Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
His eyebrows launch to the ceiling at the same time his head slants in disbelief. “Did you say…twenty years younger?” Bewilderment deepens along with the coloring of his speech. “You were taking psychology at fifteen?!”
“I was defying psychology at the age of fifteen.” Reaching for the DJ alien pen Slater got me during his trip to Roswell where he rescued a child from an extraterrestrial worshipping cult run by the kid’s father. “Simply by being in the class.” I thoughtlessly run my thumb along the length of the object, bumps soothing some of my lingering anxiety. “Patterns with people have always fascinated me even when I was the one messing them up.”
“That’s one way to view being so young in a college course.”
“It’s the only way to view being so young in an advanced college course that the professor did everything he could to stop you from taking.”
Harvey let’s his jaw plummet in surprise.
“Not everyone loves my brilliance.” The pen in my possession is waved around like a wand to the timing of my declaration. “Case and point.”
“Not wanting you in class is a bit different than wanting you dead,” Harvey nonchalantly insists, words wafting between us.
“Maybe…just…a little.”
We share a small snicker that successfully smothers out more of the uneasiness coursing through my veins.
This moment between us actually feels very familiar.
Working in tight quarters.
Being challenged to look at a situation from a different angle and then presenting him with a small playful pout of concession.
This is what he was like before the title and the huge office and the paycheck that could stimulate the economy of a developing low-income nation.
This is Harv.
This is the guy I had once planned to take home for the holidays.
Harvey delivers a gentle tap to the pile in front of me. “You find anything useful in the handwriting samples?”
“Useful?” Mirth does its best to bum rush into my tone. “Absolutely. I now know we need a better vetting process for our licensed in-house psychologists and counselors considering the fact so many of them have a habit of just sending emotionally unreliable operatives back into the field without concern of the consequences. How I’m the only one being stalked for revenge or retribution – or whatever the reason may be that I’m now on their most wanted list – is a mindfuck in itself given the number of mentally unstable people that were sent back into the field with loaded weapons.”
I’m flashed a slight cringe. “How far back did you go?”
“Further back than I originally anticipated.” Absentmindedly clicking the writing utensil occurs next. “Working with the original data I had collected and then the data I had been given access to allowed for me to construct a timeline; however, once all the other branches submitted their records – our international divisions were a little slower on the upload – I not only was able to create an algorithm that allowed me to pinpoint the true starting point in time of the poach dates but also additional poaches – like language liaison agents, environmental evaluators, phlebotomists – that I had not considered in my initial search given their more much sporadic exiting. On the upside, I was correct about the starting place being this branch in particular. This also explains their intimate knowledge of our security protocols, expectations, and building schematics.”
Concern and consternation chaotically collect in his glare. “How long has someone been siphoning employees from our enterprise?”
“You don’t want the answer.”
“How long?”
“You won’t like the answer.”
“How. Long. Arley?”
My thoughtless clicking increases exponentially. “Little less than seven years.”
“Seven…” the bright red lettering that falls from his lips shakes as much as his mouth does, “years?”
“I said a little less! About two months after you officially stepped into your number.”
“In other words…” He runs both hands through his dark locks prior to professing. “This is my fault.”
“No, it’s-”
“This is happening because of my incompetence.”
“No, you’re not-”
“My inexperience.”
I drop my hand firmly on his arm at the same time I snap, “Stop.”
To my surprise, he immediately ceases speaking.
“This whole thing isn’t your fault, Harvey. You aren’t the one who poked the African Buffalo.”
Bafflement doesn’t hesitate to arise. “What?”
“African Buffalo when threatened – or when one of their heard members is hurt by a creature – they unite as one and execute revenge. Oh, and the fun fact for the What The Fuck National Geographic article? This scary, trample your brains out bullshit applies to both other animals and people.”
“Hm,” hums my boss in an impressed nature, “that is quite the accurate analogy.” He allows for a softer smile to cross his face once more. “Which shouldn’t be a surprise since you are one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.”
“While I would love to take credit for this one…” I slightly snicker in tandem with slowing down my thumb’s movement, “that little tidbit is all Slater. One of his earliest missions in R&R required him and Blu to travel to Abidjan where they rescued a nine-month-old – the infant had initially been stolen from his parents off a cruise ship – and one of the ways he kept the kiddo happy during transport was with this stuffed toy buffalo that he’d bought from a local souvenir shop where they told him all about the animal. When they completed the return, he tried to send the toy with the child, but the parents refused, wanting nothing to remind them of the nightmare, so he just stuffed it in his bag. He totally forgot it was there until he swung by my place to pick up his mission success treat. He went to change in my bathroom, and when he came out, he showed it to me. Told me what they said which prompted me to encourage that he keep it, let it remind him that he saved another innocent life, yet he insisted I keep it. To let it remind me that whenever he’s away from me on a mission that that’s what he’s doing. Being fearless and dangerous and brave.” The image of the stuffed creature doesn’t hesitate to creep into my mind. “He also said Mark Buffalo would protect me as well as his desserts while he’s away which is why he has a permanent residence in the kitchen – even now.”