Mission to Protect

by Terri Reed

  She shuddered with anxiety, afraid they were going to find out before all was said and done.

  * * *

  When the door closed behind the women, Westley had to fight to remain in place and not follow Felicity out. He didn’t like not having eyes on her. If anything happened to her...

  “Have a seat,” Lieutenant General Hall told the men who had stood as the ladies left the room.

  The men resettled themselves in their seats around the conference table, all attention focused on the base commander.

  Lieutenant General Hall pinned Westley to his chair with an intense stare. “Master Sergeant James, care to explain why you left the meeting earlier without permission?”

  Westley sat up straighter, glad Felicity was in the hall and not witness to his dressing down. He gave the lieutenant general his reason, hoping he didn’t reveal more than concern for his employee.

  “It appears you were right to be alarmed for her welfare,” Lieutenant General Hall said. “I’ll overlook your lack of protocol this one time.”

  Easing out a relieved breath, Westley inclined his head. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Now, how do we ferret out the person who helped Sullivan get on base?” Lieutenant General Hall’s gaze traveled over the men at the table and settled on Oliver Davison. “What can you tell us about the prison break?”

  “We’ve confirmed Sullivan bribed two guards into letting him out of his cell and into the docking bay, where he crawled into the back of a laundry truck and escaped,” Oliver said.

  Westley’s phone buzzed with another incoming text from the training center. He glanced at it and was glad to read the growing total of dogs recovered.

  Lieutenant General Hall focused on Captain Justin Blackwood. “How did he get on base?”

  “Sir, we’re still working on that,” Justin replied. He sat at the table with his hands braced on his knees. “All personnel are being asked to report their whereabouts for the past twenty-four hours. It will take us time to verify every alibi.”

  “And what of Sullivan’s half-sister?” Oliver asked. He consulted his notebook. “Staff Sergeant Zoe Sullivan.”

  “We are looking into her, sir.” Linc spoke up for the first time. He’d taken a position leaning against the wall rather than sitting at the table. “She’s a flight instructor and is currently in the air. But when she lands, we’ll be questioning her.”

  “Keep me informed of your progress,” Lieutenant General Hall said. He trained his gaze on Justin. “You also received a rose and note, did you not?”

  Justin nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Surprise washed through Westley.

  Oliver asked Justin, “What has Sullivan got against you?”

  “I was one of his basic instructors, sir,” Justin replied. “I called him on the carpet on multiple occasions for slacking off and harassing the female recruits.”

  “Stay vigilant, Captain,” Lieutenant General Hall instructed.

  “I will, sir.”

  To Westley, Lieutenant General Hall said, “How are you progressing on recovering the dogs?”

  “We have half recovered so far, sir.” Not nearly enough. There were still so many dogs missing. Westley hated to think about what could happen to the dogs if they made their way off base or deep into the woods or onto the runway. “Everyone on base is helping to bring the dogs in safely.”

  “Excellent.” Lieutenant General Hall turned to First Lieutenant Ethan Webb. “What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room.”

  “Yes, sir,” Westley murmured in agreement along with the others.

  “It seems Sullivan has been busy,” Lieutenant General Hall said. “Either before coming here or shortly after, he visited Baylor marine base and left a rose and note for Lieutenant Jillian Masters.”

  Westley’s gaze shot to Ethan, who sat across the table. Jillian was Ethan’s ex-wife, though she’d retaken her maiden name. “Why would she be a target?”

  Ethan’s jaw firmed. “Jillian had a run-in with Boyd shortly before his discharge. She’d been on base observing a K-9 seminar I was conducting. This was back when we were married. Boyd tried flirting with her, and it didn’t go over well. Jillian can be...cutting when she wants.”

  Westley had only met the woman once. She’d definitely had an edge to her.

  “But we don’t know when Sullivan was at Baylor?” Linc said. “He may not be on base now.”

