Danger Close by James Sumner (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

we could only do so after the shit hits the fan. To be there pre-emptively, it’s all us.”

“You weren’t kidding about there being no end date,” said Jericho. “This could take years.”

“It could, but I’m hoping it won’t. I want you to head up our efforts over there for the first few weeks. Get the men settled and organized. Work with President Herrera’s team to ensure protocols are in place that guarantee his safety.”

Jericho straightened. Old habits of standing to attention when being given an order still hadn’t gone away.

“When do I leave?” he asked.

“Wheels up in two hours.”

Jericho nodded. “Permission to leave and prep?”

Buchanan rolled his eyes and smiled. “I ain’t your CO, soldier. But yeah, go do your thing.”

Jericho turned and looked at Julie, who smiled weakly. He placed a hand on her arm and stepped past her, pausing only to shake Collins’s hand on the way out.

When the door closed, Buchanan looked at Julie. He smiled, trying to offer comfort. “You’ll have chance to say your goodbyes. Don’t worry.”

She felt her cheeks flush with color.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing away.

“The next task I have involves one of you representing GlobaTech at a meeting in Washington.”

“What type of meeting?” asked Collins. “The boring kind? Because if so, I reckon Jules would love it.”

Julie shot him a glare that would have turned a lesser man to stone. He chuckled nervously.

Buchanan sighed. “The kind of meeting that isn’t happening. The kind of meeting where the attendees aren’t really there. The kind of meeting no one needs to know about.”

“Sounds kinda exciting, actually.” said Collins.

“I’m glad you think so. You’re going.”

Collins frowned. “Me?”

Julie gestured to him with her thumb. “Him?”

Buchanan nodded. “Ray, I’m sending you. I’ll explain why before you go. I’m going to ask you to step outside for a moment. When I’m finished here, I’ll brief you privately on the nature of the meeting, who some of the attendees are, and the reason you’re going.”

His sudden change of tone took both Julie and Collins by surprise. They exchanged a look and shrugged to each other.

“Ah… sure thing, boss,” said Collins.

He left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

Julie looked around, feeling a little awkward. The uncertainty on her face was matched only by the raw emotion of the last few days, which she was nowhere near ready to shake off. She stood tall, her hands clasped discreetly in front of her. Stoic and proud. No one would know just by looking at her how completely the heartache she felt consumed her.

“Miss Fisher, I need you to do something important for me,” said Buchanan.

She took a deep breath, puffing out her chest. “Of course.”

His expression softened. His brow relaxed. “I need you to take a week off.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry?”

“I know you’re hurting. I know the pain you’re trying to process. I needed you back here today because you lead the most elite unit of operatives this company has. You needed to know everything we know about Tristar. You needed to know what I was sending Jericho to do. But I’m not a monster. I want you to take some time off. Go home and be with your family.”

She relaxed a little. “Sir, I’m grateful for your concern, honestly. But I’m better off here. Distracted, doing what I’m good at… what I love. I want to work. I want to help.”

Buchanan stood. “You seem to be under the impression I was asking.”

She held his gaze for a moment, then looked away.

“I don’t want you here just to be distracted,” he continued. “The grief won’t go away just because you ignore it. It never does. The hole that’s been left inside… that will always be there. Trust me, I know. But taking the time to process that grief is the only way you learn how to live with the loss. Until you start doing that, you’re no use to me here. You’re an incredibly smart woman, Miss Fisher. You know I’m right.”

She looked away as a tear escaped down her cheek. She hurriedly wiped it away, sniffed back the emotion, and looked at Buchanan. “Did you say I’ll have time to say goodbye to Jericho?”

Buchanan nodded. “Of course. Go spend some time with him. Then go home. I’ll call you in a week and see how you’re doing, okay?”

“Thank you, sir. I… I appreciate it.”

He walked around his desk and stood in front of her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, like a father would to his daughter. “Listen to me, Julie. No one thinks any less of you for not being strong twenty-four-seven. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Certainly not to me or your team. It’s okay to not be okay every now and then, hmm?”

She placed a hand on his and nodded. “That means a lot to me, Moses. Thank you.”

He smiled. “No problem. Now go on, get out of here. And send Ray in, would you?”

“Sure thing.” She walked over to the door but paused to look back before she opened it. “Are you… sure you want to send Ray to something like that?”

Buchanan laughed. “Trust me, Miss Fisher. He’s perfect for the job.”

She smiled back and left. Outside, Collins was perched on the edge of Kim’s desk, flirting with her. As usual, Kim was loving every second of it.

“Hey, Romeo, you’re up,” said Julie as she passed by.

She didn’t look back but heard the door to Buchanan’s office close. She checked her watch. She had maybe an hour before Jericho had to get ready and leave. She wiped away another tear and headed for the barracks.

There was no time to waste.

3

Two hours passed like seconds. Buchanan had bounced from one conference call to another after Collins left for Washington. With the final document signed, he stared at the pen in his hand. It was black and gold, with the letters J.W. engraved in the middle. He had found it in the drawer on his first day in the job and kept it