The crowd parted, creating a corridor on the dance floor for Connor and Alicia. The band launched into the classic ‘Celebration’ by Kool & The Gang and the two of them danced their way towards the stage. On either side, students clapped and hollered. Alicia beamed with joy, clasping Connor’s hand tight. Connor was also caught up in the infectious atmosphere as party poppers went off and a large bang triggered a cascade of silver glitter, streamers and balloons from the ceiling.
His earpiece crackled into life. ‘Bravo Four to Bravo One. No intruder in east corridor. Just a couple of kids necking in the locker room. Continuing search …’
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Connor glimpsed the muzzle of a gun.
For a brief split second, Connor’s mind froze. Time seemed to grind to a halt. Amid the cheering crowd, falling glitter and tumbling balloons, the ominous black barrel of a handgun poked out between two oblivious students. Targeted on the Prom Princess, the deadly weapon seemed to grow in size as Connor focused all his attention upon it. The roar of student applause faded like a rapidly receding wave until he heard only his heart beating … THUMPthumpTHUMPthumpTHUMPthump …
The moment of truth had come.
Deep within him, he heard Jody’s voice bawl, ‘A-C-E!’
Assess. Counter. Escape …
Suddenly time speeded back up as his bodyguard training kicked into gear. Within a matter of milliseconds he’d assessed the threat and decided on his course of action.
‘GUN!’ shouted Connor, grabbing Alicia and shielding her with his body.
At first, the crowd looked bemused, uncertain they’d heard right.
Then a girl spotted the barrel too and started screaming. Like the spread of wildfire, the crowd panicked and fled in all directions. There was a BANG and Connor tensed, expecting a bullet to hit him. When none did, he crouched low, holding Alicia to him, and ran as fast as he could.
‘This way!’ he yelled, heading for the nearest exit.
Alicia, utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events, had no option but to obey.
Two more bangs went off. Total chaos ensued. Tables were knocked over. Drinks spilt. Glasses shattered. People collided and began falling over themselves. Connor kept a firm grip on Alicia as he barged a path through the hysterical students. But his first choice of exit had become blocked as too many people tried to escape through the narrow doorway.
Connor directed Alicia behind an overturned table to reassess his options.
‘Where’s the gunman?’ she asked, her voice trembling with fear.
‘Stay down,’ Connor instructed, trying not to make her a target. It was impossible to see where the shooter was hiding among the frantic crowd. Their closest exit was now at the rear of the stage. But that meant going up the steps and exposing themselves to the gunman.
At that moment, Secret Service burst into the gymnasium. Weapons armed and at the ready, their foreboding appearance created even more panic and sent the students scattering. But the highly trained agents kept a level head as they scanned the hall for the threat.
‘DROP IT!’ shouted an agent on the far side, aiming his SIG Sauer P229 at a figure in the crowd.
Surrounded on all sides by Secret Service, the gunman threw his weapon to the floor.
‘Don’t shoot me!’ cried a stunned and terrified Ethan, holding his hands high above his head. ‘It’s a water pistol … just a water pistol!’
The hall’s main lights came up and the school principal, who’d dived off stage at the first ‘shot’, now attempted to restore calm over the microphone. Secret Service agents had Ethan pinned to the floor. The rest of the students hung around in shocked silence or spoke in hushed tones as they watched their classmate being frisked for further weapons.
‘It was meant to be a joke,’ blubbed Ethan, as his hands were cuffed behind his back. ‘Tell them, Jimbo, tell them.’
Connor cautiously rose from behind the table to confirm the danger was truly over. Secret Service had the gymnasium locked down and no else appeared to be a threat.
‘Can I get up now?’ asked Alicia, still crouched in his shadow.
‘Yes, it’s safe,’ said Connor, helping her to her feet.
Kyle spotted them and came running over.
‘Are you hurt, Alicia?’ he asked, noticing an ominous dark patch on her ballgown just below her chest.
Alicia shook her head. Then she looked down at herself and groaned, ‘Aww, but my dress … it’s ruined.’
She inspected the stain on her bodice and a tear where someone had stood on the hem during their attempt to flee.
‘That can be replaced – unlike you,’ said Connor.
Alicia sighed, ‘It’s actually a one-off. But you’re right, I suppose it could have been a lot worse.’
An agent approached Kyle. ‘Looks a bit like a Glock 17, but it’s a kid’s water pistol all right,’ he confirmed, handing Kyle the evidence. ‘That idiot filled it with ink for a prank. Said something about wanting to pay the English boy back … for stealing his date!’
Kyle raised an enquiring eyebrow in Connor’s direction and saw a matching ink stain on his jacket. Connor gave a strained smile.
‘So what about the gunshots?’ Alicia asked, her cheeks flushing at the disclosure of her date.
‘His accomplice burst some balloons,’ the agent replied, pointing to the remains of one on the floor.
Letting the matter of their supposed date pass, Kyle showed Connor the ‘gun’. In the full glare of the gym lights, it was obvious that the weapon was a plastic toy.
‘Sorry, I thought it was real,’ said Connor, feeling an utter idiot. At the same time, he was glad it hadn’t been. Judging by the stain on Alicia’s dress, he’d have reacted too late to save her from a real bullet.
‘Easy mistake to make in the heat of the moment,’ replied Kyle. ‘Many of our agents have been fooled one time or another. You did the right thing by calling it in.’
‘I’m so angry with Ethan –’ began Alicia, glaring in his direction. Then she frowned. ‘What did you just say? Connor called it in?’
‘Erm … it’s just an expression we agents use,’ Kyle replied, quickly trying to backtrack.
Alicia glanced between the two of them, sensing there was something more to it than that. Then she noticed a tiny piece of skin-toned plastic protruding from Connor’s left ear. Her eyes widened in recognition. ‘Is that what I think it is?’
Connor discovered his covert earpiece had become dislodged during their escape. He pushed it back in and offered a sheepish grin.
‘What are you? My bodyguard?’ said Alicia, half-joking.
Connor said nothing. But she saw the truth in his eyes and her jaw dropped in disbelief.
‘You ARE!’ she exclaimed. ‘The son of a soldier … martial arts expert … your reactions to the gun … all this is starting to make sense …’
‘I can explain,’ said Connor. ‘It’s not what you think –’
Alicia held up her hand, stopping him.
‘I don’t want to hear. If this is true, then everything you’ve said to me is a lie.’ Tears of fury welled in her eyes as her anger at Ethan was now redirected towards Connor. ‘You’ve deceived me. Betrayed our friendship. Can’t I trust anyone in my life?’
Her lower lip quivered and she began to cry. Connor reached out to her, wanting to explain that out of anyone he could be trusted. With her life.
‘Don’t touch me!’ she said, pushing him away. She turned to Kyle. ‘Take me home, right now.’
And, with not so much as a glance back in Connor’s direction, Alicia stormed out of the gym hall.
‘A buddy guard? Don’t make me laugh!’ said Alicia, curled up on the sofa in the Oval Office, surrounded by discarded tissues. ‘The Secret Service have gone too far this time.’
‘It was actually my idea,’ admitted President Mendez, sitting beside his daughter trying to comfort her.
‘WHAT?’ exclaimed Alicia, her hands balling into fists as she glared at her father. ‘You hired Connor?’
‘Please, honey, there’s no need to shout.’ He glanced towards his secretary’s door, hoping she couldn’t hear.