  “We can’t assume anything,” the OSI agent, Ian Steffen, stated. “We have five known targets. We need to be vigilant and catch him, if and when, he makes a move.”

  Acid churned in Westley’s gut at the thought of Felicity in danger. Granted, she was in the law-enforcement track and trained to take care of herself, but so were Sullivan’s other victims, and yet the fiend had killed three well-trained airmen.

  At least with her at the training center, he’d be able to keep an eye on her during the day. He’d ask for permission to send home a German shepherd named Glory to protect her at night. Glory was a fierce dog with great protective instincts.

  Hall slammed a palm on the table. “I will not have this maniac running rampant on my base.”

  “If I may suggest,” Ian said, “you reassign Staff Sergeant Monroe to a more visible base position, where she will draw Boyd out in the open. Sullivan has to know security will be beefed up at the training center now, especially with two homicides on site.”

  Westley’s heart pounded as the agent’s words echoed through the room. “You want to make her a sacrificial lamb?” The thought of deliberately putting her in harm’s way made his blood run cold.

  “You don’t think she’s up to the task?” Ian asked, his tone soft but intense.

  Westley didn’t doubt Felicity’s abilities. He just didn’t like tempting danger. Not when that danger was in the form of Boyd Sullivan, a man who had already killed eight people. “No. I mean, she’ll be safer at the training center.”

  Ian arched an eyebrow. “Duly noted. However, of the three female targets, she’s the only one in the law-enforcement track.”

  Lieutenant General Hall sat back and rubbed his chin. “The base photographer is being transferred to another assignment. Does Staff Sergeant Monroe know her way around a camera?”

  “I can answer that, sir,” Ian said. “I know for a fact that she does. Her father’s office was covered with photos she’d taken.”

  Westley had seen her with a nice camera on numerous occasions, taking pictures of the dogs. And he’d seen the images. Though she’d claimed photography was a hobby, as far as he was concerned, her work was professional-grade.

  But Westley couldn’t protect Felicity if she wasn’t at the training center. Responsibility weighed heavy on his shoulders. Knowing he was going out on a very thin and fragile limb, Westley met the OSI agent’s gaze. “I want to be detailed to her protection.”

  Ian studied him with speculation in his eyes. “I see no issue with that.”

  Surprised at the lack of argument from the agent, Westley went even farther out on the limb and addressed the lieutenant general. “And I want a dog to be with her at all times. Even at night.” Asking for something that traditionally wasn’t allowed was risky. Every military working dog was a valuable asset and when not deployed was kept in the kennels at the training center.

  Lieutenant General Hall studied him for a moment. “Okay. I will allow it. Use the dogs as needed during this situation.” He sat back. “Then it’s settled. Staff Sergeant Monroe will be transferred to the photo lab under my command.” Lieutenant General Hall zeroed his gaze on Westley. “And you will be detailed to her protection along with a canine.” Lieutenant General Hall turned to Justin. “You good?”

  Justin nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Westley sucked in a quick breath of triumph and nervousness. That meant he was going to be Felicity’s shado
w 24/7. Keeping an emotional distance when they’d be so close would be harder.

  But if he failed to protect her, she could be the next victim. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Wouldn’t allow it to happen. If anything happened to Felicity, he’d crumble beneath the weight of guilt.

  He’d walk on coals if need be. Anything to protect her.

  “She will be your responsibility to keep safe, Master Sergeant James.” Lieutenant General Hall’s gaze narrowed. “Are you up to the task?”

  Pulse spiking, Westley nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Game on.

  THREE

  The door to the conference room opened, drawing Felicity’s attention away from Maisy. Westley stepped into the hall and beckoned Felicity back inside.

  “Just a second,” she called to him. Turning to Maisy, she said, “Did you drive over?”

  Maisy nodded. “Yes.” She rose and hitched her purse higher on her shoulder. “I have to get to church to teach my Sunday school class.”

  “Are you sure you’re up for that?”

