“Have him do it tonight; I want to know what she knows.” Richardson said. Denkinger acknowledged with a grunt, never taking his eyes off Alexandra.
“Sir, I have an urgent request from the CDC.” She said.
“What is it?” Fatigue was apparent in his posture.
“They would like to examine the old woman’s body. They’re scrambling a team to be here in a matter of hours.” She said, still feeling the rasp of Denkinger’s eyes.
“Understandable. Do it.” He said and looked mournfully towards the gravesite. Alexandra, her nerves frayed by the day’s events, had had enough of Denkinger’s intimidations. He may be a dangerous killer for hire, but she was a high placed company official with the hand that feeds. It was time to remind him that he was an employee.
“Do you have a problem soldier?” She barked while turning her head to look him directly in the eye. He lifted his eyes to hers almost dismissively and spoke.
“Have you been checked out on that weapon?”
Here was the hard part for Alexandra; holding her ground. Clawing through the ranks of male dominated business she found that she could open strong when fighting for respect, but had a little trouble maintaining the aggression that seemed so natural and plentiful in men. She knew she couldn’t let herself get side-tracked by answering his question. It was a dismissive deflection that both questioned her competence while putting himself in control of the conversation; an old rhetorical trick. It was time to remind him of his place.
“You don’t ask me questions, Soldier! I’m Senior V.P. of R&D. I’ve been with the company for twelve years and have personally fired every type of weapon we make ammunition for. My ability is none of your concern.” Her voice was a crescendo, aimed directly at the mercenary, her words a series of blows.
It worked; Denkinger neutralized his stare and stood at attention. She thought using her title was a nice touch to remind the soldier that he was just a grunt in the chain of command. She looked to her boss and found him looking strangely at her. His expression was a cipher. He appeared both sad and amused.
“Excuse me sir,” was all she could think of to say. She began to depart until stopped by Richardson’s words.
“Denkinger, you are to follow Ms. Devereaux’s orders as if they were my own.”
The soldier snapped his attention to Richardson. He continued,
“That’s right. She is to be my second-in-command. Understood?”
Denkinger straightened and nodded once.
“Now go inform your men.” Richardson said and wafted his hand to dismiss the soldier.
“Sir.” Denkinger acknowledged and turned smartly on a heel, tearing a ring in the grass, and walked towards the gravesite. Alexandra was confused by this sudden promotion. She almost opened her mouth to speak when he cut her off.
“Are you close to your parents Alexandra?” He asked with a weary voice.
“My mother. My father; he passed before I was born.” She said. Richardson nodded as if he was recalling a fact; his blue eyes were pale and sad.
“I have to bury my son now.” He said with a wavering voice. He surprised her by reaching his hand out to her.
“Will you come with me?” he asked. Hiding reluctance and uncertainty, she put her hand in his large palm and walked with him towards the gravesite. For the first time since she had known Gavin Richardson, he appeared old. His steps were unsteady on the grass and she even found herself helping him balance once through their clasped hands.
As they closed the distance to see four of Denkinger’s men lowering the remains of Lance Richardson into the earth, the father regained his balance and composure. Alexandra saw his jaw firm as his head tilted down to follow his son’s descent. His voice was low.
“Tomorrow we find who did this to my boy.”
Learn more about the author at www.facebook.com/GregorySolis
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Prelude
YESTERDAY
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Nine
Forty
Forty-One
Forty-Two
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