“What do you mean, the Drakes?” Wes’s anger flared more.
“Again, we are checking the how and why, but it appears they’re not in custody anywhere,” Mike said.
“Dear God, you want me to get close to Ellie to find out if she still has contact with her family?” Wes growled.
“No. Wes, we want you to get close to her to protect her,” Mike sighed. “We need to know why she’s running. To the best of the information we have, she hasn’t checked in since last March.”
“How can she be running? She’s using her Witsec social and her Witsec name. Am I right?” Kip asked.
“She’s bait,” Troy said. “That’s the only way Witsec would let her stay in the program. Otherwise they’d kick her loose. Keep the name and see ya.”
“What does she know?” Kip asked.
“Damn it, I have feelings for her. If I out her, she’ll never trust me. Look, I have two meetings and my qual. We can talk about this later.” Wes pushed up to his feet and stormed out. On his way across to medical, he called Eleanor. “Curly, I hate to say this, but I’m running late for dinner. I have two meetings, and then I need to take my requalification exam.”
“You need to requalify?”
“I’m one of the original founders of Chase Security. Depending on the level of operations, every provider must take regular qualification exams. I’m due.”
“Don’t you get credit for being in charge?”
“I suppose I could, but that wouldn’t be right. All of the senior executives believe in leadership by example. And none of us want to let the young ones beat us,” he chuckled. “Come by the pool at five. You can watch and cheer me on.”
“Um, Wes, could I ask a favor? I know you’re busy. My Leesburg house…I left a few things there that are important to me; could you take me there so I can get them?”
“Of course, can it wait until later?”
“Sure, we could bring in Chinese food and eat there. I’m sure you’ll be starving.”
“I’d like that. See you later, Curly.” Wes sighed as he hung up.
* * *
Wes sat with Sam Baker, the medical facility’s medical director. “I read your report. I’m hearing about the immaturity issue from other departments. What do you think it is?”
“I think we’re old,” Sam chuckled. “Part of it is, for some, this is their first job where they have to take personal responsibility. They’re from thethere’s always a fixgeneration. Wes, you offer a unique situation here.”
“What, to grow up?” Wes frowned.
“In part. This younger generation doesn’t have that desire to serve. The military model is alien to them. Thankfully, we have a group who are older with more experience. I’m spreading them out. My other concern is the training. Education has shifted to anif this, then thatmodel. Critical thinking is not the top priority.”
“They’re green from lack of training? How do we fix that?”
“Same as you do with your teams—practice. I spoke with Pete. We purchased simulation mannequins. I am going to run drills.” Sam blew out a breath. “That covers ninety percent of the group.”
“And the other ten percent?” Wes leaned in.
“I can’t put my finger on it. There’s an edge. A critical behavior. Critical as in cruel.” Sam shook his head.
“Bullying, taunting, intolerant, downright mean?” Wes suggested. Sam nodded. “We terminated two therapists today. Tell me about Desi Barrett?”
“Desi—good skills. But a mean girl. She grew up in a world where she was considered special.”
Wes growled. “How the hell did she make it past the interview and orientation?”
“Best behavior. You didn’t pick her name out of the blue?”
“Caught a nasty remark. Watch her,” Wes asked.
“I’ll watch them the way you hired me to.”
