Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson

the back of the building. As soon as they got the message that their vehicles were in position, two agents stepped out and checked the area before letting the others file out into the waiting SUVs.
    As soon as they were under way, the driver of their car turned back to the senator. “Senator Whitmore?”
    â€œYes?” Jim asked, surprised to be called by name since they hadn’t arrived with the DCI.
    â€œWe just got a message for you, sir,” the driver said, then hesitated a moment as he made a left turn. “Your daughter is safe. She is on her way to our naval base in Italy.”
    The relief was immediate, as were the tears that filled his eyes.
    * * *
    Brent sat silently as the doctor examined the gunshot wound. He had gone through several hours of meetings at the naval base in Italy before he mentioned the gunshot wound that had landed him at the base hospital. The X-ray had told him what Brent already knew: the bullet had missed the bone completely, entering and exiting through the fleshy part of his arm.
    While waiting for the X-ray to be developed, he had spent nearly an hour hooked up to an IV to combat any possible infection and dehydration. The doctor had been kind enough to have the nurse take the IV needle out when he came into the treatment room, clearly aware that Brent intended to do it himself otherwise.
    The door opened and Kel walked in. He leaned against the doorjamb and waited for the doctor to finish.
    The doctor barely glanced at Kel before turning his attention back to Brent. “The stitches have been in too long to redo them. It’s going to leave a nasty scar, but overall the gal that stitched you up did okay for her first time around.” He smiled. “I’ll have the nurse come in and apply a fresh dressing, and we’ll plan to take the stitches out in a couple more days.”
    Kel raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything until the doctor left. “I guess your civilian did okay by you.”
    Brent’s stomach pitched at Kel’s comment. He had been chastising himself for the past two hours for getting emotionally involved with “his civilian,” as Kel called her. Determined to change the subject, he asked, “Have they cleared the hotel yet?”
    â€œWe didn’t get the message to the hotel in time. The assassination attempt went down this morning,” Kel stated.
    â€œWhat?” Brent looked at him, confused. “You said ‘attempt.’ Is everyone okay?”
    â€œYeah, we got lucky.” Kel grinned when he added, “Actually, the attempt was broken up by the senator’s son.”
    Brent shook his head. “I still don’t understand. The date on the Palm Pilot I picked up was tomorrow’s date.”
    â€œCould they have known that their information was compromised?”
    â€œI doubt it. It was pure luck that we happened to come across the information.”
    â€œWhat if the date wasn’t for the assassination, but rather for the subway attack?”
    Brent’s face paled. “That doesn’t give us enough time.”
    â€œMeet me in our briefing room as soon as the nurse finishes patching you up,” Kel ordered. “Everyone else is already in there waiting for us.”
    â€œI’ve got a better idea.” Brent jumped off the examining table and grabbed his shirt. He had just finished buttoning it up when the nurse walked in with the bandages.
    â€œI’ll take that,” Kel said, swiping the bandages off of the tray she held and then stepping past her.
    â€œWait, I have to bandage his arm,” she protested. Her eyes widened when Brent followed behind Kel.
    â€œHe’ll take care of it for me,” Brent assured her and then promptly left without giving the nurse a second glance.
    Kel and Brent walked outside to where Kel had a Jeep waiting. A few minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of a nearby building. They entered the briefing