Page 42 of Letting Go
I appreciate that … I do have to ask though, is that because it’s your professional responsibility?
Apparently, I’m feeling brave over texttoday.
Walker
I do have that, but I hope you know that I will happily go above and beyond for you. It’s not just that. There’s more to say, and I fully intend to do just that once my team and I arrest the sniper.
Well damn, now that’s a man who is not afraid to make his intentions known. With an elated smile, I walk into my living room and set my bag down as I debate how to respond to his last text.
Me
I think it’s safe to say I look forward to that conversation.
Walker
I’m glad that wasn’t too direct or too much.
Me
I happen to like strong and direct.
Walker
Oh really?
Me
Yes, sir.
Walker
Good.
I think that conversation, and really Walker himself, could be a very good thing indeed.
Chapter nineteen
Walker
Mason jumps up from the conference table to help Christine as she arrives with multiple bags of food while balancing a tray of beverages. My fabulous assistant introduced us to the local spot with the best street tacos, and now we order lunch from there multiple times a week. If it weren’t for Christine ensuring we order food at the appropriate times of the day, I don’t know that most of us would remember to eat. We barely leave the office as it is unless we’re chasing down a lead.
“Have I told you lately how wonderful you are, Christine?” I sincerely ask my assistant.
“Not in the last day or so, but it’s always nice to hear, boss.” She grins with a small laugh. “Can I get anything else?” she asks the room, and she means it. I know she’s my assistant, but she really is the right hand to our entire team and will do whatever she can to help, almost always with a genuine smile on her face too.
“Christine, I want to say I love you, but if I keep eating these delicious tacos, I’m going to make you come shopping with me when I need a new wardrobe,” Harlow jokes as she grabs her own favorite Birria tacos.
“Oh no, a shopping trip! The horror!” Christine laughs.
“Did you get any of their pico de gallo?” one of the agents asks and Christine nods before she ducks out to grab the condiments and salsas still on her desk. “Sorry about that, I didn’t want to riskspilling any of the sauces and my hands were pretty full,” Christine says as she sets the containers on the table.
“We appreciate your dedication and support of our taco addictions,” Harlow says as she lifts a taco in cheers to Christine. We all dig into our respective tacos, and the first bite of my carne asada taco is just as good as the last time I had it. “Did anyone else try this strawberry lemonade? It’s so good!” Harlow rolls her eyes back with an exaggerated groan of delight.
I bet Vivian would love that lemonade too, if she really does love everything strawberry flavored. I wonder if she loves tacos too, I mean, who doesn’t love tacos? I’ll have to ask her about her favorite foods the next time we talk. Shaking my head to focus on the task at hand, I clear my throat and address my team. “Does everyone have what they need?” My team nods in response, everyone too busy eating to talk. “Great, does anyone have an update on Peter Hopkins’ condition?” I ask the room.
Agent Tara White clears her throat and takes a drink of water before speaking. “Yes sir, I do. I spoke to Mr. Hopkins’ daughter this morning and Mr. Hopkins is only being kept alive right now by medical means. His family will be moving forward with removing him from life support in the next day or two. They are waiting for family members to say goodbye, but the last tests confirmed the seizures he had while in the ICU were too much for his body and his brain had too much swelling.”
“Once they remove life support, our sniper or sniper team will officially have a ninth victim,” I tell the team. “I know we all want to do everything we can to make sure there isn’t a tenth one. Mason, why don’t you update us on that lead you were chasing this morning?”
