Page 7 of Blind Trust
“You know, just in case I need you to fill in for me.”
Worry filled Nic. “Everything okay? Your health?”
Jack smiled. “I’m fine and still cancer-free, which is why Brynn and I thought it would be the perfect time to start trying for a bambino.”
“A baby?” Nic smiled. “You serious?”
“Yes, Lord willing.” Jack’s smile grew, filling his face all the way to his eyes. “So can you do me a solid and figure out how to play nice with Lyla?”
“I don’t know, brother,” Nic deadpanned. “I think playing with bombs is safer.”
Jack tilted his head to the side. “I might actually agree with you on that.”
They both shared a laugh just as a familiar silver Volvo pulled into a parking space next to Nic’s truck. The passenger-side window rolled down, and Nic and Jack leaned toward it.
Nic pressed a palm on the top of the car. “Morning, sir.”
“Bible study’s over, sir,” Jack said. “You missed a good lesson on Elijah.”
“I’m sure I did.” Director Tom Walsh gave a genuine smile. “I need to chat with you, Nic, if you have a minute.”
Unease coursed through Nic. “Yes, sir.”
Jack straightened. “I’ll head to work and see you both when you get there.”
“Just Nic,” Walsh said. “I’ve got another meeting with the State Department.”
Nic didn’t know if the displeasure he detected in Walsh’s voice was due to the meeting or what he needed to talk with him about. Nic gave a quick nod to Jack as he got into his car and left, then removed his cap before climbing into the passenger seat of the Volvo. “Yes, sir?”
Walsh adjusted the vents in his car, turning the heat down. “I ran into General DeAntona this morning.”
Nic’s insides squeezed at the name of his old EOD commander. At the time, his boss was a colonel, and now he was a lieutenant general—a rank that didn’t surprise Nic in the least. DeAntona was a soldier’s soldier through and through. A great leader and one Nic would’ve appreciated working under for longer than fourteen months. He dropped his gaze to his hands, the shame still weighing on him.
“General DeAntona speaks highly of you and your service as part of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal community.”
Nic glanced up, and Walsh’s blue eyes held steady on him as if he’d known exactly where Nic’s thoughts were. And he did. That day when Nic showed up asking for a job, Walsh didn’t ask the questions others had about his past. He made it clear that he knew. Nic didn’t ask how, just accepted the chance to redeem himself.
“It was a privilege to work for him.”
“He’d like to offer you that privilege again.” Walsh straightened his glasses on his nose. “This morning I was in a briefing with President Lawson, his national security advisor, and the State Department. There’s been an uptick in IED bombings in Syria at the announcement of the upcoming election. The most recent one killed a man who dared to challenge the current Syrian president. General DeAntona is taking a group of specialists to Syria at the request of the UN in an operation he’s calling Free Vote. The idea behind it is to give the Syrian citizens their best and safest chance to vote independent of influence.”
“They want us in Syria?” Nic ran his palm down his thigh to his knee at the memory of his tour in Syria. The devastation caused by the Syrian Civil War. He could still smell the rank odor of burned rubber as displaced families threw tires onto fires to stay warm.
“No,” Walsh said. “He’d like you to meet with the FBI this morning and lend your expertise to an IED discovered at the US Embassy in Damascus.”
Nic could think of a dozen or more EOD officers, active, whose knowledge would be more relevant. “Why me?”
“DeAntona didn’t give me much detail.” Walsh reached across his dash and picked up a file, which he handed to Nic. “But he believes you have some personal experience with the particular device in question. He doesn’t trust anyone else and wants you on the team. Everything you need to know is in there, including your report date should you choose to go.”
Nic took the folder but didn’t open it. His brain was trying to wrap around what was happening. He never imagined having another chance to work with the military or DeAntona, but part of him wondered if there was more to this sudden arrangement—especially after his conversation with Jack. Had he mentioned his concern to Walsh?
“Sir, you’ve always been straight with me.” Nic steeled himself. “Am I being fired?”
“What?” Walsh looked genuinely confused. “No. This is a temporary assignment. One I told DeAntona I’d present on the promise he wouldn’t try to steal you out from under me. He assured me you’d be released once the mission was complete.”
Which could mean weeks. Months. Nic thought about his earlier concerns and the message Chaplain Hahm had given them regarding the prophet Elijah being called to do something new...something that would take him away from what he knew. Was this God’s answer to his doubts?
“I don’t want to add to the pressure of this decision, but the sooner you know, the sooner I can make arrangements with theteam.” Walsh’s words drew Nic’s attention. “Nic, I know what happened last week has been weighing on you, but Lyla’s behavior is not a reflection on you. I’ve known her a long time, and I would’ve been shocked had she done anything different.”
