Page 208 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“Yeah he said that to me too.” Cole replied.

“We need to look at who your enemies are.” Brandon stated.

Cole smirked. “That’s a long list.”

“I guess you’ll want me to get started on it then?” She said grinning.

“Not so fast. You need to rest. Doctors’ orders.” Brandon said and Cole nodded in agreement.

She sighed. “When can I come back?”

“Two weeks Maddie.” He said and she groaned. It was always two god damn weeks.

“Fine but I can at least be on desk duty while I’m here surely?” She said.

“No, I think we all need some time out. The three of us.” Cole said and she raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was this the same workaholic Cole Black she knew?

“Carlton’s taking care of things. We’ve secured a new site for Black Industries HQ, I want BlackWater moving there too.”

“Where?” Maddie asked.

“RAF Keevil.”

“What?” She replied frowning. She’d never even heard of the base.

“It was disused. We’ve just bought it from the MOD.”

“An RAF Base?” She scoffed.

“I’ve had people working on it to bring it up to standard, the Mess is going to be main HQ for Black Industries, with the surrounding buildings becoming HR, Legal, the boring departments.”

Brandon laughed. “Don’t let Charlotte hear you say that.” He said.

“There are three bunkers. Big bunkers, all connected underground. That will be BlackWater’s site.”

“You want us to go underground? Like we’re in some post-apocalyptic world?” Maddie replied.

Cole rolled his eyes. “It makes sense Maddie. We have all of BlackWater’s windows blocked out anyway so you’re pretty much already working like that.”

“What about Black Tech, and the others?”

“Most of them will be moving across too. I want one site, one big secure site. Black Tech has increased security after the first bomb and we’re in negotiations with the MOD to buy more sites for them.”

“We’re going military?” Maddie said.

“The infrastructure is already there to keep prying eyes out. We can contain the sites better, control every car coming in and out. No more surprises, no more bombs.” Brandon added.

“You knew about this?” Maddie asked and he nodded.

“How come you didn’t tell me?” She asked Cole.

“You’re not in charge Maddie. You’re a department lead, that’s all.”

She smirked, hearing the same words she’d said to him so many times repeated back. “Alright, but did it really have to be RAF?”

“Would you have preferred an army base, is that it?” Brandon asked.

“I think her old army rivalry is rearing its head.” Cole said and they laughed just as Cole’s phone went off.

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