With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Death and Duty

“It’s been a week, agents. A week since Senior Agent Reini Saunders disappeared.”

Charles looked at Greg, who was seated next to him, and sighed. Poor guy hadn’t been resting, worried sick for his friend. Tiffany, Christian, and Joshua had bags under their eyes, but it was Samuel who looked the worst. He had bags under her eyes, a deathly pallor, and his eyes were dull and unseeing.

Joshua was seated next to Greg, Greg’s hand in his. He was worried sick for Reini, as well as Greg. Greg had been blaming himself for the disappearance of Reini, saying it was his fault why she left. Joshua was also worried for Samuel whose hands have been shaking from lack of sleep.

“What is the CIA doing about it?” asked Greg, his voice quiet.

Amrie sighed. “The CIA is looking for her, rest assured. She is, after all, supposed to be under the Witness Protection Program.”

The change in atmosphere was sudden, and Joshua found himself surprised at the sudden underlying tension. Greg had become stiff, anger apparent in his very posture. “Is that it? Are you looking for her because she’s under the Witness Protection Program? Or is it because she’s a CIA operative? What is it?”

Amrie’s eyes widened in realization, and she hurried to amend her sentence. “No, we all care for her, Mister Van Kamp, and we are—”

“No,” disrupted Greg, “it doesn’t seem like that at all! What it seems like is that you’re looking for her because she’s an asset to this goddamn agency and not because she’s a friend! I will be damned if—”

“Agent Van Kamp, you will stop, and you will come with me to my office.”

Greg was vaguely surprised to find himself standing, and was even more surprised to see Catherine Aspen standing by the door. Greg gave a curt nod to Miss Chase, and walked away with what pride he still had.

Catherine looked at Amrie, her eyes saying that she had seen and heard everything.

Amrie bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

Catherine regarded her coolly. “You better be.”

Without another word, Catherine Aspen exited the room, the door closing behind her trapping the silence inside.

“We should go out sometime.”

The sun was warm, and the weather was pleasant. Catherine was walking alongside Eric, Buddy’s leash in her hand. Catherine looked at Eric in surprise—though he was handsome, not once did she even feel anything remotely romantic towards the man.

Catherine was slow in responding. “Uhm…”

Eric felt his heart thudding in his chest, and his resolve came down, the fear of rejection too heavy to bear. “It’s okay if you’re not interested, I mean—”

Catherine was quick to assure the man who had become such a close friend. “It’s okay. I accept.”

Eric grinned, relief evident in his features. “Thank you. Seven at that new restaurant by Eighth Street?”

Catherine nodded. “Sure.”

“We know you’re worried—”

“Like hell, I’m worried!” shouted Greg, pacing back and forth. The sense of respect the agent had for Miss Catherine Aspen was gone the second he had stepped foot into her office. Any and all sense of decorum was quickly overcome by his worry for Reini. “It was probably my fault she’s gone, and you’re telling me to calm down? Like hell, I would!”