by Margaret Kay
Golf
The next morning, Madison swung into the parking garage. She descended to the designated underground level that required handprint and pin code to enter the security gate that she had been shown the previous day. She drove down the winding platform to the second sublevel and then accessed the double set of garage doors to the secure Shepherd Security parking facility. Garcia had explained to her that the pad scanned not only fingerprints, but the hand required a pulse to gain access. Good to know someone couldn’t just cut off one of their hands to press to the scan pad.
She locked her car up, doubting it was necessary, and stepped to the private Shepherd Security elevator. Glancing around, she gazed at the multiple cameras in the area as she waited for the elevator car to arrive. She smiled at the camera in the corner of the elevator as it rose, wondering who was on duty in Ops watching her.
She bypassed the Ops Center and went right to her office to start to read through the hundreds of protocols Garcia had loaded on her laptop. The protocols were the rules and regulations of the agency that everyone followed. The one thing about this unit that differed from regular active duty units was that each protocol had a justification listed, a reason why they did it. In the military, the rules were just the rules, no explanation. She appreciated the information.
Several hours after she had arrived a reminder popped up on her computer screen. A unit meeting in the Ops Center was on the agenda for ten a.m. this morning. Garcia had sent the invitation while she was working with him the previous day. She reported there, opening the door with her hand to the scan pad.
Garcia took control of the meeting which confirmed her assumption that he was the division leader. She was introduced to the five other Analysts who manned the Ops Center, who she had not met the previous day. They were all male, prior military she was sure, and looked to be in their mid to late thirties. Yvette and Tony were both there as well.
Garcia went over the new Ops Center rotation schedule, which would go into effect the following Sunday. Two people were scheduled on at all times, working twelve-hour shifts. With the new schedule one would work six to six the other twelve to twelve, a.m. and p.m. He promised Miraldi fewer shifts in the Ops Center as soon as they could make it happen. Miraldi was supposed to split his time between Ops and in the Tech-Lab with Michaela. That hadn’t happened in months. Two of the others would be able to get in a few shifts of undisturbed digital recon time when Madison was fully trained and the first two Ops were finished, he promised.
“Okay, that’s all I have,” Garcia said when he had covered his agenda. “Circle time, boys and girls. Yvette, go.”
“Just a reminder to you guys to log everything. Shepherd wants his briefing by zero-seven-hundred every morning and I’ve had to go searching for info a few times, which has delayed it.”
The men grunted and promised to do better.
Miraldi was next. “I’m scheduled for Sunday night six p.m. to six a.m. Monday and need it off. I’ll take anyone’s shift any other day if you’ll work it for me.”
“I’ll trade any night in the next rotation for it,” the man Garcia had introduced as BT said.
“Deal, and thanks,” Miraldi said. “That’s all I’ve got, but I second Yvette’s message about logging everything.”
All eyes went to BT, who sat beside Miraldi. “First off, welcome Madison,” he said with a smile.
“Thanks”
“I think these new staggered start times will work better and thank you for all being willing to try them. Pushing the second start out till noon or midnight rather than ten like it is now should give us all a little better balance. The six p.m. to six a.m. shift will still suck, but the other shifts will be better, I think.”
“And let’s not forget the operational bennies of it either. The longer overlap when things are hot will provide better continuity as well,” Garcia added.
Each member around the room got their turn. When it got to Madison, she was surprised when Garcia asked her to tell them a little about her background.
“I was an Army Analyst with Military Intelligence. I did two tours in Ops over field units in the Middle East calling in drone strikes, and live bombing runs as well as orchestrating ground operations. I’m comfortable in Ops and know what’s required to do this job. I think that will also give me an advantage when I’m in the field and you can believe I will trust you when you give me direction because I will know exactly what you see that those on the ground can’t. I look forward to getting to know and working with each of you.” Her eyes swept over the group as she spoke.
As the meeting ended, each member of the team spent a few minutes talking with Madison. From what she saw so far, she liked this workgroup and also liked the overlapping rotation they had going. It was yet another thing that was smart about how Shepherd Security operated. Though she did have to admit the six p.m. to six a.m. shift would really suck. She hoped she wouldn’t get put on that shift too often but being the newbie to the group it stood to reason that the worse shift would be hers at first.
“What do you think about the group?” Garcia asked her as he walked with her out of the room. He led her back to her own office.
“They all seem nice. How does the shift thing work? Do members bid on the shift they want or is it assigned?”
