Rick glanced down at the redhead and felt his lips tilt up at the corners. You know what they say about keeping your friends close, and your enemies closer, and that was just what he planned to do.
The General stopped in front of a gated barb-wired fence, pulled something out of his wallet and flashed the man holding a semi-automatic rifle guarding the gate. After being waved through the caravan came to a halt in front of a large metal hanger. The doors stood open and he watched as more military men canvassed the area; some standing guard, some loading the plane. It looked like a well-oiled operation. Each highly trained employee went about their own tasks like they’d done this a dozen times before and practiced the moves daily.
He could only guess, they weren’t flying coach when they traveled with the General. The General stepped out of the SUV and spoke in hushed tones to a man with a lab coat on. The man who resembled a doctor glanced at the SUV as Rick held a hand out to Lydia helping her step down. The doctor nodded once more and boarded the plane.
Briggs threw his arm around Lydia’s shoulder. “Just stick with me kid.”
Briggs comment was so out of character for the big brute, Rick just shook his head and ignored it. He grabbed the black bag he kept packed for emergencies. Having one in his trunk had come in handy on more than one occasion. The general had given him only minutes to grab his gear, but it had been long enough. Guns, clothes and money were all that he’d need. Rick traipsed up the steps onto the plane. “Where do you want me?”
The man dressed from head to toe in camouflage looked him up and down with a questioning glance. “Who are you?”
Rick pulled his badge and flashed it to the man. “Special Agent, Rick Thompson.”
The man in camouflage raised his brow. “You must be on the wrong flight, buddy. That badge won’t get you a seat on this plane.”
The General stepped up behind the man and patted him on the back. “He’s coming with us. Thompson this is Connors. He’ll be the one training Lydia.” The General glanced at Connors. “Thompson here is her escort and bodyguard along with Briggs.”
Connors nodded and turned to shove a bag in the overhead compartment. “Just grab a seat. Wheels are up in five.”
Rick held out a hand and gestured for Lydia to take a seat as she approached him. She stopped in front of him and smiled. “I already promised Briggs, I’d sit next to him. Sorry.” If the look on her face was any indication, she was anything but sorry. He guessed that she wasn’t too pleased he was here, but she’d come to get used to it. He’d didn’t doubt his ability to win her over, all it was going to take was some time to get her to drop her guard so he could get the answers he needed.
The man in the white lab coat approached Lydia from behind. He pulled a needle from his lab coat and stabbed the needle into her arm, pushing the plunger. Lydia stumbled forward into Rick’s chest. Her legs almost instantaneously giving out on her, he wasn’t sure if it was from the surprise or what had been in the needle. Rick caught Lydia around the waist with his steel arm, and pulled a gun from the back of his pants with his free hand. He trained the barrel pointing directly into the doctors’ chest. “What the hell did you give her?”
The man in the white lab coat reached for Lydia.
Rick cocked the hammer daring him to touch her. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The doctor put a cap on the needle and dropped it in the pocket of his lab coat. He slowly raised his hands. “It was just something to keep her sleeping during the flight. The General ordered it.”
The general nodded from where he stood.
Rick released the hammer and shoved the gun back into the waistband of his dress pants. Unease settled over him. He hadn’t been expecting them to sedate her. He was failing miserable at protecting her, since the little doctor had gotten the drop on him.
The General walked up behind the doctor, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I gave the order. Why don’t you secure her in a seat.” He gestured to the extensive plush leather surrounding them.
Briggs strolled up behind Rick and scooped her up in his arms. “I’ve got her.” He carried her back up toward the front of the plane and sat down.
Rick felt his blood pressure rise and spun back on the General who gestured to a window seat. Rick hesitantly moved to sit keeping one eye on the General and his other on the rest of the inhabitants of the plane. The General slid in the seat next to him as the plane’s engines hummed to life and started out of the hanger. The vibrations increased as the engines revved gaining speed down the runway eventually lifting and climbing into the air. The plane and the men on it were all comfortable with each other. A few of them bantered back and forth over the hum of the engines. “That wasn’t a smart way to gain her trust.”