep me company while I write. And you all have seen pictures of Bast at the keyboard with me. She thinks she should get co-author credit!
Thanks to all the people who let me pester them for information, on all the different topics I tackle, from SEALs to Force Recon Marines to Delta Force soldiers to the local sheriff to the people at Beretta and the folks at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone and if I have, I am so sorry because the time you continue to give me is very special.
Last but very far from least are all of you, my wonderful readers, who send me such great emails and posts and are so faithful. A special shoutout to Phuong Phen, Fedora Chen, Shirley Long and Patricia Sager who have been with me since my journey started and in frustrating times give me the inspiration to push ahead.
I love you so much. You are my extended family and I send you all many hugs.
There are a lot more stories to come. Please stay tuned.
I love to hear from my readers. You can write to me at [email protected] and I hope you will do that.
Where else can you find me?”
www.desireeholt.com
www.desireeholttellsall.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authordesireeholt
Twitter: @desireeholt
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/desiree02holt
I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Desiree
Dedication
To Joseph Patrick Trainor
Thank you for giving me Hawkeye
Nikki is a lucky woman
Protecting Maddie
By
Desiree Holt
Chapter One
“Jason. Why don’t we talk about this before you do something you might regret?”
Maddie Winslow made her voice as calm and steady as possible, a challenge as she faced the student standing at the back of her classroom, holding a gun pointed at the class. What looked like a huge gun. Jason Schroeder was both angry and nervous, two emotions that could create a very volatile situation.
The whole thing had happened so fast. One minute, she was standing by her desk, talking to the students, waiting for them to settle down so class could begin. The next, a girl walking to her seat in the last row of desks bumped into Jason’s backpack and screamed, “Ohmigod! A gun! He’s got a gun.”
Before she could get realistic control of her class, the girl had raced into the hallway. Jason jumped up from his desk and now stood at the back of the room, holding the gun menacingly pointed at everyone. The students in her freshman history class sat frozen in their seats, tension thick in the air, their fear a palpable thing. It was important she get Jason to relate to her. From where he stood, he could shoot anyone he felt threatened him. Any little thing could set him off. He might get tackled in the end. But how many kids would he take with him first? The last thing she’d expected was for this quiet boy to bring a gun to school and pull it in her classroom.
The girl had no doubt run to the principal’s office because, a few minutes later, Frank Altman, the principal had come to her door.
“He can’t come in.” Jason’s voice cracked. “He opens that door and I shoot as many people as I can. Make him leave.”
Maddie believed him. Okay, so help wasn’t coming any time soon. She mouthed, Don’t open that to the principal. Through the window she watched him take a step back. A quick glance at her students showed the fear stamped on everyone’s face. The same fright gripped her, but she didn’t have the luxury of showing it or giving in to it. This was all on her shoulders.
A knock on the door a few minutes later drew her attention to Jerry Danvers, the school resource officer, standing outside. She could see him plainly through the window, with the principal behind him. But so could Jason. The boy lifted the gun slightly, holding it in two hands, and Maddie shook her head at Danvers. She was sure someone had called the police by now, but what could they do? If they stormed the classroom, someone was going to get hurt. Maybe killed.
“Tell him to go away.” The boy’s voice was harsh and his eyes had a wild look. She could see it even from this distance.
“I’m doing it right now, Jason,” she assured him. “Watch.”
Maddie waved her hand at Danvers and gave a slight shake of her head, hoping he’d get the message. How ironic that just last month the school board had decided every teacher should get training for episodes like this. Better to be prepared, they kept saying. But she could tell them all the training in the world didn’t prepare you for the actuality of it.
Danvers hesitated a moment, dipped his head once, and took a step back from the door.
“Jason?” She repeated his name. “See? He’s gone. Can we talk about this, please?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Except maybe to tell you I hate everyone, especially in this classroom. I just have to decide who to shoot first.”
There was such pain in his young voice, it hurt to listen to him.
One of the girls in the front row, Tina Weston, started to cry quietly. Maddie desperately wanted to go to her, but she didn’t want to do anything to antagonize an already unstable Jason. If she could somehow find out what had set him off….
“You’re frightening everyone,” she told Jason in a soft voice. “Why not let them leave, and you and I can discuss this, okay?”
“No.” He all but shouted the word. “No one leaves. Not unless I say so.”
Maddie knew by now the police had been called, hostage negotiators were on the campus or close to it. They’d be making plans to break this stalemate. Maddie felt it in her bones that if they did so, this was going to end badly. Jason’s voice was filled with such anguish. If only she knew what had set him off. Meanwhile, she had to protect her students while trying to talk him off the ledge.
“Jason, I’m going to have the students put their heads down on their desks. That way we can pretend there’s no one in the room except for you and me. Is that okay?”
He frowned, as if thinking it over, trying to find a trick in what she was doing. Then he gave one sharp, jerky nod.
“Okay, everyone.” Again she made sure her voice was level, even, no edge of panic. “Let’s all put our heads down while I talk to Jason. He and I are going to have a private conversation.”
Luke Farrell in the front row opened his mouth as if to argue, but Maddie looked at him, hard, hoping he’d get her signal to keep quiet. Soon, no one was looking at anyone except for her and Jason. With all the campus shootings popping up around the country, Frank Altman had asked the resource office to have someone give the teachers some basic instruction in what to do. She was more than grateful for that now.
“All right, Jason, it’s just you and me.” She leaned against the front of her desk, making her posture as nonthreatening as possible. “Maybe you can tell me what this is all about.”
“I hate this place.” His voice cracked with emotion. “I hate the city, the school, you, and everyone here.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her skirt where she could clench them without being seen. Digging her nails into her palms helped remind her not to lose control. “Maybe, if you tell me why, I can help change some of those things.”
