Read Online All Necessary Force by Brad Taylor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brad Taylor
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“Bullshit. Knuckles doesn’t feel that way anymore. He’s a believer now. Anyway, who cares what those assholes think? It only matters what you think.”
I changed the subject. “Knuckles will be here any minute. Where do you want to take him for dinner? He’s never been to Charleston.”
“I just figured you’d take him to Red’s Ice House. It’s why you rented this office space in the first place.” She smiled. “So you could walk home.”
She was partly right. I had snapped up an office on Shem Creek in the town of Mount Pleasant because the depressed economy made it a steal, but being a stone’s throw from my favorite haunt hadn’t hurt the sale.
“We can go wherever you want. No bars. I’ll even dress up.”
She zipped up my bag and stared at it for a second like she was trying to figure out what to say. What came out took me completely by surprise.
“Pike, I’ve already got plans tonight. I’m meeting someone downtown. I figured you’d want a boy’s night out.”
“Plans? Tonight? With who?”
“Nobody. Just a college friend I haven’t seen since I graduated.”
“A guy?”
She didn’t have to say anything. Her expression told me it was. I started shoving all the loose gear I wasn’t taking back into a duffel bag, using more force than was necessary. Before it could get any more awkward, Knuckles came through the door, dragging a backpack.
“Hey, workmates. Ready to do some sightseeing on the government dime?”
He saw our expressions and said, “Did I interrupt something?”
Jennifer pulled out onto Coleman Boulevard headed toward the Ravenel Bridge, feeling a little guilty. She really
was
just meeting a friend from college, but she’d hidden it from Pike because she’d known it wouldn’t be taken that way. She knew him better than he thought. She knew the terrible history and had seen the demons he constantly fought. She had simply wanted to protect him from any pain, but had failed. She had seen it in his eyes, and the hurt had boomeranged right back into her.
She knew Pike’s emotions were still ragged from the loss of his family, and gave him space because of it, but the truth was she had her own confusion to deal with. There was no doubt she felt drawn to Pike, but she wasn’t sure if it was real. Last year he had been willing to sacrifice his life for hers. Not once, but twice in selfless acts that had touched her core. She couldn’t tell if that was affecting her feelings. If maybe she wasn’t projecting a debt she felt she owed.
The idea of going to Assessment and launching the company had been intriguing, but initially she had shied away. Pike had been insistent, and she’d acquiesced simply because he’d asked. Well, mostly. She couldn’t deny that some part of her had enjoyed the excitement and satisfaction of success. And Pike had promised that it wouldn’t all be Taskforce business. She’d get to do some real research with real scientists. She knew it would just be to keep the cover intact, but that was good enough. Where Pike fit into all of this she was unsure.
She realized that they were going to have to talk. To get it out in the open, for real. For either good or bad.
She was broken out of her thoughts by her cell phone. Looking at the screen, she saw it was a call from Texas. She didn’t recognize the number but did know the area code. As soon as she answered, she wished she hadn’t.
“Hey, baby. How’re you doing?”
Immediately sick to her stomach, she was taken back to the fear, like she’d never left.
“What do you want?” she said.
“Nothing. I just wanted to catch up.”
“You’re not supposed to contact me. Ever. Your dad promised.
You
promised.”
Her voice quavered, and she hated herself for it.
You’re not the same girl he beat on. You’re better than that.
“Well, Dad and I have sort of… fallen out. So, no more money from the trust fund, and no more agreements that he made for me.”
“I’ve got nothing
“Bullshit. Knuckles doesn’t feel that way anymore. He’s a believer now. Anyway, who cares what those assholes think? It only matters what you think.”
I changed the subject. “Knuckles will be here any minute. Where do you want to take him for dinner? He’s never been to Charleston.”
“I just figured you’d take him to Red’s Ice House. It’s why you rented this office space in the first place.” She smiled. “So you could walk home.”
She was partly right. I had snapped up an office on Shem Creek in the town of Mount Pleasant because the depressed economy made it a steal, but being a stone’s throw from my favorite haunt hadn’t hurt the sale.
“We can go wherever you want. No bars. I’ll even dress up.”
She zipped up my bag and stared at it for a second like she was trying to figure out what to say. What came out took me completely by surprise.
“Pike, I’ve already got plans tonight. I’m meeting someone downtown. I figured you’d want a boy’s night out.”
“Plans? Tonight? With who?”
“Nobody. Just a college friend I haven’t seen since I graduated.”
“A guy?”
She didn’t have to say anything. Her expression told me it was. I started shoving all the loose gear I wasn’t taking back into a duffel bag, using more force than was necessary. Before it could get any more awkward, Knuckles came through the door, dragging a backpack.
“Hey, workmates. Ready to do some sightseeing on the government dime?”
He saw our expressions and said, “Did I interrupt something?”
Jennifer pulled out onto Coleman Boulevard headed toward the Ravenel Bridge, feeling a little guilty. She really
was
just meeting a friend from college, but she’d hidden it from Pike because she’d known it wouldn’t be taken that way. She knew him better than he thought. She knew the terrible history and had seen the demons he constantly fought. She had simply wanted to protect him from any pain, but had failed. She had seen it in his eyes, and the hurt had boomeranged right back into her.
She knew Pike’s emotions were still ragged from the loss of his family, and gave him space because of it, but the truth was she had her own confusion to deal with. There was no doubt she felt drawn to Pike, but she wasn’t sure if it was real. Last year he had been willing to sacrifice his life for hers. Not once, but twice in selfless acts that had touched her core. She couldn’t tell if that was affecting her feelings. If maybe she wasn’t projecting a debt she felt she owed.
The idea of going to Assessment and launching the company had been intriguing, but initially she had shied away. Pike had been insistent, and she’d acquiesced simply because he’d asked. Well, mostly. She couldn’t deny that some part of her had enjoyed the excitement and satisfaction of success. And Pike had promised that it wouldn’t all be Taskforce business. She’d get to do some real research with real scientists. She knew it would just be to keep the cover intact, but that was good enough. Where Pike fit into all of this she was unsure.
She realized that they were going to have to talk. To get it out in the open, for real. For either good or bad.
She was broken out of her thoughts by her cell phone. Looking at the screen, she saw it was a call from Texas. She didn’t recognize the number but did know the area code. As soon as she answered, she wished she hadn’t.
“Hey, baby. How’re you doing?”
Immediately sick to her stomach, she was taken back to the fear, like she’d never left.
“What do you want?” she said.
“Nothing. I just wanted to catch up.”
“You’re not supposed to contact me. Ever. Your dad promised.
You
promised.”
Her voice quavered, and she hated herself for it.
You’re not the same girl he beat on. You’re better than that.
“Well, Dad and I have sort of… fallen out. So, no more money from the trust fund, and no more agreements that he made for me.”
“I’ve got nothing
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