Page 17 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“I’ll take it under advisement,” Shepherd said. “Wilson stay, everyone else you’re dismissed until zero seven hundred on Monday morning. Enjoy your long weekend.”

Wilson watched the others file out of the room.

“Two things,” Shepherd said once they were alone in his office. “I’m pulling you from the next PGP install. You’ll join the team assigned to the next CIA referral mission. Sloan requested to be removed from it as he and his wife just received some news regarding her pregnancy that has necessitated a doctor’s appointment with a specialist. That appointment is Wednesday.”

“Oh, no. I hope everything’s okay.” Wilson knew the couple had been trying to get pregnant for a long time.

“It should be. They just found out they’re having twins and that her pregnancy is now deemed high risk,” Shepherd said. “They need to find out what if any restrictions she’ll have and then make arrangements and Sloan wanted to be there with her for it.”

A smile spread over Wilson’s face. “Twins, huh,” he laughed. “Sloan is so screwed.”

Shepherd chuckled as well. “Anyway, I wanted you to hear about the reassignment from me rather than in an email. You’re going to be spending less time on the ground this year assigned to the PGP installs, all of Charlie Team will.”

“That’s good to hear,” Wilson said.

He then waited a moment. Shepherd had said he was remaining behind for two things. What Wilson hadn’t expected was anorder to report to Dr. Lassiter when the meeting was finished. But that was what item number two was. Usually, a meeting with Lassiter, the team shrink, immediately after a mission only occurred if something went sideways. He considered this last one a success.

“Hi, Joe,” Wilson greeted Lassiter after he’d entered Joe’s office to find Joe straightening his waiting room.

“Hi. Come on back,” he said pointing to the door to his inner office.

Wilson followed him to his kitchenette where the majority of the meetings took place. Lassiter grabbed a bottle of water from his refrigerator and held it up to Wilson.

“Yes, thank you,” Wilson said.

Lassiter sat across from him. “Shepherd looped me in on the last mission, not because the shit hit the fan but because it could have. Had it been a real threat inside that shed, you would have been cut down the second you kicked the door open,” Lassiter said.

“Instinct and situational awareness told me it wasn’t a real threat,” Wilson said.

“You’ve been doing this a long time, both with Delta and with Shepherd,” Lassiter said.

“Charlie Team’s had a nice little vacation working mostly on the PGP Project over the last few years. I’ve always said it all pays the same and we’ve been rotated onto active cases often enough that our skills are staying sharp, but I’ll admit these kinds of cases are appealing.”

“You led a team with several members you’d never been in risky situations with,” Lassiter pointed out.

“Yes. As soon as the order came to contact the protectee and transport him, I evaluated my team. I knew, of course, that Tessman and Roth could handle whatever came our way. Michael Cooper had some experience, but I knew Saxton was green. She handled herself well.”

“You led her well,” Lassiter corrected him.

“Because of the PGP Project she already sees me as an authority figure plus she respects experience in the field as opposed to rank.”

“With the new team structures and types of missions Shepherd Security will be engaging in this year, you’re going to be leading actual case teams again, many times with different team members assigned than just Charlie Team. That’s one of the reasons we’re touching bases.”

Wilson took a drink of the water, stalling for time. This was one of those open-ended statements from Lassiter that was a fishing expedition. “I’m up for it.” He beamed a smile at Joe. “It all pays the same.”

Lassiter laughed. “No one shoots at you and your team on the PGP Project.”

“Not usually,” Wilson agreed. “This case started out as an install. That just goes to prove any job can lead to a traditional case or a federal agency assist. I’m glad Saxton got her full Operator training.”

“If what could have happened had you given the order to return fire at the shed weighs on you, I expect to hear from you,” Lassiter said.

“I’ll reach out if that happens,” Wilson assured him.

“Okay,” Joe said. He nodded towards the door. “For the record, I hope your flight isn’t canceled tomorrow. Have a Bushwacker for me while you’re there.”

Wilson chuckled as he stood. “I wasn’t aware you knew your drink history so well.”

“Saint Thomas, the Bushwacker, San Juan, the Pina Colada, and from Havana, the Mojito. Yes, I am a man full of useless information,” Lassiter said with a smile.

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