Page 18 of Eight Years (The Trident Trilogy 1)

Chapter Eleven

Millie

Virginia Beach, Virginia

2019

As I drive up to the naval base, my palms begin to sweat. My mind is racing. My heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. I’ve never had a panic attack, but I’m sure this is what it feels like.

“Ma’am. Can I help you?” The guard is talking to me, but my mind is still spinning from thinking about the last time I pulled up to this gate. It was eight years ago, but it suddenly feels like yesterday.

“Ma’am?” The guard is leaning down, and looking cautiously into my open window.

“Sorry. Yes, I’m here to meet with Harrison Culver. Captain Culver,” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

“Name?”

“Harrison Culver.”

“I mean your name, ma’am.” He’s looking at me like I’m an idiot. Or I’m high. Or both.

“Oh, right. Sorry. Millie Marsh.” I suddenly feel sixteen years old again.

“Wait here.” He walks back to the guard gate.

I force myself not to look over at the last place I saw my dad. Where he dropped me off at my car. Where he told me he’d see me in a few days. My eyes are focused firmly on my steering wheel when the guard walks back over.

“You can go in. Captain Culver is expecting you at eight hundred. Do you know where you’re going?”

I try to focus as he gives me directions to Culver’s office. Apparently, I didn’t focus well enough. I have to text Raine to give me directions again. She’s waiting for me as I get out of my car.

“I see you’re wearing your super agent costume,” Raine says, smiling. I’m wearing a black pantsuit, white button-up blouse, hair up in a top knot, glasses, heels—my power look.

“Yeah, I need all the mojo I can get right now,” I say.

“You okay? I know you’re feeling some kind of way being here.”

“I think I’m okay. I just don’t want to talk about him. I’m focused.”

Raine takes me in the building, and we wind through a bunch of hallways. Every time I take a turn, I see guys with long hair, scraggly beards, scars, tats, tired eyes. This is going to be harder than I thought. We finally stop at an open door. The guy at the desk looks up. His eyes widen when he sees me.

“Captain, this is Millie Marsh,” Raine says. “She’s the agent we talked about who will be running the target package for Amar Petrovic in Sarajevo.”

Culver walks around his desk, smiling at me with a kinder smile than is necessary. As he’s shaking my hand, he says, “Raine, may Agent Marsh and I have a moment alone?”

“Oh, I’m briefed on this package, sir,” Raine says quickly.

“I know you are, Raine. I still need a few minutes.” Culver’s eyes are so intensely focused on me that I think they might start shooting out laser beams soon.

Raine says, “I’ll be right out here,” to no one as she closes the door slowly.

Culver motions me to take a seat, and retreats back behind his desk. He sits down and just stares at me. Right through me. “So, it’s Agent Marsh now, huh?”

I suddenly feel a little uneasy. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”

He smiles at me knowingly. “Millie, I know you’re Mack’s daughter.”

I take a deep breath in, wondering how he found out. Did George tell him? Did Raine? Someone has been talking too much.

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