Page 26 of Anchor
“You’re part of Ann Arbor now,” Paulsen said, but this time there was a note under the steel, something almost congratulatory. “Effective immediately, you’ve been named team lead for Tree Town One. That makes you the point man for the primary Ann Arbor tactical unit. Congratulations, Reid. You earned it.”
Reid’s chest tightened. “Thank you, sir.”
“Your first orientation and team meeting is tonight at nineteen-hundred hours,” Paulsen continued. “Location will be pushed to your secure line. Come dressed in business attire. You’ll be issued your leadership uniforms once you’re inside.”
Reid nodded even though the man couldn’t see him. “Yes, sir.”
“And bring Miss Bowman with you,” Paulsen added, tone even but lighter now, almost casual. “Ian and Martin Bailey would like to speak with her informally. It’s relaxed. Nothing for her to be concerned about, but we want her in a room. She’ll be scheduled at the same time as you. That will make things easy.”
Reid’s hand flexed against the phone. “Copy that.”
“You’ve got the day to yourself,” Paulsen finished. “Use it. And, Reid, be ready to walk in tonight as the man your team needs you to be.” The line clicked dead.
Reid lowered the phone slowly, setting it on the counter with care, though it felt heavier than it should have. Across from him, Claire stood with her mug untouched, her sharp eyes locked on his. She was reading him before he said a word.
“That wasn’t just about you.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
Reid shook his head once. “They want you at nineteen-hundred. Ian and Martin Bailey want to speak with you. Noah said it’s informal. My first meeting with the team is the same time.”
Reid studied her a moment longer, then exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. The morning had not fully settled yet. He could still hear Noah’s voice:Congratulations, Reid. You earned it.
And under it, quieter but sharper, was Tuck’s voice:There’s a door for you at Chase. All you have to do is walk through it.
His throat worked once. “I need to call my Uncle Tuck.”
Claire tilted her head and smiled. “To tell him?”
Reid nodded, the decision solid in his chest. “He put me on this path. He should hear it from me, not anyone else.”
Her eyes softened. “He’ll be proud.”
Reid wasn’t sure “proud” was the word Tuck would use, but he knew one thing: when his uncle picked up, he’d understand exactly what this meant. And Reid needed that steadiness in his corner before nineteen-hundred came.
Reid picked up the phone again, thumb already finding Tuck’s number. He listened to the ring… one, two, three… before the voicemail tone cut in.
He drew in a breath, then spoke low, steady. “It’s me. Just got off with Paulsen. I’ve been named team lead for Ann Arbor’s Tree Town One. Orientation’s tonight at nineteen-hundred. You told me there’d be a door. I walked through it. Guess I’m inside now. I’ll catch you when I can.”
He ended the call before the words could sit too long. Tuck would understand the shorthand. He always did.
“They gave us the day,” Reid said to Claire. “It’s ours. No check-ins, no tail. Just time.”
Her brows lifted faintly, as if testing whether he believed it himself.
“Somewhere along the way,” he added, “I need to swing by my place. Paulsen made that clear. I’ll need business attire for tonight.”
Claire’s mouth curved in the faintest line, not quite a smile. “A suit, then.”
“Something close,” Reid said, a ghost of dry humor threading through. “Apparently uniforms get issued tonight. Guess I’ll find out what a Chase team lead looks like.”
Her expression shifted again, something softer breaking through the calculation. “You already look like one.”
For a beat, neither of them moved. The morning hung there, heavy, undeniable, but so did the quiet truth of the day stretching ahead of them, unclaimed.
Reid finally reached for his coffee. “Then let’s make the most of it.”
TREETOWN DINER – 0800 HOURS
They ate at a corner diner two blocks from her place, where the air always smelled like butter and burnt coffee. Reid stuck to eggs and toast. Claire tore through a stack of pancakes like she hadn’t eaten in days.
