until another time.
Mark took Roc aside for a second. I couldn’t make out what they were discussing but I could almost feel Mark’s excitement.
“Rainie, I was just telling Roc that I intercepted an encrypted disk earlier today.” Mark pulled out his little handheld computer gizmo and started to give me the details. “I managed to crack the encryption but the document is in code. I’ll need you to translate it. I sent it to your secure e-mail a few minutes ago. Can you get on it right away?”
“Sure, I’ll take a look as soon as I get home.”
Lissa and Stevie arrived soon after, making any further attempt at intimate conversation impossible. I would have to wait until the meeting ended to talk to Roc again.
Throughout the evening, I noticed how distracted Roc appeared to be. He barely listened to what Mark was saying.
“We were able to track down the place where Silvers was holed up, but someone must have tipped him off, because the place had been cleared out. We have our forensic team going over the place with a fine toothcomb. Hopefully, something will turn up.” Roc simply nodded without comment. After a brief, awkward pause, Mark turned to Stevie. “Did you find anything useful from the other agencies?”
“Nope, no one knows anything and for once, I believe it.”
“Apparently, Silvers has gotten wind of the slip-up with the money transfer. Since that time, there’s been nothing. Not a peep.” Lissa looked to Roc, who made no comment. “They must have another source for gaining access to their funds. Maybe it’s being laundered. It happens.” Her gaze slid to Mark’s in question.
Roc roused himself and faced the group.
“I wanted you all to know that I’ve received a new assignment today. I’ll be leaving the group for an extended period, beginning right away. I know this is the worst possible timing.” Roc’s eyes lingered on mine. “But unfortunately, it cannot be helped. This mission is of equal importance.” He stopped as if perhaps he’d lost his train of thought. “I don’t know when I’ll be back and, of course, I can’t tell you where I’m going. All I know is that this assignment could be indefinite.”
At the shocked silence that greeted his words, all eyes went to me. Curiosity mingled with sympathy. I couldn’t even begin to hide the fact that I hadn’t known about Roc’s leaving until now.
“I’ve been asked in my absence to turn control over to Mark since he’s been with The Agency the longest. I’ll try as much as possible to keep in touch with Mark, so if you need me for any reason, you’ll have to let Mark know. Everyone needs to continue with their current assignments, and of course, anything Mark feels necessary to give you. I realize this leaves us short a man, which is dangerous, all things considered. I hope you’ll all remember that and be extremely careful in everything you do. We all know the risks, right? There’s no need to take unnecessary chances.”
It was the hardest thing in the world to get through the rest of that night without falling apart in front of everyone. Throughout the remainder of the meeting, Roc’s eyes rarely left mine. He was telling me in all ways that he couldn’t with words, how hard this was for him as well.
After the meeting finally ended and while each team member stopped by to say goodbye, I waited, hoping to get a few minutes alone with him. But Mark had things that needed addressing in Roc’s absence. I couldn’t speak to Roc alone.
“When were you going to tell me?” I asked, my voice literally shaking with emotion. It hurt that he’d chosen this way to end things, and I believed this was ultimately what Roc was doing. I guessed the answer before I asked the question but I couldn’t stop the words.
“Rainie, I just found out a few minutes before the meeting.”
“So this is how you chose to tell me? In front of everyone? How could you do this to me, Roc?”
Roc watched as unfamiliar tears
Mark took Roc aside for a second. I couldn’t make out what they were discussing but I could almost feel Mark’s excitement.
“Rainie, I was just telling Roc that I intercepted an encrypted disk earlier today.” Mark pulled out his little handheld computer gizmo and started to give me the details. “I managed to crack the encryption but the document is in code. I’ll need you to translate it. I sent it to your secure e-mail a few minutes ago. Can you get on it right away?”
“Sure, I’ll take a look as soon as I get home.”
Lissa and Stevie arrived soon after, making any further attempt at intimate conversation impossible. I would have to wait until the meeting ended to talk to Roc again.
Throughout the evening, I noticed how distracted Roc appeared to be. He barely listened to what Mark was saying.
“We were able to track down the place where Silvers was holed up, but someone must have tipped him off, because the place had been cleared out. We have our forensic team going over the place with a fine toothcomb. Hopefully, something will turn up.” Roc simply nodded without comment. After a brief, awkward pause, Mark turned to Stevie. “Did you find anything useful from the other agencies?”
“Nope, no one knows anything and for once, I believe it.”
“Apparently, Silvers has gotten wind of the slip-up with the money transfer. Since that time, there’s been nothing. Not a peep.” Lissa looked to Roc, who made no comment. “They must have another source for gaining access to their funds. Maybe it’s being laundered. It happens.” Her gaze slid to Mark’s in question.
Roc roused himself and faced the group.
“I wanted you all to know that I’ve received a new assignment today. I’ll be leaving the group for an extended period, beginning right away. I know this is the worst possible timing.” Roc’s eyes lingered on mine. “But unfortunately, it cannot be helped. This mission is of equal importance.” He stopped as if perhaps he’d lost his train of thought. “I don’t know when I’ll be back and, of course, I can’t tell you where I’m going. All I know is that this assignment could be indefinite.”
At the shocked silence that greeted his words, all eyes went to me. Curiosity mingled with sympathy. I couldn’t even begin to hide the fact that I hadn’t known about Roc’s leaving until now.
“I’ve been asked in my absence to turn control over to Mark since he’s been with The Agency the longest. I’ll try as much as possible to keep in touch with Mark, so if you need me for any reason, you’ll have to let Mark know. Everyone needs to continue with their current assignments, and of course, anything Mark feels necessary to give you. I realize this leaves us short a man, which is dangerous, all things considered. I hope you’ll all remember that and be extremely careful in everything you do. We all know the risks, right? There’s no need to take unnecessary chances.”
It was the hardest thing in the world to get through the rest of that night without falling apart in front of everyone. Throughout the remainder of the meeting, Roc’s eyes rarely left mine. He was telling me in all ways that he couldn’t with words, how hard this was for him as well.
After the meeting finally ended and while each team member stopped by to say goodbye, I waited, hoping to get a few minutes alone with him. But Mark had things that needed addressing in Roc’s absence. I couldn’t speak to Roc alone.
“When were you going to tell me?” I asked, my voice literally shaking with emotion. It hurt that he’d chosen this way to end things, and I believed this was ultimately what Roc was doing. I guessed the answer before I asked the question but I couldn’t stop the words.
“Rainie, I just found out a few minutes before the meeting.”
“So this is how you chose to tell me? In front of everyone? How could you do this to me, Roc?”
Roc watched as unfamiliar tears
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