Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(74)
Karen shook her head vehemently. ‘Then we’ll have every Tom, Dick and Harry phoning in. And any possible lead will disappear under a pile of misguided calls. No, concentrate on the containment of the bombings until we have more concrete information.’
‘About the bombings,’ interrupted General Martin Shaw, walking over and saluting Colonel Black. ‘I think we must assume a connection.’
‘Why’s that?’ asked the President.
‘The timing for one. The last contact with Delta team and Alicia’s disappearance were just minutes after they detonated. I believe these attacks were merely a distraction for the main event.’
‘A distraction!’ exclaimed George. ‘The three bombs almost crippled Washington.’
‘Exactly. Their targets were designed to disrupt communications and impede the workings of Secret Service. With their attention focused elsewhere, the kidnappers had all the time they needed to escape with the President’s daughter.’
‘I concur with the general,’ said Colonel Black. ‘It would certainly explain the planting of the Cell-Finity bug and the coordinated ambush on your Secret Service team. Has any terrorist group claimed responsibility yet?’
‘Still nothing,’ Karen replied. ‘But we’re doing an analysis of the most likely candidates –’
‘We’ve got a lead!’ Dirk interrupted, coming off the phone.
The Situation Room went silent as he pressed a remote and a live-link flashed up on the central monitor. An auburn-haired man with a rounded pockmarked face appeared.
‘Mr President, my name is Agent Cooper,’ he declared. ‘I’m in situ at a disused aircraft hangar near Stafford Airport. My team have discovered one of our off-duty Secret Service agents, Lauren Brooke, shot dead, execution-style.’
The camera panned to show a body sprawled across the concrete floor, a pool of dried blood surrounding it. The First Lady gasped at the gruesome sight and averted her eyes.
‘How does this connect with Alicia’s disappearance?’ asked President Mendez, a cold sensation creeping into the pit of his stomach.
‘My team found the remains of a cellphone that bear her fingerprints.’ The camera was angled to display the shattered phone. Then an empty 4×4 came into view, surrounded by three agents analysing the vehicle for further clues. ‘They’ve also just confirmed that hairs on the back seat of Agent Brooke’s vehicle match your daughter’s.’
‘But is there any sign of my little girl?’ asked the First Lady, almost dreading the answer.
‘No, ma’am,’ replied Agent Cooper. ‘But that can only be seen as good news. It indicates she’s still alive. We also found this at the scene.’ He directed the camera to a backpack lying in the footwell of the 4×4.
‘That belongs to Connor,’ volunteered Colonel Black, recognizing both the design and Justin Reeves’ face in the attached key fob.
‘Connor, sir?’ questioned the agent.
‘He’s a boy secretly assigned to protect Alicia,’ Dirk explained. ‘Part of the Buddyguard organization.’
Agent Cooper raised an eyebrow at this revelation but made no direct comment. ‘That explains the backpack’s unusual construction then. The rear panel’s liquid body armour, it shows signs of recent combat usage. But there’s no blood, so it appears to have been effective.’
‘That means Connor’s still with her,’ said Colonel Black, feeling relieved that his charge was most probably alive and, at the same time, more optimistic about the survival prospects of the President’s daughter. He just prayed that Connor’s basic training would be enough to see him through the crisis.
‘Looks that way,’ replied the agent.
‘Then there’s hope,’ said the President, squeezing his wife’s hand.
The First Lady returned a strained smile.
Dirk sighed inwardly at President Mendez’s unwavering belief in the boy. ‘But, Mr President, it could also mean our problem’s doubled … if they’ve both been kidnapped.’
‘This is all my fault,’ sobbed Alicia, her entire body trembling with shock. ‘I should have listened to Secret Service … if I had, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now I’ve put you in danger too, Connor. What have I done? I’m sorry … I’m so sorry.’
Connor knelt before her. He was as scared as she was, but he couldn’t allow his own fears to spiral out of control. He had to remain strong – for both their sakes.
‘This isn’t your fault,’ he assured her. ‘The blame lies with our kidnappers. What we need to do is stay calm and focused. Your father, Secret Service, Buddyguard, everyone will be looking for us.’
Alicia stared at Connor, her eyes wide and swimming with tears. ‘Do you really think so?’
‘I know so. We just have to hold out until they come.’
‘But what if they can’t find us?’
Connor was aware that was a distinct possibility, but replied, ‘With all the government’s resources, they’re bound to sooner or later. We must have faith.’
Alicia fell silent and gazed doubtfully around their tiny cell. Connor could see she was battling to keep her panic in check. But she bravely wiped away her tears and managed to stop shaking.