Storming the Kingdom Read Online Free PDF

turned Disney executive were there too; and Shep Albert, who was now officially the head of special projects for Disney Imagineering—and head of the new theme park project Hawk had announced during the press conference, which now seemed as if it had taken place years ago. The seven of them now waited together as their dear friend Farren Rales was going through surgery.
    “What have you been thinking about?” Kate whispered to him.
    “Worrying about Farren, trying to replay everything that has happened tonight.” He shrugged. “Trying to make it make sense.”
    “Does it?”
    “No, not at all.”
    Mitch Renner entered the room. Nodding at the group assembled, he accepted the invitation Shep extended for him to join their little circle. He slid a chair into the circle and looked across at Hawk.
    “You doing OK?” Mitch asked.
    Hawk just offered a nod. Renner smiled slightly, then turned to Juliette and asked the same question.
    “Yes,” Juliette answered as Tim wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
    “Rough night,” Renner said, then turned his attention back to Hawk. “You made sure the assailant didn’t take his gun with him. We’re going to be able to get some prints off it. The gun itself is a military sidearm. Pretty common, but this one does have a specialized barrel. Factory issue of this piece doesn’t allow for a suppressor to be used.”
    “A suppressor?” Sally Carlson asked.
    “A silencer, so you can’t hear it fire so easily. Hawk, I’m not sure what we’re dealing with here. But you are very fortunate and extremely tough. From what I can see, you have survived two different attempts tonight by a professional assassin or assassins. The effort in the hospital was brazen. To get in and even try to do what he did is gutsy. He wouldn’t have tried if he didn’t think he could pull it off. You are one lucky man.”
    “I’m not lucky.” Hawk spoke without emotion. “I don’t believe in luck. Whoever wanted to kill us tonight wasn’t that good. I realize you don’t know yet if it was just the dark-haired guy that was behind this or if someone else was involved, but they weren’t good.”
    “So, if you aren’t lucky, then why are we talking right now?” Renner responded.
    “I’m not lucky; they were lousy!” Hawk locked eyes on the policeman. “If they were good, I’d be dead. But I’m not. Instead, they missed me, and my friend has been in surgery for…I don’t even know how long now. If they were good, I would still be stretched out in the hospital room, and your crime scene would have been a homicide. Renner, the guy was right on top of me…but he didn’t kill me. The assassins are losers. The only thing they managed to do right is not get caught yet.”
    “We have you locked down safely in here. Unless they have an armored tank, you and your friends should be secure. When you leave the hospital, we’ll make sure you get home.” The investigator stood. “We need to make some arrangements to ensure your safety. I also want to make sure that all of you”—he gestured to the group seated around him—“are covered as well.”
    “Have you had the chance to talk with Al Gann?” Jonathan Carlson asked.
    “Yes, he’s the sheriff who interfaces with Disney security, correct?”
    “Correct.”
    “He has been contacted,” Renner assured them. “I believe he’s making some arrangements to tighten up security for you back in the theme parks. I will be talking with him personally soon.”
    “He’s a good man. He’s also a very good friend,” Jonathan added.
    The door opened and a police officer motioned for Mitch Renner. Excusing himself, he stepped into the hallway. Hawk and his friends watched in silent curiosity through glass windows as Renner listened to the officer, and they were joined by what appeared to be a doctor and another man wearing a suit and a hospital name tag. The conversation grew more animated; occasionally Renner would glance back through the