Page 44 of Desolation

I watch as David walks away, grinding my teeth as he goes. I have no idea what Jackson wants. He’s probably pissed at me for my appearance today or because I have barely figured out shit on this damn case.

I rub my eyes with the palms of my hands and try to recenter myself. I need to get my shit together. But all I can think about is that phone call with Aubrey. The downward spiral of my life. The way I fucked things up with Mari.

That’s why I got drunk last night. After the call with Aubrey and then the lecture from Mr. Cartwell, I was done. Then I overheard Georgia telling Violet that Mari had stopped by earlier in the day and told her she was moving back to Chicago and wouldn’t be visiting anymore.

We aren’t anything. But there was something there. I could feel it. I am pretty sure she did too and that’s what scared her enough to run. But to leave without saying a word to me. And not just Saturday night but to leave the state altogether and not have the courtesy to reach out to me. I’m sure Wendy would have given her my phone number.

“Thompson,” Jackson shouts from his open office door.

I shake the thoughts from my head and rub my hands through my hair before standing and heading into his office. Might as well get this over with.

“Have you found anything?” Jackson asks me as I sit down in a seat across from his desk.

“Not much. But I keep coming across this name Al Rashad. I’ve been looking for a connection to any known terrorist organizations and I can’t find anything. I’m sure it’s an alias. Thanks to David’s software I’ve been able to decode a few locations and I’ve gotten security footage. It’s grainy as hell but I am seeing if I recognize anyone. Anything that will link Al Rashad to a known terrorist.”

Jackson nods. “Good. I’m glad we are making progress. I want to deliver a report to the government today. That’s enough to keep them paying us to move forward.” He sets his pen down before looking at me with a less serious face. “Are you doing okay?”

“Yes,” I answer shortly.

“Everyone treating you like a brother?”

I nod.

“My wife is making dinner tonight for a few friends. She does it every now and then. We would love for you to join us. Mark is flying in tonight too.”

I take a deep breath. I don’t want to be social. My head is too much of a mess but I can’t turn down my boss.

“Sounds good, sir.”

“Jackson.”

I raise a brow. “Huh?”

“You can call me Jackson. No need to call me sir.”

“Right.” I nod.

“Keep up the good work, Thompson.”

* * *

I take a deep breath as I sit in my car outside Jackson’s house. I don’t want to be here but I know I need to get used to being part of a team. And a team player doesn’t turn down social obligations with his boss.

I pull a toothpick out of my mouth and toss it out the window.

I can do this. Stop thinking about Mari and Sam and Aubrey.

You are the best there is, Landon.

You are steel and iron.

Soldier, warrior.

I repeat the motto in my head that I always gave myself before any test and deployment.

The door opens as I walk up the steps and a beautiful woman with brown eyes and brown hair greets me, a little girl on her hip. “You must be Landon. I’m Catherine, Jackson’s wife.”

“Nice to meet you.”

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