Page 118 of Lars

“What’s the name of this joint task force?”

“I can’t tell you.”

She bristled. “What? Why not?”

“It’s classified. I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”

“You’re joking.” Her tone was obviously displeased.

“Come on, now – you of all people should understand.”

“Understand what?”

“The need for secrecy in a job.”

“Yes, but – this is all a bit sudden. You’ve been telling me forever that you have another two years to go, then suddenly you call me out of the blue and say, ‘No, just kidding, I’m out – but I’m part of a top-secret task force I can’t tell you anything about.’”

I frowned. The conversation wasn’t going the way I’d thought it would.

“You don’t let me know anything about your life. I don’t even know where you live, for God’s sake.”

“And that’s been part of the agreement since the very beginning. You signed up knowing that’s how it was. But in the last 30 seconds, you’ve gone and changed everything I thought I knew.”

“Look… there are aspects of your job that are secret. I get that. But in exchange for me being able to live in London, there are aspects of my job that have to remain secret, too. I need you to respect that.” What was it that Alistair had said? “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

She laughed, but not pleasantly. “This is more like the gander showing up and saying, ‘By the way, luv, that whole thing about me being a gander? I’m actually a duck.’”

I frowned. I had no idea what the fuck she was talking about with ganders and ducks, but I refused to get distracted. “I thought you’d be happy about this.”

“I am! Deliriously happy! But you have to understand, it’s a huge change in an extremely short period of time. I’m going to have questions – it’s unavoidable.”

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. I can only tell you so much.”

“You do realize my employer will have questions about this as well, don’t you? I’m certain they’ll find it highly unusual.”

I wanted to tell her that we were working for the same people and that I doubted they would care – but I bit my tongue. “Let them do whatever they need to do.”

“…alright…”

There was an uncomfortable silence.

Rachel finally broke it by asking, “When are you coming?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said brusquely. “I just found out 30 minutes ago. I have to settle some things over here before I can leave.”

“Okay… you’ll let me know, right?”

“Yes.”

Her voice softened. “Lars, please don’t be mad at me. It’s just… it’s a lot to take in.”

I felt dread pull at my guts as another possibility presented itself. “You want me to come to London, don’t you?”

“Of COURSE I do! This is amazing! I really am thrilled. I just… I’m rather shocked by it, too. That’s all.”

“Okay… I can understand that,” I said grudgingly.

“I feel like everything I thought I knew turned out to be wrong.”

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