His Innocent Lover (Slade Security Team 3)

***

Trent watched Chloe sleep. She’d curled up in her seat and now looked like a seasoned traveler. He’d never been able to sleep on a plane, so he watched her and thought about the work ahead.

He had been asked by Meyers to contact Mr. Al Shabib in Jawhara. That guy was supposed to show Trent the devastation that the Jawharan officials were keeping from the world’s knowledge. Meyers had asked Trent to take photos and get them out of the country. Meyers had also given Trent a bag to take with him. It looked as if it carried nothing but posters and brochures on Guardians of the Earth. It took three hours to find the false bottom and the C4 that Trent would be carrying into Jawhara.

Travis had swapped the C4 for clay that looked almost like the real thing. It would be interesting to see who picked up the bag in Jawhara.

That was where Talib and his security forces would come into play. They’d be ready to grab whoever came for the bag. Now the only thing left was to see if Anna Neills was in on this with Myers. If all went well, Talib would pick up the point man on the ground in Jawhara, the FBI would come down on Myers and whoever was working with him, and following the money would lead to whoever had hired the Guardians.

If things went right.

The big question mark. Trent could see a dozen things that could go wrong. No one might come to pick up the bag. The contact might escape. The money might lead to a dead end. Chloe might get hurt.

That last one had him wide awake and trying to make sure he’d covered all possible problems.

A light flashed on the large television screen mounted on the far wall of the plane. Trent swapped a look with Slade, and Slade picked up a remote and activated the power switch. Talib’s face filled the screen a few moments later.

Slade kept his voice low and even. “Talib? What’s up?”

“I wish to tell you that His Royal Highness and his wife, his brother Khalil, and his wife have all left for their island retreat in the Mediterranean. The m

edia was, at the time, busy touring new refugee camps for those coming into Jawhara to escape unrest in our neighboring countries. As far as the world is concerned, His Royal Highness and his family are all still ensconced in the palace.”

Trent leaned forward. “Who’s heading up their security detail?”

“Brock and Keira. I asked PJ to accompany them, but she refused to leave, saying her absence as well would be most suspicious. I was forced to agree with her. Brock and Keira, however, look as if they are on holiday—they are seen as a couple who has little to do but amuse their whims.” Talib grinned.

Trent did as well. Brock had come out of the SEAL’s, too, and was one of the most deadly people Trent knew. Brock had come across Keira, had recruited her, and she was smart, fast, and clever. Those two wouldn’t let a little thing like falling in love interfere with the job of protecting the royal family of Jawhara.

But Slade was frowning. “What do we know about the flights scheduled to come into the country?”

Talib glanced down as if checking a paper he had. “There is a private plane requesting permission to land an hour after your plane. The itinerary shows a consulting expert in new drilling technology, but I know for a fact that gentleman has not left Dallas. His wife found him unconscious in their garage earlier this morning and he is currently recovering in a private room at a local hospital.”

“Why wasn’t I informed about this earlier?” Slade asked.

Talib looked grim. “I just got the report myself. There is more, but do you wish to hear it now or when you land?”

Slade swapped stares with Trent—and Trent glanced at Chloe. What had he gotten her into? He looked at Slade and nodded. They might as well know everything now. He had a feeling it was only going to get worse from here on out.

Chapter 18

“Tell me,” Slade said.

“The private plane that was supposed to bring the consultant here took off as planned. It also made a stop in San Diego last night before heading to Dallas.”

A small voice next to Trent asked, “Do you think Mr. Myers is on that plane?”

Trent glanced at her. She’d woken, but she still looked sleep rumpled. He put a hand over hers, and turned back to Slade.

Slade ignored the question. “Talib, be prepared to check the passengers and the cargo on that plane. They may expect Trent to fail—or maybe they set him up as a decoy. They haven’t been successful in bringing major explosives in before this, so let’s keep it that way.”

“My personnel have instructed the employees on how to act. Do we know who is behind this attack?”

Chloe tugged on Trent’s sleeve and asked in a whisper, “I thought the Guardians were behind these attacks?”

Trent shook his head. “No, they’re just the hired help. We’re expecting extremists in Bashiria to turn up as the guys paying the bills.”

“What then?” Chloe asked.