“Now I know how the Empress feels.” #Excerpt Crystal Clear Truth #SciFi #Romance #MFRWhooks

In this scene, Shohn, Joe's bodyguard, is escorting him out of a conference center where he'd just given a presentation.

When Joe suggested they were being followed, Shohn tapped a link on her bracelet. "Status?"

Multiple pings answered, all positive.

"They're all my people."

He released a sigh, glancing around and over his shoulder. "What a relief! I figured there were at least five. Was I close?"

"There are six in here, another eight outside." The ring of multiple boot heels hitting the ground ricocheted off the wide-spaced walls. Though the building's sound suppression system worked fine in most areas, big hallways like this one still echoed. "It's good you're aware of your surroundings. Some aren't."

"My dad drilled that into me as a kid. 'Situational awareness,' he used to say. 'Keep your head on a swivel.' Hmm..."

"What?"

"Maybe he was preparing me for whatever 'truth' it is I'm about to discover." He slowed his steps. "Wait. I thought you were sending a team of eight. How can there be six in here and eight out there?"

A good question that showed he paid attention. "My team leader assessed the situation and called in reinforcements. This place has good security inside, but far too little in passageways and exits. You're being protected by idBot. We don't hope for the best. We ensure it."

"Impressive. Thank you."

"The droids from the hotel submitted their scans, and there was nothing to indicate the invisible man you saw--or rather, didn't see--was still there when they arrived. But the door was left open, so it's possible he'd left that way. Oh, and by the way," she touched his arm, "you had locked the door to the balcony. The droids checked it."

"Thank you. Really bothered me not being able to remember one way or the other."

As they approached a bank of outer doors, two of her people opened them and Shohn led Joe through a cordon of black-and-green uniformed guards, into sunshine, then straight into a waiting transport. She climbed in beside him and the door shut.

The vehicle bumped into the air. It and the vehicles fore and aft moved forward as one unit.

"Wow." Joe leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles. "Now I know how the Empress must feel when she's leaving someplace."