“Nobody can change it.” His voice held a tinge of hysteria. “Nobody can do anything.”
“You know, I used to think that about a lot of things, but I learned there is always an answer for everything. It might not be what you want, but it might be better than you think.”
“Can you move me back to Denver?” he asked.
“Is that where you were living?” Okay, he might have left good friends and a secure social situation behind. That often set people off.
Again he gave a sharp nod. “My dad,” he spat the words out, “wanted to come here for a big job. He didn’t care about the rest of us.”
“You know, I’m sure he’d be upset to hear you say that. I suspect he loves you and your mom a lot.”
“Oh, he loves her, alright.” The hand holding the gun wobbled a little. “She’s happy, and that’s all he cares about.”
“I’d like to think that’s not true. After all, you’re his son. Have you talked to him about it?”
Jason scowled. “He’s always busy.”
Maddie wished she knew more about him. The only information she’d been given at the beginning of the school year was he had recently moved to Tampa, was an only child, and had no black marks on his record from his previous school. Not much to tell you about a kid. She knew he didn’t go out for sports, but, beyond that, she had no idea what he did outside the classroom.
My bad. I need to take more interest in my students.
She glanced around the room to make sure all her other students still had their heads down on their desks. Tina Weston’s shoulders shook with repressed tears, but at least her sobs were silent. Maddie was grateful. The others seemed to be doing okay, nobody looking to be a hero, thank the lord. They were all basically good kids, even Jason, she was sure. You never knew what it took to push someone over the line.
“I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been unhappy,” she went on. “Want to talk about it? Maybe there is something I can do to help.”
“Can you tell Lisa to get back together with me?” The words just kind of fell out of his mouth, like rocks too heavy to hold.
“Lisa?” She dug around in her brain for a student named Lisa. Problem was, she could think of at least three or four.
“Lisa Froelich. She’s in my English class.”
Oh. Oh! Okay. So a budding romance had blown up in his face.
“I take it the two of you broke up.”
“She broke up with me. I didn’t want to break up.” He had tears in his eyes, and a muscle ticced in his jaw. The gun wasn’t quite as steady in his hands.
Very slowly, Maddie began to inch toward him between the rows of desks.
“I know how much that sucks. I had the same thing happen to me.”
“You did?” Another scowl, as if he didn’t quite believe her.
“Uh-huh.” A few more steps closer. “I was the same age as you and so excited to have a great boyfriend. We went everywhere together. All my friends were jealous.”
“I bet you felt special,” he said.
Okay, they were getting even deeper into the heart of the matter. Young boy, uprooted, unhappy, his one bright spot a girl who he thinks makes all the difference in his life.
“I did.” A few more steps. “When he broke up with me, I was so unhappy I wanted to die.”
“See? That’s what I mean.” His eyes widened. “I can’t stand it without her. I mean, I hardly know anyone here. Everyone’s got their own friends. What do I have?”
Another point to remember. He had a hard time making friends. A fish out of water in a new environment. If they got out of this crisis, she’d talk to his parents and Frank Altman and the school counselor to see how they could help him piece his life back together.
“But you know what I discovered, Jason?”
“What?” Suspicion edged his voice.
Thank god, at least he didn’t seem to notice how close she was to him.
“I got past my broken heart, found activities at school I liked, and began to make friends again.”
“You did?” Suspicion changed to skepticism. Jason, like others who had felt the same pain, wasn’t ready to believe her.
“I did.” Only a few more steps now. If she could get just this close to him, keep him focused on her, she could get him to lower the gun. “But, at first, I thought my heart was broken. I wanted to hide somewhere and never come out.”
“What did you do?” The gun wavered a little, his hands less steady.
“Believe it or not, I had a teacher I liked a lot. She found me crying in the bathroom one afternoon, asked me what was wrong, and helped me through it. I never forgot her.”
One more step.
“She did?”
“Uh-huh. And I’m going to do the same for
you, if you’ll let me. Why don’t you give me the gun, Jason. You don’t really want to hurt anyone, do you? That’s something you can’t undo.”
He blinked back tears then shook his head. “I-I guess not.”
She held out a hand, a breath of relief whooshing from her when he gave her the weapon.
“Everyone stay in your seats for a moment,” she ordered. “Please give us a second here.”
She put her arm around Jason, holding the gun at her side with the other hand, and walked him slowly through the door and into the hallway. She was more than happy to hand the weapon over to Jerry Danvers.
“Are you okay?” Frank Altman asked her. He stood with the resource officer and some cops she figured were from hostage negotiations.
“I’m fine, but can you please move everyone back? Give Jason some room here?” She kept her arm around him.
“His father’s on the way,” Altman told her.
“Good. I want to talk to him before he sees Jason. Can you please take him to your office, away from all this? He needs some privacy.” When he agreed, Maddie said to the boy, “You’ll be fine now, Jason. Go with Mr. Altman, and I’ll be down to see you as soon as I dismiss the class. Okay?”
He hesitated once before allowing the principal to lead him away. Maddie had come to the conclusion he really didn’t want to shoot anyone but hadn’t figured out another way to express his pain. She looked around and realized, startled, there was no one in the corridor except key personnel and the police.
“Where is everyone?”
“We evacuated as soon as we saw him with a gun,” Altman told her. “We had no idea if he’d burst out of the classroom or what.” He smiled at her. “You did an excellent job in there, Maddie.”
“Thank you, although it isn’t my first choice of classroom activity.” She drew in a deep breath and turned to Jerry Danvers. “I know you have questions. Everyone probably wants to talk to me, but I need to take care of my class, first. Please keep everyone out so I can release them in an orderly manner. They’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
