Page 23 of Summer Heatwave
“You must be Special Agent Hood.I’m Marta Merkel, administrative assistant to both Vice Admiral Maddox and Rear Admiral Finger.”Her gaze darted to her desk before meeting Kam’s eyes.“Vice Admiral Maddox will meet with you in twelve minutes.I understand you prefer to be called Kam, if I may be that casual.”
“Yes, please.Call me Kam.”
“Okay, let’s see exactly what we need to get you started.”Ms.Merkel picked up the two-inch stack that someone had just laid on her desk.“They’ve got to be kidding,” she said just above a whisper as she sat the ream of paper down in front of her.“Why don’t you have a seat here next to my desk as we go through this waste of perfectly good trees.”
Kam gave her a nod of agreement as she sat down.
Ms.Merkel picked up the first piece of paper, turned it over, and set it aside.“You don’t need a welcome letter from the U.S.government, do you?”
“No, ma’am.”Kam took a few minutes to watch the woman next to her.Although she wouldn’t call her pretty, Marta Merkel was attractive, especially for her age, which looked to be only a few years older than Kam.
In some ways, they were quite similar.Both were definitely fit but in different ways.Kam had harder features about her and knew it.Marta looked more feminine, not just because she wore her hair down curling around her shoulders or the pantsuit that subtly accented her feminine curves.No.Perhaps it was her mannerisms.
Kam walked more like a man than a woman.She most often sat knees spread apart, rarely crossing her legs at the knee.Her job required her to wear her hair scraped back into a bun and she understood why.Hair could easily become a handle and when someone pulled your hair it hurt fucking bad.
Frowning, Ms.Merkel shuffled through the next ten sheets.“Nobody needs this stuff.”She set it off to the side with the first sheet.“Ah, finally, something the government actually needs.”She handed Kam the standard I-9 form for employment and returned her attention to the dwindling stack, shaking her head.“Idiots,” she mumbled.A few seconds later she brightened.“Here, since you’ll be working on base, you’re going to need to obtain a contractor’s permit.Read these and on the last page there’s information about your vehicle that’s required.The military police will issue you a sticker for your windshield and a temporary ID that you must show the gate every time you come through.”
It only took a few minutes for Ms.Markel to separate the stack.
Kam had a total of ten pages, five of which were base rules and regulations.She glanced at the discarded pile.“Are you sure there’s nothing else in there I need to fill out?”
When the woman lifted her chin ever so slightly, she commanded an air of power.Even though there couldn’t be but a few years separating them in age, Marta Merkel demanded respect.“If anyone gives you grief about this paperwork, you send them to me.”She tapped a manicured nail on the wooden desk in front of her.“We’re not sending you undercover on a covert mission.You’re here to train a group of our senior SEALs.”
She turned back to her keyboard.“Now, when would you like to start?”Minutes later, they had established ten training sessions lasting two hours each.“Perfect timing.”Ms.Merkel smiled at her and stood.Kam automatically stood as well.
The door behind her opened and a distinguished-looking older gentleman with three gold stars on his collar led a middle-aged man in a dark suit out of the room.
“Senator, it was a pleasure to meet you.”The vice admiral gestured to a commander who seemed to appear out of nowhere.“Enjoy your base tour.”
As soon as the two men stepped away, Kam was fascinated by the silent exchange between Ms.Markel and the vice admiral.Neither seemed pleased with the last visitor.
“Sir, you remember Special Agent in Charge Kameron Hood.Kam, I believe you’ve met Vice Admiral Trevor Maddox.”
He held out his hand and gave her a warm smile.“Nice to see you again, Kam.Last time we were together, we were both standing in front of cameras.Not my favorite place to be.”He shook his head.“I’m so pleased that ugly business is behind us.At least I hope it is for me.I understand that you face those situations daily.Thank you for the much-needed job you do.”Sincerity wove through his deep voice.
“Thank you, sir.”She stepped toward the room indicated by the vice admiral just as the door next to his opened.“We’re still sifting through details and following leads.Unfortunately, we didn’t capture the man they call Big Daddy.”
The man who exited the next room whipped his head and glared at Kam.
“But we’ll get him,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
“Do you need something from me Rear Admiral Finger?”Vice Admiral Maddox asked in a not-so-friendly tone.
“No…sir.I have an appointment off-base.”He closed the door behind him and slowly turned as he scraped his gaze over Kam.She instantly felt as though she’d been mentally undressed and suddenly needed a shower.He scowled at her before his face went blank.“I’ll see you all in the morning.”
As soon as he passed Ms.Merkel’s desk, she turned and gave the vice admiral an eye roll.“Sir, would you like me to join this meeting?My afternoon just freed up.”
One corner of the vice admiral’s lips curled up.“Yes.You can brief me on the schedule.”
As soon as they stepped into the office, Ms.Markel pointed to a chair a few feet away facing the desk.“Have a seat, if you will, please.I need a moment in private with the admiral.”
Dutifully, Kam sat down.She tried not to eavesdrop but the fury in Ms.Merkel’s voice refused to keep it quiet.
“I’m sorry, sir, that the state senator followed you into your office.”Marta Markel let out a huff.“He’s newly elected and from a far northern district.He’s not even on a military-related committee.Sometimes these politicians feel so entitled.I was in the process of hunting up a lieutenant when Commander Dixon showed up and…volunteered.”
The vice admiral chuckled deeply.“I believe the word you’re looking for is voluntold.”
“He was gracious enough to accept the duty without complaint.”There was a smile in the woman’s voice.