“Kind of both. BT does the schedule up for a month at a time. The week before the start of the new month, an email goes out to the team. By then, everyone has a good idea of what they want their next month to look like. We also plug in any vacation days anyone has asked for up to that point for the next month. Three of the guys like to stay permanently on some kind of overnight shift, so we only have to recruit one person for overnights each four-day rotation each month. If I’m not scheduled for the field, I generally take a week of it or so. Danny Trio, callsign Mother, on Delta Team takes shifts in the Ops Center when he is not in the field. We schedule him overnights as well. Delta Team was who you watched yesterday take down that distribution warehouse in Compton.”
She nodded she remembered, but she didn’t specifically remember what Danny or Mother, looked like. The only one who’s appearance stuck with her was Lambchop.
“For any other special requested time-off situations, we have three other guys on the other teams who can do a stint in Ops when needed, and of course Cooper and Shepherd can too. We cover it.”
Madison checked her watch. It was eleven a.m. Her phone vibrated in her hand. An invitation from Cooper to work with him in his office at thirteen-hundred, after lunch. She accepted the invite and then turned her attention back to Anthony Garcia.
“So, why don’t you work on the protocols until lunch.” He pointed to her laptop.
“And I just got an invite from Cooper to work with him after.”
“Once you are all the way through the regular protocols, I’ll load up the special Ops Center ones.”
Madison sighed out loud. “How many hours will those take? Not to complain, but these seem endless.”
Garcia laughed. “Yeah, I know it seems that way, but this is the best training structure we have ever had. Learn at your own pace, reading as well as listening fits everyone’s learning style.”
“Listening?”
Garcia laughed again. “Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. Turn the volume up on your laptop or use headphones. Each unit is fully narrated. Hearing and reading them makes the material stick better for most.”
Madison moved back behind her desk and settled in. An hour later after reading and listening to various voices whom she recognized as members of the Ops Center team narrate the protocols, she paused it and closed the lid of her computer. She stretched as she rose, realizing her shoulders and upper back felt sore, damned tracker and injections.
She made her way down the hall to the stairs and caught up with Michaela and BT in the staircase, both heading down to grab lunch in the kitchen. BT filled two containers and took them back to the Ops Center for Yvette and himself. Michaela had planned to take h
ers to the lab as well but took a seat beside Madison when she noted how lost Madison looked. Angel was not there, nor was Cooper.
Madison dished up a serving for herself of the grilled chicken breast, garden salad and grilled vegetables, remembering Doc’s insistence the previous day of a healthier lunch. It appeared he got his way. There were a few men in the room she had not met yet. She introduced herself. Several were pilots and the four-man member of Charlie Team were there, having just gotten back from a security job that morning that had run the night before.
“We’re heading back out this evening,” the man who introduced himself as Taco said. He was an attractive man, longish blonde hair with blue eyes. He had a sturdy, strong build, but not overly muscular. “We’re just in for a meeting with Shepherd and Cooper. Then it’s home for a few hours of sleep before we meet back here at twenty-three hundred.”
“Charlie Team does a lot of the private security gigs,” the black man whose callsign was Powder added. His head was shaved close. His body was lean, corded muscle. He had a warm smile and bright, trustworthy eyes.
Michaela watched with fascination as Madison chatted the men up, probably charmed them all as well. She realized she shouldn’t have felt the need to keep Madison company. Madison was comfortable enough in her own skin to fit in with this group of strangers. Michaela guessed Madison would have the ability to fit in and talk with anyone, unlike herself.
As the pilots and the men of Charlie Team quickly finished their meals, Cooper walked in. Doc and Shepherd followed. Conversation stopped as they entered.
“Good, Madison, you’ve met Charlie Team,” Cooper said. “And a few of our pilots.”
“Yes,” Madison said with a smile. Knowing she would be a floater between the four teams, with little onboarding, she wanted to make the most of any opportunity to meet and get to know her teammates.
“Good,” Shepherd said. “Gentlemen,” he gazed between the members of Charlie Team, “I’m sorry I was unavailable. Thank you for being flexible and waiting. Give me ten minutes to grab some food and we’ll convene in the conference room next door.” His eyes shifted to Madison. “How is it going so far?”
She smiled politely. “It’s going well, thank you. Cooper and Garcia are making the most of every minute to get me oriented.” She used her most professional voice. Had she not been seated, she would have come to attention. Old habits die hard.
Shepherd nodded. “Good, not the most ideal circumstance but we’ll have to make it work.”
“Madison, I’ll be done with this meeting in about an hour. Come to my office and we’ll pick up where we left off yesterday.”
“Will do.”
Shepherd dished up a large container of food for himself with Cooper following behind him in doing so, and then they were gone, followed by the men of Charlie Team.
Madison rose from the table. “I guess I better go back to my office, need to get through some more of the protocols if I’m meeting with Cooper this afternoon.” She shook her head. “They’re endless.”
Michaela laughed. “Yes, but they’re important. The team has to all be on the same page.”