  “Yes. I need to be with the kids.” Maisy hugged Felicity. “Be careful.”

  “You, too.” Felicity stepped back. “I’ll call you later.”

  Maisy smiled and hurried out of base command.

  Squaring her shoulders, Felicity met Westley at the door. The hard light in his eyes didn’t bode well and a hundred thoughts—none of them good—raced through her mind.

  “Is everything okay?” she whispered.

  He didn’t reply. Instead he stepped aside so she could reenter the conference room. She held her salute until the base commander told her to relax.

  Lieutenant General Hall regarded her steadily. “I understand you know how to work a camera.”

  Surprise washed through her. “Yes, sir.”

  “Excellent. You are being reassigned to the photo lab effective immediately.”

  “Excuse me?” Felicity stared at the lieutenant general then her gaze darted to Westley. His inscrutable expression irked her. Had he signed off on this transfer? She didn’t want to leave the training center. She wanted to work with the dogs. Was this photo-lab assignment some sort of punishment? Had Westley used the situation as an opportunity to have her removed from the training center?

  Lieutenant General Hall held up a hand. “Now, hear us out.” He nodded at the OSI agent.

  Ian tipped his chin at her. “Of the potential victims, you’re the only one trained to handle the likes of Boyd Sullivan.”

  His words sounded like a compliment. Still, confusion pounded at her temples. She glanced around the room at the men seated at the conference room table. When Westley had requested she rejoin them a few minutes ago, she’d had no idea what to expect. Certainly not this. “What do you want from me?”

  “You take on the role of base photographer,” Ian said. “This allows you to be visible, to roam the base at will taking many, many photos.”

  “You’ll then upload the images to our database,” the FBI agent said. “We’ll run the pictures through our facial-recognition software. If Boyd is on base and you can capture his image then we’ll have a better chance of finding him before he hurts anyone else.”

  She turned this over in her head. Her gaze strayed to Westley again. The muscle in his jaw ticked, as if he was clenching his teeth. Was he upset or happy to be rid of her? She didn’t know. He was so hard to read.

  Her gaze swept over the other men staring at her and waiting for a response. How did one reply to being asked to act as bait for a serial killer?

  But Ian was correct. No way could Yvette or Vanessa take on the role, despite the training all air-force personnel went through. Felicity imagined her father would want her to take on the challenge. Her mother, on the other hand, would flip out when she learned about this. Not that Felicity had any intention of telling her mother until after the fact. Or ever.

  Straightening her shoulders and standing tall, she turned her attention to Lieutenant General Hall. “I will do whatever is needed, sir.”

  Approval shone in his eyes. “Well done. Then I will let you and Agent Steffen work out the details. You’ll report for duty in the photo lab tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Lieutenant General Hall looked to Ian. “I’ll let you take it from here.”

  “Take a seat,” Ian told her as he pinned her with his gaze. “I’m not going to lie to you. This could be dangerous. We don’t know what Boyd will do. We do know he is ruthless and cunning.”

  Swallowing back the trepidation clawing up her throat, she nodded. “I understand, sir.”

  “Despite his objections to your new assignment, Master Sergeant James has volunteered to be detailed to your protection.”

  Felicity absorbed the information like a blow to the gut. Why had Westley objected? She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but she was...disappointed. “I don’t need Master Sergeant James’s protection.”

  Ian raised his eyebrows. “It’s not up for debate, Staff Sergeant Monroe.”

  She slanted a glance at Westley. He stared at her with a hooded gaze that made her fingers curl in her lap. “Who will run the training center?”

  “I’ll check in often with the center, but Master Sergeant Streeter will take over until Boyd is caught and put back in prison,” Westley stated in a tight voice.

  Caleb Streeter was a seasoned trainer and more than capable of handling the center. But he wasn’t a master level trainer like Westley. She didn’t understand how he could give up control. He ran the center like his own personal company. His way or the highway.

