* * *
Alone,Troy walked to the minibar and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Then he sat at his table and stared out the window, searching his mind for any memory of being in the tower after he and Tighe roared at Julian. White caps rolled on the waves as he closed his eyes.
"Troy, I'm going to bring you off this mountain."His frayed brain brought forward Elizabeth’s first words from that August night.
“One more mountain, please, Beth,” he muttered.
* * *
Eric wheeledGwen into Julian’s office. Everyone was present except for Troy. Julian shook his head and smiled. “He’s not here yet. Eric?” Julian asked.
“I need an Eagle’s Talon medic to sit on Gwen for the day. Sheneedsto do her job,” Eric said.
Julian inhaled and exhaled loudly. Gwen hoped Julian got what Eric was asking.
“Boss, I’ve got Gwen. One of us needs to show her around and help her get the flow of being a first deputy,” Trask Winslow said. The special operations combat medic, paramedic and current first deputy also was a member of Bravo Team when Troy was hurt.
“Thanks, Trask,” Gwen said.
Trask wheeled Gwen to Troy’s office door, and she knocked. After no answer, she asked Trask to open the door and wheel her inside. “I’ve got this.”
He nodded and stepped out of the office. She found Troy standing at the window, his hands clutched in fists.
“Troy?” she whispered and rolled toward him slowly. “Troy?” Gently, she placed her hand upon his hip.
Troy reached to his side and gripped her hand. His fingers were clammy. “Gwen.” He let out a whoosh of air.
“Do you need a moment?” She turned her fingers to interlock with his.
He turned to face her. “The morning was a little overwhelming.”
She met his eyes with a watery gaze after he finished his bottle of water.I’m attached.“Do you want to talk about it?”
Troy reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
“I got a feeling you needed a friend.” She looked up into his big brown eyes.
He smiled. “Thank you. We have a meeting to go to.” As Troy wheeled her down the hallway, she explained Eric’s parameters for her to be present.
* * *
Troy’s office,located in the south wing, was at the opposite end of the floor as Julian’s. As they walked, Troy did mental reconnaissance, landmarking the secretarial desk, office work area, a first deputy office, team offices. He also noted two executive suites. He’d seen the sketch for those, intended for any visiting senior executives. Crossing a lobby staffed by two level-two operators, they moved through glass doors and into another secretarial area.
“Lord have mercy. Look at you.” Verna, Kieran Chase’s former secretary and now Julian’s XO Blake Minor’s secretary, ran around her desk and hugged him.
“Hey, Verna, good to see you. How are the kids and the colonel?”
“Couldn’t be better. And you must be Miss Gwendolen. We will help you set up your office. Mr. Trask gave us some directions. Christie, this is Troy Bremen and Gwendolen North. Miss Christie is Julian’s secretary.”
“We’ve met. Verna, she would’ve plugged Mike Johnson in the butt if she carried when he tried to gain entry to Julian,” Troy laughed.
“Good to see you, Mr. Bremen. Nice to meet you, Gwendolen,” Christie said.
After the greetings, Verna took his hand and knocked on Julian’s door. The glass turned clear, and Julian opened the door. “Thanks, Verna.”
* * *
“Lounging on the job already?”Julian teased his late-arriving friend.
