23 |

Colonel Clancy’s Office, The Unit
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

 

Maggie Harris looked up from her desk as the door opened, her eyes widening at the sight of Atlas’ girlfriend, Vanessa Moore. She smiled. “Hi Vanessa! What are you doing here?”

Her friend appeared uncomfortable, staring at the floor, her hands fidgeting. “I, umm, need to talk to you about something.”

Maggie motioned at one of the chairs sitting along the wall of Colonel Clancy’s outer office. “Pull up a chair.”

Vanessa did, taking a seat, but said nothing.

“How’d you know I’d be here?”

Vanessa gave her a look. “BD is off gallivanting, so I know you. You’ll be here because the Colonel’s here.”

Maggie leaned back. “Am I that predictable?”

“Listen, sweetie, we’d all be here if we had the chance. You’re just lucky enough to have a job in the building.”

Maggie grunted. “Yeah, I suppose ‘lucky’ is one way of describing it, though there is something to be said about ignorant bliss. So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“I just had lunch with Angela.”

Maggie brightened. “And? What did she have to say about Niner?”

“Oh, she likes him, but there’s a problem.”

Maggie frowned, her shoulders slumping. “What did he do now?”

Vanessa chuckled. “That’s exactly what I thought, but this time it’s not his fault.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s the job.”

Maggie folded her arms. “It’s always the damned job, isn’t it? I was lucky because I knew what BD did before we even started dating. You were lucky because the Colonel made an exception for you. Normally, only wives or fiancées are read in. Please tell me she’s not going to dump him because he can’t tell her the truth. “

“She was, but then she figured out what he does and changed her mind.”

Maggie’s heart thudded. “Please tell me you didn’t…”

Vanessa shook her head vehemently. “No, no, no, she figured it out all on her own. It’s not exactly a secret that Delta’s operating out of this base.”

“Did you confirm it?”

“No, not in so many words. All I said basically was that she should give him a chance and she agreed. I’m just concerned, though, that because she’s not bound by a Nondisclosure Agreement like we are, she might say something to the wrong person and not realize how important it is. She seems to think everybody knows that Delta is here.” Vanessa shrugged. “Maybe it’s not that big a deal?”

Maggie shook her head. “It’s not the fact that they’re here that’s the secret. The secret is who they are.”

The door swung open, startling both of them as Colonel Clancy walked in. He stopped, surprised himself. “Ladies.” Vanessa turned and Clancy cocked an eyebrow a la Spock. “Miss Moore. Are you here to see me?”

Maggie answered for her. “Actually, she came to see me, but I think she does need to speak with you.”

Vanessa paled slightly. “I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

Maggie rose. “We’re not getting anyone in trouble. You’re helping keep them out of it.”

Clancy extended an arm toward his office. “Please, I’ve got a few minutes. Let’s see what I can do to help.”

They both stepped inside and took seats in front of Clancy’s desk. The Colonel closed the door and took his customary seat. “So, how can I help?”

“It’s about Niner.”

Clancy folded his arms and leaned back. “Please tell me that mouth didn’t get him in trouble again.”

They both shook their heads. “No, it’s nothing like that,” said Maggie.

Vanessa leaned forward. “I have a friend named Angela. I introduced her to Niner last night and they hit it off. They had coffee this morning but he was called up. She thought he was trying to blow her off. I had lunch with her just a little while ago and I tried to explain to her that it was nothing of the sort, but she didn’t believe me because of his cover being logistics and then…” She hesitated and Maggie leaned over and squeezed her forearm. Vanessa smiled and nodded. “She figured it out.”

“She figured what out?”

“That Niner’s Delta.”

Clancy pursed his lips, regarding her for a moment. “And you didn’t tell her?”

Vanessa’s eyes bulged. “Of course not! I know it’s a crime.”

“It is.”

“I swear, I told her nothing. She figured it out on her own and then, when she started to say it, I stopped her, and in doing so, I guess I implied it was true.”