  She wanted to ask Westley why he’d volunteered and why he disapproved of her taking the photography position, but with so many people staring at her, she decided her questions would have to wait.

  She returned her attention back to Ian, who regarded her closely. No doubt he was waiting to see if she was going to continue to argue. No way. She wouldn’t be that person. She was up for taking down the Red Rose Killer. She nodded her head in acquiescence.

  “Now that that’s settled,” Ian said. “We are forming a task force to include all of you. We will add to it, as we need. But for now, all information is to be kept confidential. We don’t want the base or the general public to be aware of what we are doing to bring Boyd to justice. A traitor on this base is helping Boyd. We don’t know who it is.” He turned his gaze to Justin. “We need to find this traitor, Captain.”

  “We’re doing our best, sir,” Justin said. “We will interview everyone on base.”

  “Who were Boyd’s friends on base?” Oliver asked.

  Felicity noticed the look exchanged between Justin and Linc before Justin spoke again. “Boyd was buddies with Airman Jim Ahern, who works in aircraft maintenance.”

  “We will be questioning him,” Linc said.

  “Good,” Oliver said. “I want to be there when you do.”

  “Yes, sir,” Linc and Justin both said.

  “I want you all to report back here tomorrow at sixteen hundred with updates.” Lieutenant General Hall rose. Everyone in the room snapped to attention.

  “You all have your orders,” Lieutenant General Hall said. “I have arrangements to make with Miss Lockwood for her father’s service.” He walked out.

  As Felicity and Westley headed for the door, Ian said, “Staff Sergeant Monroe, if you’d wait a moment. I’d like to speak to you privately.”

  The scowl spreading over Westley’s features made Felicity tense.

  Finally, he directed his gaze on her. “I’ll wait in the hall.”

  She nodded and sat down.

  Westley walked out, followed by the others. When she and Ian were alone, Ian said, “I want you to search your house for anything that might be related to your father’s last case. Tell no one. We don’t know who to trust.”

  She
swallowed the burn of wariness. “Yes, sir.”

  Whoever had been in her house might also be looking for her father’s case notes. A shiver ran over her. And that would mean her father hadn’t died by an accidental fall...

  She fought to catch her breath.

  He had been murdered.

  Numbed by the realization, she left the conference room.

  True to his word, she found Westley waiting for her in the hallway. She wanted to tell him about her conversation with the OSI agent, about the case her father was working on and the fact that maybe she wasn’t going crazy. But Ian’s words reverberated through her head.

  We don’t know who to trust.

  * * *

  “What did Agent Steffen want?”

  From the paleness of Felicity’s face, Westley guessed something significant. And the way she stared at him, with wariness in her blue-green eyes, sent a fissure of alarm sliding down his spine.

  She shook her head. “Nothing that I want to talk about.”

  So there was something, but she didn’t trust him enough to share. Hurt spread through his chest. How could he protect her if she distrusted him? And why did she distrust him? Hadn’t he always treated her professionally? Except when he’d hugged her in a moment of weakness. That was something he wouldn’t let happen again.

  Did she know about his mom and dad? Is that what the OSI agent told her?

  Swallowing his concern, he led her toward the exit.

  A bulldog of a man rushed through the double doors of the base command. He wore the airman battle-ready uniform with a staff-sergeant insignia and the name Dooley on the tag. The solid occupational badge marked him an engineer.

  Westley swiftly maneuvered Felicity behind him. For all Westley knew, Boyd could be posing as an airman and using disguises to camouflage his appearance.

  “Felicity!” the man exclaimed and hurried toward them. As he drew closer, Westley realized the man was older than he first appeared. Mid-to late-fifties.

  Felicity nudged Westley aside. “Uncle Patrick.”

  Westley relaxed and stepped back, allowing Felicity room.

  Patrick skidded to a halt and eyed Westley, saluted and then turned his gaze on Felicity. “Are you okay? I heard the Red Rose Killer is loose on base and that you were threatened.”