Page 21 of A More Perfect Union

“Vaguely, although Ihave to confess, I feel like someone blindfolded me and turned me around incircles since the last time I was here.” She looked over to her right at thecandy shop. “Now that I remember. Is that chocolate in the window as good as itlooks?”

“Better. They callthis whole row Make Up Alley. Flowers, candy, cards—everything you need to apologize for any transgression. If you’relucky enough to have someone to go home to, that is.”

“I take it you’re notmarried?”

“Not even close,”Jack replied. “I haven’t exactly lived the kind of life conducive torelationships. You?”

“Married to the Army.She understands me.” Zoey shook her head. “At least until lately.”

“I imagine things gota little rough for you after you came forward about Nine Tech.”

“Nothing I couldn’thandle.” The moment the words were out, she regretted her clipped tone.

He held up his hands.“Oh, I have no doubt, but it couldn’t have been easy. I’ve been around longenough to know soldiers turn on one of their own if they think they’re indanger of getting caught. For the record, I fully support your decision to comeforward. Sharp must too if he brought you in.”

She thought it likelySharp’s decision was more complicated than a mere evaluation of herperformance, but she didn’t feel like making excuses. “There’s a better thaneven chance I’m here because no one else will have me.”

“Their loss.” Hestopped in front of a door. “Here’s your stop.”

“You’re not comingin?”

“I’ve got a meetingdown the hall. I’m sure I’ll run into you again soon. You still have my card?”At her nod, he added, “This place can be a little crazy to get used to whenyou’ve been out in the world. Call me if you need anything. Any friend ofAddison’s is a friend of mine.”

He was gone beforeshe could point out that she barely knew his famous sister. She shook her headand walked into Sharp’s office suite. She fully expected to meet with one ofhis aides to get more information about her exact assignment, but thelieutenant at the desk just outside his door motioned for her to go into hisoffice.

“Have a seat, Major,”Sharp said, barely looking up from his computer. “Although I won’t be callingyou that for long.” He slid his keyboard aside and picked up a folder. “Here’sthe paperwork for your promotion. Shouldn’t be long now.”

“Thank you, sir.” Shetook the folder from his outstretched hand and glanced inside at the officialdocuments. It wasn’t a done deal yet, but as with every promotion before, sheexperienced a surge of who should I call, who can I tell, but the musingsvanished as quickly as they came. Getting the commission had to be good enoughon its own.

“Ready for your nextassignment?”

“As long as itdoesn’t involve sitting across from the Senate Armed Services Committee for agrilling, I’m all yours.” She grinned as she delivered the words, but shecouldn’t have been more serious. She was ready to be tucked away in some cornerof the Pentagon, content to be a cog in the massive military machine.

Sharp chuckled. “Ithink we can manage a small break from the rabid senators, but I’m afraid theremight be some grilling.” He reached for another file on his desk and pushed ittoward her. “We have a small situation that some folks across the lake thinkmight blow up into something bigger. General Bloomfield was impressed with theway you handled yourself up on the hill and has directed me to assign you toPublic Affairs for the Joint Staff.” He waved his hand. “Sounds worse than itis. You’ll head our internal investigation and act as a liaison with the WhiteHouse to keep them informed. Take an hour to review the file. Major Dixon willaccompany you to briefings at first, mostly to help you find your way aroundand assist you with anything you need, but you’re his senior and this is yourshow.”

Zoey ran her fingersalong the file folder in her hands, itching to get a look inside as she slowlydigested the specifics of her new assignment. White House. Briefings. Publicrelations. Apparently, there would be no hiding out in her new position. Notfor a while anyway. “Are you sure I’m the right person for this? I’m a bit of alightning rod after the Nine Tech mess. And I kind of expected to stay inlogistics.”

“Not my call, but Ican’t disagree with Bloomfield’s judgment. Folks on the Hill loved you. Youwere the very model of the perfect soldier in their eyes. I expect the WhiteHouse will love you too.”

Zoey focused on whatshe didn’t hear, which was whether he actually agreed with Bloomfield’sdecision. Agreement was decidedly different from not being able to disagree.She wasn’t sure why she cared either way. Aside from a deployment to some basewhere no one knew her or had access to C-SPAN, being tucked away here wasprobably her best chance at putting Nine Tech behind her. But Public Affairssounded suspiciously like the kind of work Rook did, and the prospect causedher gut to churn. Was she going to be expected to find the best spin for newsinvolving the military? She knew some news stories needed to be massaged tomake them more palatable for the general public, but she was known for being astraight shooter not a smooth talker.Maybe that’s why they picked you.She took a deep breath and decided to go with that. “Thank you, sir. I’ll do mybest.”

“I have no doubt.” Hestood to signal the meeting was over, and she scrambled to her feet. “Margaretsaid you found a place.”

Damn. She’d almostforgotten she was supposed to meet the landlord around noon today. She startedto mention that to Sharp, but decided she’d just have to figure out a way towork it in. “Yes, sir.”

“You’ve never livedoff base, have you?”

“No, sir.”

“I think it might begood for a change. Allow you to stay out of the fray.”

“Yes, sir.” Sheresisted the urge to ask exactly what he meant by fray.

“Lieutenant Louden,out front can show you to your office, and Major Dixon will be by to collectyou.” He paused after the words of dismissal and his stare was penetrating.“I’m counting on you, Major. Don’t let me down.”

She nodded and turnedto leave, uncertain where she was going or what was behind the cryptic message.Chances were good she was trying too hard to decipher a hidden meaning to hispointed words. General Bloomfield might have picked her for this job, but Sharphad probably made the recommendation based on the years he’d known her. Lettinghim down wasn’t an option.

Louden was on thephone, so she lingered just far enough away from his desk to let him know shewas waiting but not be obtrusive. When he finished the call, he grinned herway. “Ready to see your new digs?”

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