“None of you have law enforcement or military background?” Gavin asked harshly.
“We were given extensive training in the academy, and all of us have passed the requirements needed.”
“Except graduating.”
The agents couldn’t deny that truth and began looking over their shoulders toward the bathroom. Their relief became palpable when their supervisor exited the restroom.
Mopping his brow with a damp paper towel, his eyes widened when he saw his men gathered in the seating area of the terminal.
“Flores, why haven’t you escorted Miss Bellamy back to the plane as you were ordered to do?”
The three agents stepped to the side, exposing Gavin’s presence.
“I’m Gavin.”
“I know who you are.”
Gavin gave the men a lethal stare. “Seems like a fucking lot of you know who I am.”
As Agent Collins wiped his brow again, Ginny noticed his hand was shaking, despite his demeanor being more assured than the younger agents.
“Escort Miss Bella—”
“Mrs. James,” Gavin corrected.
Agent Collins’ assurance dropped a notch, yet he continued with his order. “It has no bearing with the job we have been assigned to carry out.” Agent Collins used his hand to motion toward the doors. “The pilot texted me that the winds have let up and it’s safe for us to fly. Mr. James, your wife may call you once we reach Sherguevil Island.”
“My wife isn’t going anywhere without me.”
“That isn’t possible. Miss Be—Mrs. James chose Hammer as her escort. We have no room for more passengers.”
“Reaper can take my place,” Hammer stated.
Agent Collins narrowed his eyes in anger. “Mr. James doesn’t have the required paperwork to travel to Sherguevil Island.”
Gavin opened his duffel bag to remove a yellow envelope. “Which paperwork do you need? I have two forms of ID, one of which is a passport; I have our marriage certificate, my health records and inoculations, which are current.”
“The owner of the island requires anyone traveling there to have been quarantined for the last ten days.” Agent Collins seemed more confident this would stymie Gavin.
Gavin shut it down. “Considering I’m married to Ginny and the intimate nature of our relationship, if she has the virus, so do I.”
“I need to call my director.” Agent Collins’ frustration became more apparent as Gavin threw his objections aside.
“Do that. And if he denies Ginny’s and my request, then he can forget any deal she made with the FBI. Believe me; that’s what I would rather she do. I have my lawyer on speed dial, and dude, the last fucking thing you want to do is get her involved. Dealing with Diamond will be like poking a hornet’s nest—and she won’t leave the FBI unscathed.”
“The FBI has nothing to hide.”
Ginny thought his denial would sound better if Collins would stop wiping his sweaty brow.
“We’ll find out, shall we? I find it extremely concerning that the agents sent to Treepoint to keep Ginny’s sister and me sidelined in the courthouse were the more experienced agents, while the ones sent with Ginny haven’t even graduated from Quantico. Don’t you find that unusual, Hammer?” Gavin asked mockingly.
Agent Collins gave the younger agents a disgusted look at the knowledge they’d shared with Gavin. “If you’re trying to say there are any irregularities—”
“I’m not trying to fucking say it. It’s a fucking fact,” Gavin spat.
“Agent Garcia, Clark, and Flores are embarking on their fieldwork, as every new agent does. They are at the top of their class, and the director approved their part in this assignment, as the situation with the virus has diminished our numbers. Escorting Miss Bell—” Collins corrected himself. “—Mrs. James is a low risk operation, and it was deemed advantageous to use trainees rather than seasoned agents, as they are needed elsewhere.”
“I bet it is more advantageous,” Gavin agreed snidely. “Hammer, I can’t believe you haven’t already pulled the plug on this shit show.”
Hammer leaned forward so he could talk to Gavin without her blocking him from sight. “I would have—if Ginny hadn’t told me she would go alone without me.”
Ginny squirmed in her plastic chair. “I’m going.” She mutinously lifted her chin at Gavin’s glare.
“I’d like a word with my wife alone.”
Ginny was prepared to tell the agents that she didn’t want to be left alone with Gavin. Truthfully, she was suffering her own misgivings about what she had agreed to do and was frightened Gavin would talk her out of the plan.
“I’ll give you five minutes,” Agent Collins warned as he moved away. “If Mrs. James doesn’t continue on to Sherguevil Island, our agreement with her will become null and void.”
Ginny heard the deep breath Gavin took as he prepared to talk to her when the men moved away.
“Hear me out, Gavin.” Bracing herself, she turned in her seat to face him. “I want you to go back to Treepoint and take Hammer with you. I’ll be fine. I’ve given this some serious thought, and this is for the best—”