Beyond the Point(48)
She always chose the wrong people to date on the weekends.
As Avery took a deep breath, her eyes veered to the framed photo on her desk, and she felt longing mixed with regret. It wasn’t like she wanted to go back to her dysfunctional family in Pittsburgh, or to West Point—her friends had left that place behind, too. And yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wanted to go home. But where would that be?
How could she be homesick for a place that didn’t exist?
In the photo, she and Dani stood on either side of Hannah, their smiling faces surrounded by the madness of Times Square. The photo sent a kaleidoscope of memories spinning through Avery’s mind. Hannah’s short red dress, stretching as she pulled it down her thighs in the firefighters’ limousine. Dani’s commanding moves, dominating dance floors. The limousine’s tinted windows, distorting city lights into a blur. A firefighter’s callused hands rubbing Avery’s lower back. Avery had been so committed to staying out all night—so convinced that it was their only chance to be young and free.
In some ways she was right. Only a few weeks later, she’d been blindsided. Knocked out cold. Avery would never forget walking into her dorm room and seeing photos of her own nakedness splayed out in Dani’s shaking hands. Nausea had swelled into her throat, like the earth was falling out from beneath her. She’d collapsed into Hannah’s arms, overcome with anger, sadness, and shame.
Wiping her eyes, Avery forced the memory back into the recesses of her heart where it belonged, like a collection of junk stuffed into a dark basement. There was no reason to unpack that box. It was in the past. Dealt with. Over. And reliving that time—that trauma—wouldn’t help her now.
Steeling herself, Avery breathed in deeply, rolled her shoulders back, and stood from her desk. There was nothing to feel ashamed of. She hadn’t done anything to deserve what Collins had done to her, and she definitely didn’t deserve to lose her career over a momentary misstep—a relationship with Josh that no longer existed. She imagined facing Major Gaines and denying everything. After all, the Army took everything she had during the day. Couldn’t they leave her nights alone?
“YOU WANTED TO see me, sir?”
Major Gaines was in his early thirties with thinning hair and a large, mostly bald head. Turning from his computer, he gathered a few papers off his desk and tapped them into a neat stack, without looking Avery in the eye.
“Yes, take a seat. I’ve got a few things to finish up, then we can chat.”
Typing at his keyboard, he composed an e-mail, added an event to his calendar, then closed down all the tabs on his desktop. He worked quickly, Avery noticed, like a squirrel gathering nuts in the last few days before winter.
“All right,” he sighed, finally turning to look at her. “Thanks for coming to see me.”
“Of course.” Sweat seeped out of the pores in her hands, her armpits, her neck. “How can I help, sir?” She forced a smile.
“I have a job that I need to assign. It starts in a few months. It’s a big job, actually, and it’s going to require someone that can remain focused and work really fast.”
All of her pent-up anxiety deflated like a balloon. So he didn’t know about Josh. Thank God. She shifted in her seat, listening closely.
“One of the new Special Forces facilities needs wiring. Phones, Internet. The works. It all needs to be wired and encrypted. Captain Morris says you’re one of his best lieutenants. We’d like you to lead the job.”
Avery nodded with confidence, though she simply felt relieved that this meeting had nothing to do with her romantic indiscretions.
“Wow, sir. Thank you. I’d be honored to do it.”
“Those SF guys are always in and out, so the important thing is that you don’t get in their way. You’ll need a team of ten or twelve I’d say, and the same rules apply to everyone.” He stared at her intently. “You don’t talk. You don’t ask questions. You don’t make friends. You get in, keep your heads down, and get out. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I’m honored that you’d choose me to lead the job.”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
A beat passed before Avery answered, “Absolutely not, sir.”
“Good. Let’s put a few more meetings on the books. You’ve got a few months to get all of your ducks in a row, choose your team, order all your equipment. And let’s keep Captain Morris carbon-copied on all our communication on this. Keep him in the loop.”
“Yes, sir,” Avery said. It was rare for a second lieutenant to be given such a huge responsibility. Special Forces. Just wait until the Nesmiths hear about my job. Tim was hoping to join the Army’s most elite unit as soon as he got the chance. He’d be green with envy.
From: Avery Adams <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Re: Re: **Update
Date: August 27, 2004 12:03:15 PM GMT +01:00
To: Dani McNalley <[email protected]>, Hannah Nesmith <[email protected]>
HEY HEY HEY.
How is everyone?! Dani . . . any news on the job front? Hannah—how is Sapper School treating you? I’m dying to hear an update from the cult.
Things here are fine—nothing major to report. Although, Hannah, you’ve received about 6.5 million presents in the last few weeks. I’m probably going to start opening them and picking out the things I want to take for my cut. It’s only fair that your favorite bridesmaid get a little slush on the side.