I pushed open the ladies’ room door and stepped inside. Mrs. Stokes was right on the other side, washing her well-manicured hands. When she glanced up and saw it was me, she started shaking.
“Who’s guarding my husband?” she asked, panic-stricken.
“Agent Hold, ma’am,” I said as I lightly rubbed her back to calm her down.
“Oh.” She fingered the rhinestones on her royal blue suit. “I’m sorry, but these threats on his life are getting to be more than I can take.”
“You don’t have to worry,” I assured her as I removed my hand. “The Agency has all of the e-mails, notes, and letters being checked as we speak. We’re taking nothing for granted. We’ll make sure he’s safe.”
She gave me a small smile. “I know I can seem a bit rude to the help sometime, but I’m overly cautious. My husband and children can be too trusting. I’m sure in your line of work you know what I mean.”
“Yes, ma’am, I do—I wear that same hat when it comes to my mom and sister. You owe me no explanations.”
“Good,” she said, becoming stiff again. “As long as you do your job we’ll have no problems.”
I took a deep breath. “Ma’am, I’m here with only one goal in mind and that’s to keep your husband safe.”
“Well, thank you, I guess,” she said with a sneer before flouncing out of the bathroom.
I wanted to be angry, but in this job I had to learn to deal with people from all walks of life. I could tell that this was definitely going to be an interesting assignment, because from what I’d personally experienced with the Stokes family, they were a trip.
Troy had told me my positive impression of these people wasn’t correct. Though I didn’t want to admit it, he was right. We hadn’t spoken since I’d taken the job, and that was a good thing because I wasn’t up for hearing I told you so. One thing was for sure: the Stokeses were a colorful family.
I was glad when Tuesday night came to a halt. At two A.M. we all retired to our respective hotel rooms in the Marriott Marquis. I would sleep well, knowing that there were no threats or attacks my first night on the job. Sebastian and I never crossed paths again. Maybe it was best that way.
The second week in December, our unit accompanied the Stokes family on a tour of the Midwest. We had stops in Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. None of their three children accompanied us—I was glad I didn’t have to see Sebastian. Like my college love, Max, Sebastian seemed to be in my head early.
In Illinois there was a presidential town hall meeting. Reverend Stokes, Illinois governor Graham Hill, and U.S. congressman Jack Daly were the three candidates on deck. Even though there were no seats, the crowd was settled. Everyone seemed attentive as the candidates were giving their opening remarks. I was glad our job hadn’t been dangerous. Though the Agency had tracked and arrested several people for the idle threats they’d sent in threatening the Reverend’s life, and one of his detail teams did have to call in the bomb squad after receiving a suspicious package at his residence, my team only had to deal with routine stuff.
Feeling at ease, I remembered my training roommate Agent Winters was protecting the governor. Once in place near the podium, I searched the room, hoping to see her. I was unsuccessful.
“Agent Ware,” Agent Sawyer called out, into my earpiece. “I’m posted at the back of the room and there is a guy on your side wearing a red tee-shirt with a rebel flag on it. He looks very antsy. You see him?”
Quickly scanning that perimeter, I found the man in question. He was rocking back and forth while the rest of the crowd standing around was still. Agent Sawyer made it plain he had issues with a black man becoming president, so I purposely limited interaction. I didn’t know him to use such an anxious tone. It appeared that one redneck could spot another.
With my adrenaline rising, I responded, “Yes, I see him—he’s at my nine o’clock.”
“All right, everyone remain where you are. Let’s see if he settles down,” Agent Moss called out from the van.
Agent Hold said, “I’m watching Cool Falcon. He’s about to address the audience.”
Reverend Stokes began speaking. My eyes didn’t move from the suspect. Within seconds, the mysterious guy untied a trench jacket from around his waist and put it on. He then placed his hands in his pockets and pulled out a small, circular steel object.
“We can’t have a black man mixing in with real candidates. It’s my duty to take you out,” the crazed man said as he came charging from the back of the room, waving what I could now make out was a grenade.
I wanted to take him out or at least cap him in the leg. My FBI training to go toward the fire was my first instinct, but then I quickly shook my head. I wasn’t there to disarm the threat—I was there to protect the candidate. Rushing onto the stage, I ushered Reverend Stokes to safety.
“Hold, move Cool Falcon now,” I said to my partner as we placed our bodies in front of the suspect.
Screams were coming from every direction as people caught on to what was happening. They cleared the area and the guy stood there alone. All of a sudden he fell to his feet.
“Suspect down,” Agent Moss said, “suspect down.”
About eighteen agents from on-site details for all three candidates that I knew were there, but not visible, surrounded the intruder. The person who shot him still had the gun cocked in position to fire again if necessary. When the weapon was lowered I could make out the face. I was so proud to see it was Suzie Winters.
“I know her,” I said aloud as Agent Hold and Reverend Stokes stood nearby. “We were roommates at FLETC.”
“Wow—thank her for me,” Reverend Stokes said. “And thanks to you two as well. You put your lives on the line for real. I’m so grateful.”
Ryan and I both smiled, as if letting our protectee know that he owed us no thanks. Agents Sawyer and Regunfuss took him out of the room. I was about to follow.
Agent Moss said, “Ware, I’m proud of you. You learned something in our scenario training. You protected first and trusted that others could handle the rest. Our man is safe. Good job. Take a second and speak to your friend.”
People were being cleared from the event and the man was being handcuffed. I rushed over to Suzie. She dropped her gun when she saw me. An agent she knew picked it up quickly for her. We hugged so hard.
“I was looking for you,” I said when we pulled apart.
“I saw you searching for someone,” she said, gripping her hand to calm it.
I placed my hands on hers. “You were amazing, remembering just the right spot to get him off balance so the pin wouldn’t come out of the detonator.”
“I was coached by the best.” She smiled, alluding to my help. “Plus, you were awesome as well, getting your protectee out of the way. Once I saw that, I had to respond.”
“Oh yeah, he told me to tell you thanks for saving his life.” I looked down. “And thanks for doing your job. It’s still hard for me to trust others to take out the danger. You gave me faith in the system.”
Placing her arms on my shoulders, she said, “See? We’re both just answering our call. We must keep running after God’s own heart. He’ll see us through.”
“Winters,