Chapter 10
They had listened in and then started to speak with their wives. They all quickly gathered everything up and cleaned up what little mess they had made and one by one came over to hug me. I was holding the phone to my ear but not talking as the little ones wanted to say goodbye to their new aunties.
I rang her straight back.
I heard muffled sounds as Amanda was talking to someone else. "I'm all right, leave me alone, stop for fucks sake," And then the phone went dead again.
This time when I rang back it rang out. I was about to ring a third time when the phone vibrated in my hand. I answered it, "What happened," I asked expecting Amanda to be on the other end.
It was an American accent and a male's voice, very stern and businesslike, "Ma'am, she can't talk right now we are bringing her in," As we were speaking the two agents came into the room and took me by my arms and instructed me to hang up.
"Ma'am, our instructions are to keep you safe, we have another room closer to the ICU. The FOA is inbound, and we are to inform you that she has taken some hits but is safe,"
I was stunned, everything racing through my mind said, 'I was just talking to her,' I looked at my big brother as I was whisked out of the door and was half-carried and half-walked. I can't be sure but I was pretty certain my feet weren't touching the ground. I tried to talk to them but they were not hearing me. They just wanted to get me to wherever we were going.
I am not one who usually panics in situations that I now found myself in, but I have become somewhat anxious, to put it mildly. Living with Amanda has taught me never to fear the unknown, to wait for things to actually happen first, and then to take the required action to remedy the situation. She had taught me that in certain situations I had to remain calm, that if she were caught up in something I had to put my faith and trust in those around me who were trained to do a specific job. She told me that I had to do some things, without fail, to ensure her personal items were kept safe and accounted for. Any documents or briefcases have to be accounted for, first and foremost, even before her. I remember her saying that last part and I scoffed at it. She made me promise her.
I closed off my mind to the outside noises, trying to remember the details of who I had to ring, to notify.
Above all things, 'Don't Panic'.
As hard as I tried, I couldn't put that fear of the unknown out of my mind.
The agents were hustling me through the crowded corridors of this busy hospital. I was taking in all of the strange looks that were coming my way. People were pushed aside and others jumped out of their way. I smiled as best I could.
We rounded a corner and we were confronted with a wall of people, all talking at once, and working on some poor soul who was lying on a stretcher bed, a drip of some description was attached to them, and blood had covered their lower parts of their body. I knew it was a she because her chest was bare and her breasts exposed. The oxygen mask over her face stopped me from seeing who it was. I was rushed past them.
We went down a short distance from that scene and the agents opened a door, turned on a light and one of them went into the room, the other eased me up against the wall. We were back to back, he was squashing me. I could hardly breathe let alone move, my eyes looked down as I adjusted my head against the wall. It was only then I noticed he had his weapon drawn and in his hand.
Now I was scared. This was playing out like something from a Hollywood movie.
"Clear," Came the voice from inside the room. His tone was strong and reassuring. It is strange what a single word can say to you in a time of crisis.
Quickly the agent who had squashed me up against the wall, eased off me, grabbed my arm, and twirled me around and into the room. It was a quick movement that spun my head.
The door was shut and the agents stopped and listened before reporting to whomever they reported to.
"Angel secured," One of them said into their sleeve. I looked at them both and watched as they secured their weapons under their jackets.
Hearing what they named me, I suddenly looked around. I thought I heard my Mother call to me.
"What's going on?" I asked in a quivering voice, even though I was anything but calm. I surprised myself by how quiet I was, I must have given the impression that I was calm.
"Ma'am, the FOA was hit, we don't believe it is serious but she is being rushed here for treatment,"
I raised my voice, "That FOA has a name, it's Amanda, fucking well use it," They looked at each other briefly and both replied.
"Yes ma'am,"
If I could have seen my face I am sure it would have shown me turning a whiter shade of pale. I went to reach for the door but a strong hand on my arm stopped me.
"Ma'am, you have to stay here with us. As soon as she is here and the area is safe we'll take you to her," His tone was firm and authoritative. I stopped and looked deep into his eyes.
"What's going on? Why all of a sudden rush to get me here? Tell me, please," I put my best puppy dog eyes on, the ones I use with Amanda to get my way.
They didn't work on this young man.
"Ma'am, you will be safe here and when the FOA, eerrr Amanda, is secured, we will take you to her. Those are our orders," His tone was still firm and icy cold. I decided not to push any harder.
The time dragged by slowly,
"A moment ago you told me that Amanda was hit, did you mean as in 'shot' or just pushed to the ground type of thing? She also has two mobile phones and a laptop, they have to be found, they are very important. More important than her safety," I couldn't ever manage to think of a set of circumstances where I would have to say such a thing. Surely some pieces of equipment can't be more important than a life. especially my Mandy's life.
