Page 124 of The Ranger
Just by coincidence, of course.
(cough)
So, yeah, all of that was within government capability but much slower.
“I heard you worked with NCMEC for a time?”Josh asked.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led a ten-week national operation to find endangered missing children, and the United States Marshals Service was one of the agencies who assisted.
I was on that team.
The operation was conducted across sixteen states, including Los Angeles.We found critically missing children and were able to raise awareness of the epidemic of missing children in America.
“I did.”I spun my beer on the countertop.“My cousin went missing when I was a kid.It’s why I joined the US Marshal Service.”
“I know.”
Fucker.Of course, he did.
I should’ve known he’d looked into my past.Much of it is locked down because of my job.
Not that it would stop BHS.
“Join my team.I’ll triple your current salary, and you’ll be able to make much more of an impact.Help many more children.”
I thought about it for a long moment while Josh impatiently waited.
“We might work better together on both sides of the aisle.As we did on this job.”
Josh shook his head.
“You haven’t seen the half of it.Only the tip of the iceberg.”He tossed back his drink, let out a satisfied sigh, then looked me in the eye.“Think on it.It’s a big decision, I know.Leaving the SEALs took months.But I need good men to help these kids, and I think you have it in your blood to step outside the boundaries you live within.”
He was wrong.
I was a rule follower.
I just didn’t agree withallthe rules all the time.
Shit...the goddamn SEAL was right again.
Shaking my hand, he dropped a big tip and walked out.
Josh Hawke is a huge man.Over six foot four and built like a brick shithouse.Some would say I was a big guy, and I am, but just for a moment I’d smiled, imagining being on a battlefield with that guy.
Definitely wouldn’t want to be on the other team.
I sat for an hour in the bar after he left, deliberating on my future.
It was a huge decision.I’d risen through the ranks and gotten to a place I was happy, where I thought I was making a difference.Until I saw what else was possible.
Recently, I’d broken up with my girlfriend, and while I was relieved because we seemed to just argue at every turn, I couldn’t help but feel we’d thrown away something.
Something was off, and she didn’t seem to want to work it out, so we parted.
Maybe this was the fresh start I needed.
Mom always told me to sleep on things.Especially big life choices.
