Page 23 of ELITE Justice
“See, they’re—”
They both spoke at once so Jonathan held up his hand. He pointed to Gladys. “You first.”
“Well, you know that American merged with US Air a few months ago and that old headquarters just wasn’t big enough for everyone, so they blew it up last May.”
“Kaboom.” Viola threw her arms into the air. “It was glorious, and we had front row seats.”
Gladys glared at her. “Thanks to me being Jerold’s widow.”
“That doesn’t change what he was,” Viola countered.
“Ladies. Ladies.” He finally got their attention again. “The American Airlines event?”
“Yes, well, as I said, American merged with—”
“He already knows all that.” Viola leaned on the table. “They built these new towers and they’re dedicating them Friday, in the heat of the day.”
“What time?” Jonathan quipped.
Gladys dug in her purse, pulled out a wallet, and laid it on the table. Next came a folder of pictures. “Would you like to see my children? I have six and a half grandchildren.” She started to open the thick album.
“Thank you, Gladys, but I’m late for getting back to work,” he lied. “Perhaps another time. Speaking of time, what time is the ceremony?”
“Oh, here it is.” She whipped out the invitation. “Two o’clock.”
“In the damned heat of the day,” Viola complained.
“Quit your bitchin’,” Gladys chastised. “At least we get to wait inside the training and conference center, then ride through the tunnels to the ceremony.”
“But we’re still outside for the damn ceremony,” Viola retorted.
“Tunnels?” Jonathan needed to know about those. They’d probably be able to get the building schematics, but one never knew. And who’d look for tunnels?
“Yes,” Gladys explained. “There are tunnels connecting all the buildings. It’s a very large complex, you know.”
“But it’s so pretty out there,” Viola added. “It has all these trees, a stream—”
“It really is a very nice area.” Gladys raised one eyebrow. “If your guards are going to protect the place, I would have thought someone as important as you would have been out there and looked things over.”
Rather than try to explain, he smiled at the two elderly ladies. “I think I’ll go do that right now.”
CHAPTER10
Gwen feltbad about the way she’d treated Jonathan. She had been a real bitch. He had taken the information and run with it. Sure, she wasn’t happy how he’d obtained it, but she’d sat on the sidelines wringing her hands for weeks. She knew better. Every tidbit she passed on while overseas saved lives and the same could be done here in the USA. She’d fallen into the same mindset of that-can’t-happen-here as most Americans. But another 9/11 could happen, right there in Dallas.
She owed Jonathan and vowed to make it up to him. She liked him, and he seemed to be one of the good guys. She’d dated enough toads to know.
Yesterday afternoon he and Quin sat for two hours drinking coffee, covertly watching the door. Unfortunately, the refugee boys hadn’t shown. Their pictures had been sent to Homeland, but it was too soon to know anything. She wasn’t sure they’d tell her when, and if, they found out anything.
Maybe the teens would show today. Gwen wasn’t sure Jonathan would since it was supposed to be his day off. Midafternoon, Jonathan and a rather tall man, both wearing jeans and western shirts, entered the diner and took over the same table as he and Quin had the day before. This time, they had papers and truly looked like they were discussing work.
Jacki waited on them. Pie was added to their coffee order, but Jonathan hadn’t requested her. Damn it. Well, she didn’t need an invitation. It was her diner, at least until her aunt and uncle returned. She’d just check on them to be sure their service and food were adequate, like managers and chefs did in fancy restaurants.
She pasted on a smile—not that smiling at Jonathan was a chore at all—and strode to their table. “How is everything? You two doing all right?”
Her gaze automatically tracked to Jonathan. “Perfect, Gwen. This is Griffin Mitchel, the manager at our Miami office. He’s flown in to help us out for a few days.”
Message received. Guardian was calling in reinforcements at the highest levels.
