Page 13 of Shockproof

Harvey let’s his jaw plummet in surprise.

“Not everyone loves my brilliance.” The pen in my possession is waved around like a wand to the timing of my declaration. “Case and point.”

“Not wanting you in class is a bit different than wanting you dead,” Harvey nonchalantly insists, words wafting between us.

“Maybe…just…alittle.”

We share a small snicker that successfully smothers out more of the uneasiness coursing through my veins.

Thismoment between us actually feels very familiar.

Working in tight quarters.

Being challenged to look at a situation from a different angle and then presenting him with a small playful pout of concession.

Thisis what he was like before the title and the huge office and the paycheck that could stimulate the economy of a developing low-income nation.

Thisis Harv.

Thisis the guy I had once planned to take home for the holidays.

Harvey delivers a gentle tap to the pile in front of me. “You find anything useful in the handwriting samples?”

“Useful?” Mirth does its best to bum rush into my tone. “Absolutely. I now know we need a better vetting process for our licensed in-house psychologists and counselors considering the factso manyof them have a habit of just sending emotionally unreliable operatives back into the field without concern of the consequences. How I’m the only one being stalked for revenge or retribution – or whatever the reason may be that I’m now on their most wanted list – is amindfuckin itself given the number of mentally unstable people that were sent back into the field withloaded weapons.”

I’m flashed a slight cringe. “How far back did you go?”

“Further back than I originally anticipated.” Absentmindedly clicking the writing utensil occurs next. “Working with the original data I had collected and then the data I had been given access to allowed for me to construct a timeline; however, onceallthe other branches submitted their records – our international divisions were a little slower on the upload – I not only was able to create an algorithm that allowed me to pinpoint thetruestarting point in time of the poach dates but also additional poaches – like language liaison agents, environmental evaluators, phlebotomists – that I had not considered in my initial search given their more much sporadic exiting. On the upside, I was correct about the startingplacebeing this branch in particular. This also explains their intimate knowledge of our security protocols, expectations, and building schematics.”

Concern and consternation chaotically collect in his glare. “How long has someone been siphoning employees from our enterprise?”

“You don’t want the answer.”

“How long?”

“You won’t like the answer.”

“How. Long. Arley?”

My thoughtless clicking increases exponentially. “Little less than seven years.”

“Seven…” the bright red lettering that falls from his lips shakes as much as his mouth does, “years?”

“I said a little less! About two months after you officially stepped into your number.”

“In other words…” He runs both hands through his dark locks prior to professing. “This is my fault.”

“No, it’s-”

“This is happening because of my incompetence.”

“No, you’re not-”

“My inexperience.”

I drop my hand firmly on his arm at the same time I snap, “Stop.”

To my surprise, he immediately ceases speaking.

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