The bright fluorescent lights caused Mike to squeeze his eyes shut and blink as he entered the hallway and collided with Julia. By the looks of it, she’d been there a while waiting for him to reenter the building. An edgy tenseness emanated from her. Her back was against the wall, arms crossed, a no-nonsense look on her face. She’d been mulling something over, Mike guessed and decided to act on it.

He tapped Tom’s arm with the back of his hand as they walked. “You go ahead. I’m going to talk to Julia for a minute we’ll meet you in the briefing room when we’re done.

Tom looked at him, at Julia, and he walked on, nodding at Julia as he passed.

Her attention was so fixed on Mike she didn’t even notice Tom’s grin.

She pulled herself off the wall. The intensity in her eyes kept him from getting the first word in.

“Let me start.”

Mike stayed quiet.

“One thing you should know about me is I’m a really nice person until you cross me. I deserved an apology, and I was relieved when you did apologize.” She tipped her head. “I know I don’t have your breadth of experience.” She quickly lifted her hand, one finger raised. “Yes, you have tactical control of this operation, but I have operational control. I’m going to need to rely on you to help me make this mission a success. We can’t be at odds or have separate agendas before we even start. We need to work together. When we leave the front gate, I know it’s your world, but believe me, I poured myself into this before there was a mission. Without blowing my own horn, I can tell you on an intellectual level I know everything of importance there is to know about this country. In my world, I’m the go-to girl, no one can outperform me technically or with the same tenacity.” She paused, letting her arms slide down and putting her hands in her pockets. “I admit I may have come off a little arrogantly. I apologize for that. I was trying to make a good impression. Maybe I was a little nervous meeting you and Tom. Al made you guys out to be some kind of superheroes.”

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Mike opened his mouth to speak.

She lifted her hands higher. “Let me finish.”

He nodded.

“I’ve already spoken to Al, Ahmad, and Bruce, and they agree. With them, you, Tom, and I we offer a great deal of experience, knowledge, and insight. I believe this partnership can work, but you have to be on board for it all to come together. Are you willing to work with me? Are you willing to conduct this mission with us no matter what constraints you feel might exist?”

Her head tilted eyes stared at him expectantly.

“Ah,” he said. “Your right, I’m sorry again I acted like an ass in the briefing room. You didn’t deserve that, and I should have handled myself more professionally.”

Her mouth dropped, and her eyes opened a little wider. She quickly recovered, closing her mouth.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about that valley and what happened there. I always hoped I would be back, but honestly never thought I ever would. Ever since I got off the plane, a lot of memories have resurfaced, more than the Tal Bez Valley, memories of the whole damn country. I won’t say they haunt me, but they aren’t good memories.” He looked down at the floor. “Being here makes everything feel fresh again. Maybe it’s true, be careful what you wish for.” A wry grin crossed his lips. “Tom and I had a little talk outside, and I guess I gained a little perspective.” He put his right hand out. “As you say, partners.”

She took his hand and shook it with an impressively firm grip he noticed. Her hands were rough for an office worker.

Her half concerned, half confused look quickly turned into a genuine smile.

“Well,” she said, releasing his hand. “That went a lot better than I thought it would.”

“You caught me at the right time.” He smiled. “Ten minutes earlier and…” He motioned with his left hand toward the briefing room. “Well, who knows.”

“My lucky day.”

They started walking side by side.

He’d make good and do everything he could to make this mission go smoothly. He’d help her get through any rough spots and achieve her goals. They might even remain friends when they all got back to the States. But nothing or no one was going to stop him from killing Hotak. He would do whatever had to be done regardless or in spite of what she thought her mission was.

He smiled as they walked. She smiled back.