Smiley(81)

“I don’t want to take any risks.” Smiley turned his head to peer at Vanni. She seemed to be handling the situation with grace but he wanted to be reassuring. “It’s going to be fine,” he reassured to her.

“Exactly,” Tim muttered. “It’s going to be fine. I’m watching the monitors and the foot traffic doesn’t appear aggressive. Just drive in. We’ll be ready at the gates, right?”

“We are,” one of the officers responded. “We’ll pull in the two news crews to the holding area and that way the SUV can just drive around them.”

“Don’t do that,” Tim snapped. “Leave them outside. You don’t have time to search their vehicles properly before they reach you. No vans past the first gate section without an inspection. Order the media to back out.”

“We tried that. They are refusing.” The male sounded irritated. “Would you like us to pull the drivers out and move their vehicles ourselves?”

“Hell no,” Tim cursed. “I don’t want that on the evening news. Tell those bastards someone will give them a statement if they comply. That usually works.”

“We’ll try,” the irritated male grumbled.

“Wager,” Tim instructed, “enter through gate two. We’re sending extra officers that way now. They are on the move. You’re still two minutes out so they’ll beat you there.”

“Understood.” Wager glanced in the rearview mirror again and reached up, probably muting his side of the coms. “I don’t like this.”

“Nor do I.” Smiley lifted Vanni and put her on the seat next to him. He leaned forward to peer out the front.

Wager turned down a few streets and they neared the gates. Humans were milling around the sidewalks and two news vans still blocked the entrance, parked side by side in front of the gates.

“Fuck.” Smiley didn’t like it.

“Keep calm,” Jericho demanded. “You’re frightening your female.”

Smiley looked back and saw Vanni’s pale features. She hugged her waist and was pushed up against Jericho’s side. It was a stressful situation. He masked his features. “It’s going to be fine.”

“I trust you,” she stated. “Don’t worry about me.”

“Engaging tamperproof locks,” Wager called out. The snap of locks sounded. “I see one of our officers talking to a driver. I think they are going to get out of the way and let us pass.”

The SUV stopped in the street to allow one of the news vans room to maneuver. The driveway to this gate was narrower than at the main entrance. Smiley glanced up at the top of the wall, grateful to see a strong presence of uniformed officers. More joined them until they stood shoulder to shoulder, their weapons in view. Humans would have to be stupid to attempt anything.

He glanced at the humans gathered on the sidewalks. A male caught his attention when he reached around, going for something tucked in his waistband. Smiley tapped his com. “Possible gun!”

He spun, grabbed Vanni and twisted her sideways on the seat until his body shielded hers but no gunfire erupted.

“Camera phone.” Wager blew out a breath and continued, “He’s taking pictures. Threat averted.”

Smiley eased some of his weight off Vanni. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to crush you.”

“I’m okay,” she mumbled.

“Stay there,” he ordered, as if he gave her a choice since he kept on top of her to keep her in place. He peered out over the front seats. The media van hadn’t backed out to allow them to pass.

“What is the holdup?” He stared at the uniformed male—he was pretty sure it was Book—speaking to the driver of the van.

The male in question glanced his way. “He refuses to leave unless he gets the statement. They are aware of who is visiting us.”

Smiley grimaced. The news outlets had already heard Vanni was at Homeland and instead of rushing to the shopping center, they’d come directly to the NSO.

“Traffic,” Slash hissed. “Lots of it. We’re pinned in. They must have spotters on the ground.”

Smiley turned and saw more news vans coming at them in the street from both directions. A few cars were behind them. “Pull the driver out and move that van,” he ordered.

“Don’t you dare,” Tim argued. “Just stay put. I’ll handle that asshole myself without causing a shitstorm. Those pussies will be screaming brutality if you lay a finger on them. You’re fine in the SUV. I’m on my way.”

Smiley couldn’t fault the task force leader for being worried. They weren’t allowed to physically touch anyone outside the NSO walls. It was one thing to use water hoses to disperse crowds or toss the occasional smoke bomb when the protestors stormed the gates but humans might see it as abuse if they yanked someone out of a vehicle.