"Ma'am, we have no further information, but I will try and find out what her current condition is. The Embassy man will have all that under control ma'am," And with that, he once again spoke into his sleeve.
The other agent was standing with his back against the door his hands clasped in front of him. I could tell he was listening to something being said in his earpiece. He smiled and put a hand on the doorknob and looked at his partner.
There was a gentle knock on the door I took a deep breath and froze. The two agents smiled at my reaction.
The door was opened and another two agents were standing outside. My whole body relaxed and I let out a long slow sigh.
The two new agents smiled at me and introduced themselves.
"Ms. King, I am Senior Agent Myles Netherby, this is Sally Holmes. We'll be taking over your protection detail from here on in. I understand you want some details on Ms. Felixstowe and her cell phones and laptop," He said something quietly to the female agent who left the room.
He looked back at me and had this weird look on his face. He cleared his throat and began to tell me, "Ms. Felixstowe was shot twice by an unknown assailant, he shot and killed two of the detail looking after her. We are unsure how serious it is. She took two hits, one in her thigh and the other in her lower back. She is currently going into surgery. We are told the wounds are not life-threatening,"
"Why didn't she say something when we were talking earlier?" I asked to no-one in particular. The tears rolled from my eyes. A small part of me felt betrayed and then I realised that in her situation, I would have done the exact same thing. She wanted to protect me. She knew I'd worry.
He continued to explain as best he could. "Ma'am, at that time she would have been unaware of the serious nature of the wounds plus I suspect she didn't want to alarm anyone,"
A doctor appeared in the doorway and coughed to get our attention. I looked up at him. "Sorry for interrupting you, but I just want to let you know that the surgery will take around five hours, I'm not sure if you want to wait here or to wait at your home, even after the surgery, it will be a little while until she is strong enough to see visitors. Give the nurse station your contact details and we will inform you when she is awake and ready to see some visitors,"
The doctor wasn't actually talking to me but to the whole room. I wiped away the tears. Agent Netherby smiled and thanked the doctor.
It was then, for some unexplained reason that it occurred to me that Amanda and I had spoken about such a situation like this. Actually, it was a road accident not a shooting, and she was complaining about my driving.
I had to do something.
I looked at the doctor remembering what I was supposed to do. "Doctor, where are her clothes?"
He looked back at me with a totally dumb look on his face, as if he was thinking to himself, 'How the fuck would I know'. He didn't say a word.
I went on to explain. "Inside her jacket pocket, there is an emergency medical USB containing her medical history. The surgical team will need it,"
He nodded and disappeared. Agent Netherby spoke to another of the agents and he went off talking into his sleeve.
I went to Myles Netherby and told him that her two phones and laptop had to be accounted for as a matter of urgency. I stared at him eyeball to eyeball. To make certain my message was received loud and clear.
He looked at me. His hard cold stare did not unsettle me. I placed my hand on his arm. "It is of paramount importance. It will be the first thing she asks me when she wakes up,"
There was a knock on the door and a nurse opened it and walked in carrying a heavy-duty red plastic bag. She looked at the lead agent and then to me. I smiled at her and raised an eyebrow. "You asked for the victim's clothes,"
Hearing my Amanda being called a victim, threw me for a second. I suddenly came back from wherever I was and held out my hand. She gave me a sad smile and handed over the bag. "Her name is Amanda and Thank you,"
I held them close to me and then opened the zipper seal and looked inside. Her clothes were covered in blood, and her blouse was in pieces, obviously cut from her. I tipped the contents out onto the floor. Picking up her jacket and felt the pockets, her medical USB was missing but her wallet was still there. I took it from the jacket, opened it, and quickly browsed through it. I made certain that her personal credit cards and the 'company' credit card were still there. Her personal phone was there and smashed, but not totally broken. I put it in my pocket.
I then checked her slacks, they were stained with blood, and both legs were torn where her knees would have been. Once again I padded around her pockets and found a phone. Her personal phone was missing but her company one was still there. I grabbed it and held it tight.
Everything was happening now as if I was on some sort of remote control.
I looked at the agent and took a deep breath. This next call was going to be difficult because if the Australian Government wasn't aware of what was going on, this would come as a shock to them.
I opened the phone and started to scroll through her contact list. I found the one I was looking for. I then opened her wallet and found a laminated card with an encryption code of letters, symbols, and numbers.
I tried to do a quick mental calculation of the time difference. I had no idea what time it was in San Diego let alone Canberra.
