“Damn it, Carnell, what the hell are you doing?”
The man studied them both with eyes that seemed too deep for his face.“Director Drackett asked me to escort you to the airport in a second car.”
Carnell glanced around like he either expected an attack at any moment or didn’t like to make eye contact with other people for that long.Summer reached in and scooped Chloe off the passenger’s seat.Either way, he gave Summer the creeps.She was glad Tyrone was driving them to the airport and not the other man.
“I think I can handle this.”Tyrone obviously wasn’t happy about Carnell’s presence.
“I won’t be coming inside the airport.Director Drackett is just more cautious after what happened last month.”
Tyrone glanced at Summer, filling her in.“Drackett’s wife, Rosalyn, was kidnapped last month.”
Carnell interrupted, “While an agent was escorting her back to Omega headquarters.The attacker killed the agent and took Rosalyn.”
“Oh my God.”Summer had thought she would be more than safe enough with just one agent.Evidently not.
“You’re talking to a civilian, Carnell.Why don’t you tone it down a little?”
Carnell studied Summer and Chloe in a way that made her uncomfortable.Like they were a science project or something.
“I didn’t mean to shock or offend you.I just believe everyone should have as many facts as possible.”
“Well.”Summer began buckling Chloe into the car seat.“Let’s just get to the airport.”
Carnell got into a car a few spots down and Tyrone started theirs.“Sorry about Carnell.He’s a strategic genius but not particularly great with people as you can see.He doesn’t really have a filter.”
“I’m surprised your boss would send someone like him to help escort us.”
“Phillip has a mind like a computer.He can spot traffic deviations and dangers before I could ever begin to see them.If something is going down near us while we’re driving, he’s a good person to have around.”
“Okay.”Summer felt better.Kind of.
“Unless he gets on the radio and starts talking about the need for a revolution.Dude is a fanatic about how law enforcement needs to evolve in order to stay ahead.”
Thankfully the ride to the airport was uneventful except for Chloe’s irritation at being kept awake.But once she was given free rein to toddle down the airport hallways, she perked up again.
Summer checked them in and true to his word, Tyrone walked them through security all the way to the gate.Summer gave the man a hug and Chloe blew him goodbye kisses as they walked down the corridor and onto the plane, one of the first ones on since they needed the extra time to get situated.
She attached Chloe’s car seat to the seat next to her and put Chloe in it, immediately giving her a sippy cup and cereal to feed herself.Then she sat back and watched as the other people loaded onto the plane.
Something ached in Summer’s chest.A worry about Ashton.She knew how talented the Omega SWAT team was but just couldn’t shake the bad feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.
Ashton had to be okay.He had to.
She reached partway over Chloe to look out the window.She felt a tear leak from her eye before her daughter’s tiny hand reached up and caught it on her cheek.
“Ah-ta,” Chloe said soberly.
Summer kissed her forehead.“Yes, Ah-ta.We’ll see him soon.”
The rest of the people boarded and Summer prepared for the flight—and days—ahead.Days without Ashton.
Then an announcement came from the front.
“Summer Worrall, if you’re onboard the plane, please press your flight attendant call button.”
Chapter Seventeen
Summer pressed the call button, wondering what in the world was going on.Soon two flight attendants made their way back to her.
