“You’re expecting trouble.” Flint sits forward in his seat.
“It would be foolish not to.”
He blows out a breath and looks at the window for a long moment. “Old hatred doesn’t switch off because someone signs a piece of paper.”
“That’s exactly what I said. What I’m about to say needs to stay between us.”
He nods. “You’re making me nervous.”
“The Council is talking about a fifty percent reduction in frontline flight staff over the next year. There will be reabsorption where we can manage it.”
He looks at me. “Half?”
“Half.”
“That sucks!” He runs a hand through his hair and sits back in his chair, looking deflated.
“Let’s see what happens. I’m almost expecting to have to increase our numbers. I think that the Council is delusional.”
“You might be right. I’m not going to panic just yet,” he says. “Right.” He stands. “I have plenty of work to do.”
“Oh, and Flint…”
He turns.
“It’s probably not my place, but don’t go breaking that female’s heart.”
He barks out a laugh. “Really?”
“It’s fine to fuck around, but it didn’t seem like that’s why she was here.”
“Giving me fatherly advice now?”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “No! Asshole! Do the right thing. That’s all I ask, and I’m not just talking about that female.”
“Yes, boss.” He smiles.
“And no more work calls, please. I can’t have a whole string of females outside that door.”
“I’m not that bad!” He walks toward my door.
“You’re worse,” I shout after him, and he chuckles, closing the door.
I don’t like the idea of him calling her, and I’m not sure why that is, since I don’t even know this female. But I do know Flint, and he isn’t the settling-down type, regardless of what he says.
I sigh because it’s got nothing to do with me. Flint needs to handle his own business.
Besides, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I pick up my phone and call Reed.
4
Carla
The hospital is in full preparation mode by the time I get back from lunch.
I take the stairs to the admin floor because the elevators are all tied up with maintenance running new signage and pulling old posters down. Treaty information is going up on every wall. I pass two nurses heading the other way with armfuls of laminated protocol sheets. They give me a quick “hey” and keep moving.
Robyn is in her office on the phone. She gestures for me to come in and points at the chair across from her desk. I sit and pull out my tablet.
