Page 19 of Storm Warning

“Hey, buddy.” Andre’s gaze skimmed over him. He still didn’t like the haunted look in the kid’s eyes. He hoped Dr. Sorenson had excellent psychologists he could recommend.

Andre also needed to have a word with Maddox. Maybe the boss knew more about Christopher’s home situation because Andre wasn’t sending the kid back to an unsafe environment. Yeah, he might be wrong in his assessment. He wasn’t. Something was wrong in the ambassador’s household. “We should strap ourselves in. We’re landing soon.”

“Where are we?”

“Bayside, Texas.”

Christopher frowned as he dropped into his seat and fumbled for the seatbelt. “Why are we going there?”

“We have a clinic there where injured principals and operatives are treated. When Dr. Sorenson is convinced you’re in good enough shape to leave, he’ll sign off on your traveling.”

“I don’t like doctors.”

A red flag went up in Andre’s mind. “Been to a lot of them?” A half-shrug was his answer. Not enough information. “Want to know a secret?”

Christopher’s head jerked up. “Sure.”

“I’m not a fan of doctors either.”

The kid threw Andre’s question back at him. “Been to a lot of them?”

“Yeah, I have. It’s a hazard of my job.”

“Like the bullet wound?”

“Among other things. Before I joined Fortress, I was a cop. It wasn’t unusual for me to go home at the end of a shift with bumps, bruises, and scrapes from chasing down perps dumb enough to run from law enforcement.”

“Did you have another job besides being a cop in your past?”

“Military.”

Christopher’s eyes widened. “You were a soldier?”

“Sure was. The men in Echo unit served in the Army with me. We’ve been together for a long time.”

“Wow. I wish I had friends like that.”

Andre’s heart ached for the boy. “Who are your friends?”

Another half shrug. “I don’t really have any.” His voice was low, as though the secret was shameful. The shame fell on his father. Was he so busy with the responsibilities that came with being an ambassador that he didn’t see what his son needed? Or was there a deeper, uglier secret behind Christopher’s lack of friends?

“Why not?”

“I’m not allowed to bring anyone home or go to anyone else’s house. Though Dad says it’s for my safety, I don’t see what it hurts to have someone over to play video games or watch a movie.”

The jet landed on the runway and slowed to a stop on the tarmac. As soon as the jet came to a complete stop, Seth and Elias opened the hatch and lowered the stairs. Two of Sorenson’s assistants boarded the jet.

A linebacker-size assistant stepped into the aisle. “Anyone need a gurney?”

Seth shook his head. “We have walking wounded.”

A nod. “Need help with your gear?”

“We’d appreciate it, Todd.”

The operatives hauled their Go bags and gear from the storage bins. Todd and his friend grabbed a couple of equipment bags each and headed toward the SUVs waiting on the tarmac.

Minutes later, the caravan headed to Sorenson’s clinic. Andre glanced over at Christopher. “I think you’ll like this clinic.”