“How did she react?”

“I think she was good with it. She even sent him a text message telling him everything was good and she looked forward to talking to him when he got back.”

“Then your concern is that she doesn’t properly grasp how important it is to maintain this secret?”

“Exactly. I understand now that the secret isn’t that you guys are here, the secret is who you guys are. I’m afraid she might go and repeat it to somebody, especially if things go bad and she’s angry.”

Clancy sighed. “This is one of the hardest parts of the job. It’s so much easier with the married men. They should make it a requirement.”

Maggie eyed him. “Would that even be legal?”

Clancy deadpanned her. “I’m just joking, Miss Harris.”

She flashed a grin. “Sorry. Of course, you are.” She absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair, running them along the scar across her scalp. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t erase what had happened that day in Paris. Her hair refused to grow back the way it should, and every time she stared in the mirror, all she could see was the scar staring out at her. She desperately wanted to marry Dawson, but she didn’t want the photos of the best day of her life to remind her of the worst. Dawson wasn’t pressuring her, but he no longer asked about the wedding.

In fact, nobody asked.

It was a taboo subject. She had the ring on her finger and that was the only thing to indicate their status beyond the fact they now lived together. It crushed her every day, and sometimes when she was alone, she would sit in front of the mirror, combing her hair, crying for what felt like hours.

“Are you okay?”

She snapped out of her reverie, staring blankly at the Colonel. “Sir?”

“Are you okay?” His voice was gentle, like the father figure she had always thought of him as.

“Yes, sir, I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”

Thankfully, Clancy left it at that. “Well, we definitely have a problem, and I’m glad you came to talk to me about it. Normally, men or women that members of the Unit date casually, never question the cover this early on, and certainly never figure it out. Miss Moore, you had been dating Atlas for months before you suspected something was wrong.”

She agreed. “True, and I certainly never suspected he was a member of Delta. I just thought he was cheating on me.”

“What are we going to do?”

Clancy inhaled deeply, then sighed. “Well, if she only suspected it, I would say do nothing. But unfortunately, it sounds to me as if she believes she has confirmation from you, even if you didn’t specifically say the words.”

Vanessa shrunk in her chair. “I’m so sorry.”

Clancy smiled. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for. You’re not exactly trained in how to keep a secret when confronted with it. I think the best bet is to read her in. When Niner gets back, let’s invite Miss...what was her name?”

“Angela Henwood.”

“Let’s invite Miss Henwood in. We’ll have her sign the NDA and then Niner can inform her of what he does for a living and the gravity of the secret she’s now privy to.” His phone buzzed on his desk. He grabbed the receiver “Clancy.” He listened for a moment “I’ll be right there.” He hung up and stood. “I’m sorry, but duty calls.” He extended a hand to Vanessa. “Thank you, Miss Moore, for bringing this to my attention. You did the right thing. Forgive me, but I have to go.” He swiftly left the office.

Vanessa sat back in her chair and stared at Maggie. “Did I do the right thing?”

Maggie smiled and patted Vanessa’s leg. “Yes, you did. She already knows, and it didn’t scare her off. That means the relationship has a chance, though with Niner and his mouth, you never know.”

Vanessa grunted. “Tell me about it. You don’t get to hear it as much as I do. That boy is over at our place all the time.”

Maggie grinned. “I can only imagine.

“Him and Atlas go at each other nonstop. The two of them would never say it, especially Atlas, but they love each other like brothers, and the thing that scares me the most is that neither of them would hesitate to sacrifice themselves for the other.”

Maggie’s eyes burned as the tears rolled down Vanessa’s cheeks. “I don’t think you have to worry about Atlas dying to save Niner’s life.”

Vanessa eyed her. “Why do you say that?”

Maggie squeezed Vanessa’s hand. “Because he’d never trust Niner alone with you.”

Vanessa laughed, tossing her head back. “Could you imagine?”

“Well, if things work out with Angela, you won’t have to.”