“Did you have to read through them too?”
“I sure did, but I had a lot more time than they’re giving you. Honestly,” she said dropping her voice down very softly, “I hope you freaking run circles around all of the guys. I’ve been waiting for them to hire a woman Operator who’ll kick their alpha-male asses. Way too much testosterone in this place.”
Madison couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not so sure I’m the one to do that, but I’ll give it my best shot.” Michaela came to her feet as well. “You know, I’ve never been one to feel like I had to be better than a guy to compete, but it is a little intimidating, being the first woman Operator on this team. I’m sure half of them are looking at me and thinking you’ve got to be kidding, doubting I could do the job.” She didn’t say out loud that she, herself somewhat doubted that as well.
“Angel said you didn’t really want the job.”
“I still don’t know if I do. The Ops Center, yes, the field Operator work, we’ll see.”
And with that the two left the solitude of the kitchen and took the stairs back to eight. They split off, Michaela going back to the lab, glad she took the lunch break with Madison, and Madison went to her office to get through as many of the units she could before her two o’clock with Cooper.
Madison’s eyes were tired, and she was stiff when she rose from her desk chair at five till two. She took the stairs to five. Shepherd’s office door was cracked open, and she heard him and Angel talking and laughing. She walked through the inner hallway to Cooper’s office, not seeing a soul.
For four hours Cooper went over training with Madison. Knowing he had such a short time to try to prepare her for field work, he focused on what he felt was most important as basics and for the upcoming Inverness Academy Operation. No matter what the setting, assume everyone has a gun. Search everyone you detain, and search thoroughly. Secure their hands with zip ties if you even suspect they may try to bolt or attack you. Better to offend them than to have them get the drop on you. Don’t be afraid to use your federal credentials. They are real and will hold up to anyone’s scrutiny, even law enforcement.
By the time she left for the day at eighteen-hundred hours, she was sure her mind was filled beyond its capacity. She was exhausted. She went through a drive-thru as she didn’t have it in her to spend anytime preparing herself a meal. She ate, took a hot bath and was in bed by nine.
Sleep didn’t come as quickly as she thought it would. All she learned that day cycled through her mind. To say she felt overwhelmed was an understatement. And intermingled with the facts of the protocols and the lesson’s that Cooper taught her that day her brain kept focusing on Cooper’s smile, how his honey-brown eyes sparkled, on his laugh and how she had noticed everything about him as they worked together. As her mind finally quieted, she pushed away these thoughts of Cooper. Or maybe it was once she had pushed away these thoughts of Cooper, her mind quieted. Either way, she finally fell asleep.
Hotel
Madison was at her desk where she had been since she had gotten in at seven that morning. It was only ten o’clock but felt like it should be four in the afternoon. Her eyes were glued to her laptop screen. She still had far too many protocols to learn. Garcia expected her to finish them today. She honestly didn’t know how that was going to happen.
Doc watched her from the open doorway. She stretched her arms over her head, rolled her shoulders, and tilted her head to the right and the left. Without looking up, she took hold of a coffee mug on the desk and took a long drink. She had brought a Keurig coffee maker in and a gallon bottle of water that morning. She drank four cups already.
When she rolled her shoulders again, Doc spoke. “You should stand up and stretch every so often you know.”
She glanced up, startled. “Sorry, Doc, I didn’t see you. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to see you’re in discomfort. You’re stiff, which means you need to move around.”
She gave him a weary smile and stretched again, even arched her back. “I need to get through these last hundred protocols.”
Doc came up beside her. “Stand up.”
She stood at his prompting like he was a superior officer entering the room or giving an order. Damn, some habits never went away. He palpitated her upper back near the spot the tracker had been injected.
“Any pain?” He asked.
“No, I’m just stiff overall from sitting too long.”
Then he gripped both her shoulders where the immunizations had been injected. “How about here? Any discomfort from the injections?”
“No, that’s fine too. And let me stop you before you grope my ass where you injected me. No pain there, either.”
Doc laughed. “I’m going to bring you to the gym and show you around. There is a locker room with showers. Cooper wants to spar and check you out
on your hand-to-hand skills. Do you feel up for that?”
“Sure,” she replied. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but she might as well get it over with. She grabbed her gym bag that she had brought in that morning and stowed her workout wear and shoes in earlier.
Doc brought her down to basement sublevel one. Pushing through the stairwell door they emerged into a large, open space. A large selection of weighted machines and free weights were in front of them, racks with barbells and heavy plates along the wall. Cardio equipment was lined up behind the weights. Stretching out in the expanse the other way were mats, hanging heavy bags, speed bags, uppercut bags, double end bags, and teardrop bags. There were even several padded human punching dummies.
