Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(62)
‘Age,’ reminded George. ‘Connor can still go where your agents can’t. Alicia may know the truth now, but no one else is going to suspect him of being a bodyguard.’
‘But since Alicia won’t accept him around he can’t do his job in the first place,’ Dirk argued.
‘With great reluctance, I’m starting to side with Dirk on this one,’ said the President. ‘Alicia’s headstrong like her mother. I can’t see her changing her mind any day soon.’
President Mendez leant forward on his desk, his hands clasped together, and looked Connor in the eye.
‘Connor, you’ve done Alicia and me a great service. And I can say, hand on heart, your father would be proud of you. But I’m truly sorry – I’ll have to send you home.’
Sitting on his bed in the White House guest room, Connor stared glumly out across the Washington skyline. The National Mall was bathed in bright morning sunshine, but the promising summer day did little to improve his mood.
Operation Hidden Shield had come to an abrupt and humiliating end.
Despite the President’s kind words, Connor couldn’t help feeling that he’d failed. While Alicia was physically safe and unharmed, he’d hurt her more deeply than any knife or bullet. And it was infuriating that she’d found out about his role by him protecting her from a water pistol! That mistake, as Dirk had rightly pointed out, had cost him dearly. Maybe if it had been a real gun, the outcome would have been different. Alicia would have been thankful for his presence rather than resentful. Then again, he reminded himself that he’d reacted too late to the threat, so he’d failed in his duty anyway. And even if she had survived the attack, she would have always felt their friendship had been based on a lie. That he was ‘employed’ to like her – which in his heart couldn’t be further from the truth.
Connor clasped his father’s key fob in one hand. Looking down, he studied his father’s face.
‘I’m sorry, Dad, I hope I’m not a disappointment to you,’ Connor whispered. ‘Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a bodyguard.’
He clipped the key fob to his backpack of Buddyguard gear, then began throwing the rest of his belongings into his suitcase. He was almost finished when his mobile rang and the Buddyguard logo flashed on the screen.
Connor had been dreading this call – having to explain to Colonel Black why the assignment was over. He knew the colonel had pinned high hopes on him. A successful operation for the United States government would have boosted the reputation of his organization dramatically.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed Accept and Colonel Black’s craggy face appeared. Jack braced himself for an earful.
‘We’ve received Secret Service’s report,’ he growled. ‘What’s your side of the story?’
Connor related the events of the previous evening.
Colonel Black nodded and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘The director’s comments do seem overly harsh. And we knew we’d hit this problem sooner or later. It just came a little sooner than any of us expected. Have you tried convincing the President’s daughter of the value of a buddyguard? She has more freedom with you than she would ever get under adult agent supervision.’
‘There hasn’t been the opportunity,’ replied Connor. ‘And it’s a little more complicated than that.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Alicia …’ He sought for the right words. ‘… took a liking to me.’
Colonel Black shook his head in despair. ‘Teenage hormones! They’ll be the downfall of this organization.’
‘But I didn’t encourage her or –’
‘Listen, Connor, I don’t blame you for what’s happened. And neither should you blame yourself. Being a bodyguard is one of the toughest jobs in the world. And being a buddyguard is even harder. So let’s put this assignment behind us and move on. You’re to return to HQ for further training.’
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Connor, relieved he hadn’t been entirely chewed up and spat out by the colonel.
‘I’m going to hand you over to Charley now. She’s made all your travel arrangements.’
Charley appeared, her expression serious and her tone businesslike. ‘I’ve emailed your itinerary and e-ticket. Your flight is at 1600 hours out of Dulles International. A car will pick you up at 1200 hours.’
She glanced off-screen and Connor heard a door close. He guessed Colonel Black had left the room. When Charley looked back, her sky-blue eyes had softened.
‘Don’t beat yourself up over this, Connor,’ she said, keeping her voice low. ‘The first assignment is often an ordeal. And I don’t need to tell you my last one was a complete nightmare. But we do get decent assignments. Jason’s currently in the Caribbean working protection on a client’s beach holiday. His updates consist mostly of the progress of his suntan!’
Connor managed a weak laugh. ‘Lucky for some, I guess. But I doubt the colonel is going to send me on another mission any time soon. And I’m not sure I could face one after upsetting my Principal so badly.’
Hearing the heartache in Connor’s voice, Charley replied, ‘Look, your flight isn’t until this afternoon. Why don’t you find Alicia and speak to her?’