I met with Humpty Dumpty in his office after lunch, and it was an interesting meeting. “Fill these out.” A stack of pages about six inches high was on his desk, and he pushed them across the blotter until they were in front of me. “No rush, but I’ll need it before the end of the week.”
“Thanks so much,” I said dryly.
“Don’t mention it,” he responded just as dryly. “Now to get down to the nitty-gritty. It’s about time we did more for our secretaries than kick them out after they got pregnant. And you’re right. Paternity leave is a good idea too. Although frankly, it boggles my mind trying to picture some of our operatives changing a diaper.” He chewed on his lower lip. “Ever think you’ll give parenthood a try, Vincent?”
“Good God, no! In case it’s escaped your notice, I prefer guys.”
His jaw dropped. Maybe it had escaped his notice? Some in the intelligence community might think I was straight, but I’d never hidden my orientation from the people I worked with.
He shut his mouth and cleared his throat. “You could still go the surrogacy route. I’m sure Wallace would help in any way he could.”
“No, Humphrey. No, no, and… in a word… no.”
He chuckled, and I realized he was pulling my leg. He quickly became serious. “We’re going to need some additional operatives to cover the ones who go out.”
“Were Travers and Sinclair ever replaced?” They were two of the Foreign Affairs operatives we’d lost to Prinzip. As for Josephson, his slot in Interior Affairs never had been filled.
“I’ve got some applications that look promising, and I’ve turned them over to Stanley.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure I’ll have three.”
“Out of all the ones I sent you?”
“Yeah, and next time, don’t do me any favors. I don’t know what half those applicants were thinking of.”
“So tell me, who’d you choose?”
“I’m leaning toward Johnson and Ahrens, and I’ve got Grey Rayne working on something.”
“Oh? I thought she was a shoo-in.”
“The Boss and M. Bélanger have nothing but good to say about her, but it’s my department, so the final choice is mine.”
“Well, they’re good choices. I was pleased when they applied.”
“How’d Rayne find out about the position?”
He shrugged. “One day her file was on my desk.”
I didn’t bother asking how she could have a file if she’d never worked here. With backing from both The Boss and M. Bélanger, it was moot.
“To get back to the matter at hand, I’ll give it some thought, brainstorm with Bixby, and see what we can come up with.”
“Fair enough. But just as an FYI, two of the secretaries in my department are pregnant, and if the WBIS doesn’t look after them, I will.”
“Don’t get on your high horse. I said it was a good idea. Now, get out of here and let me get to work on this. Changing policy isn’t done in the blink of an eye. Oh, and don’t forget this needs to be done.” He tapped the stack of papers.
With a growl, I scooped them up and returned to my office, and for the next few hours I filled in the blanks.
God, I hated paperwork.
It was getting late in the day, but I figured Rayne should have some idea of what it could be like working for the WBIS. This wasn’t a nine-to-five job, in spite of what some of the senior directors might think.
“When you come in tomorrow, go to Human Resources.” I was about to send her home. “It’s on four. You’ll be filling out paperwork.”
“I will?”
“Congratulations. You’re WBIS now.”
A huge smile stretched her lips. “Thank you, Mr. Vincent.”
I took out my cell phone. “Let me have your phone number. You’ll need to be available at all times.”
“Yes, sir.” She rattled off her number, and I logged it in my phone.
Then I gave her my number. “You will not use this unless it’s the apocalypse.”
“No, sir.” She keyed in my number, and although her head was down, I could hear the amusement in her voice. “You won’t regret this, I promise you!”
I was pretty sure I wouldn’t.
She’d done a good job on the files, actually coming to me with one. “Mr. Vincent, there’s something about Travers’s actions last year that concerns me.”
“Yeah? Tell me about it.”
“His 401(k) was emptied shortly before he left for that assignment in Europe. If you don’t mind, I’d like to look into this more.”
“I don’t have a problem with that, but you’ll have to do it on your own time. And just remember Travers was Stanley’s agent. Come talk to me if it looks like you’re going to step on any toes.”
“Yes, sir.”
“After you’ve filled out the paperwork tomorrow, I’ll take you out to the shooting range and you can show me what you can do.”
“Should I bring my Browning?”
“No, you’ll be issued a Glock.” My cell phone rang, playing “Bad to the Bone,” and I flipped it open. “Yes, sir?”
“It’s Mr. Wallace?” She started laughing, trying to stifle it when I gave her a cool stare.
“I need your help, Mark.” The Boss sounded like it, and I stiffened.
“Should I bring a body bag?”
“And a shovel.” He told me where he was.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Don’t get a speeding ticket, Mark.”
“Don’t you look suspicious.” I hung up, then used the office phone to call Rogers in Supply. “It’s Vincent. I need a body bag and a—”
“Excuse me, sir. May I go with you?” Rayne asked.
I looked her over. Might as well throw her in at the deep end, in spite of what The Boss had said. “And a couple of shovels and two pairs of gloves. I’ll be right down to collect them.”
“They’ll be ready for you.” He knew better than to make a remark about needing them again so soon after Friday.
“Thanks.” I hung up and turned to my newest agent. “All right, Rayne, just so you know, this probably isn’t going to be pretty.”
“Are you telling me this because I’m a woman?” She actually let me see that thought pissed her off.
“I’m telling you this because I don’t want you falling apart in front of The Boss.”
“I won’t embarrass you or... or Mr. Wallace.”
“See that you don’t. I personally don’t care if you toss your cookies all over the alley, but The Boss seems to think highly of you. And the last thing you want to do is leave DNA at the scene.”
Her blue eyes grew enormous. They reminded me of someone’s, but for the moment I couldn’t place them. “We’re going on a job?”
“Yeah, and for the time being, that’s all you need to know.”
“You said something about shovels and a body bag.” She looked down at herself. “Am I dressed appropriately?”
I looked her up and down again. It would be a shame to ruin that suit. “What size are you?”
She flushed—did she think I was coming on to her?—but she answered coolly. “This suit is an eight.”
I did some fast calculating as I went to the storage closet. I pulled out a pair of jeans that were a twenty-nine inch waist. Another once over, and I decided on a medium sweatshirt and a pea coat.
“What size are your shoes?”
“Eleven.” She looked away, obviously embarrassed.
“Shit. How much do you love those shoes?”
“They’re comfortable. Why?”
“I don’t have anything that will fit you.”
“My shoes will be honored to give their all.” She gave me a cheeky grin. “Theirs not to reason why.”
“Yeah, but they were talking about the Light Brigade at the time, not shoes. Okay, take these clothes and get changed in the ladies room. Do you know where Supply is?”
“On six, I believe?”
“Meet me there as soon as you’re ready.”
“Yes, sir!” She saluted and hurried off.
I’d have to remind her she wasn’t in the Marines anymore.
I expected to have to wait, so I sent a quick text message to The Boss, letting him know I might be delayed, but Rayne must have been a quick-change artist. I’d just collected the body bag, shovels, and gloves when she rushed in.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, sir.” She was holding the suit she’d changed out of. “Uh… I didn’t know what to do with this. Your office was locked.”
“This is Rayne.” I introduced my newest agent to Rogers, who was in the process of shutting down Supply for the day.
“You can leave them over there, ma’am.” He pointed to a closet off to the side.
“Thanks.”
He followed her with his gaze. “Y’know something, Mr. Vincent? She reminds me of someone.”
“Yeah?”
Rayne must have overheard. She grinned over her shoulder. “I guess I have that kind of face.” She hung up her suit and returned to me. “All set, Mr. Vincent.”
“Okay, let’s go. ’Night, Rogers. Thanks again.”