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The ringing stopped but immediately started back up again.
Apparently, it couldn’t wait or his boss would have left a message.
“Damn it to hell.” Gray grabbed the phone. The sinking stone in his gut told him he was going to have to cancel his breakfast plans.
“Gray, it’s Randall.” Randall Hunter started every phone conversation the same way. “How was your brother’s wedding?”
He’d worked for Randall Hunter for almost four years now and had noticed a long time ago that the man cared about his people’s personal lives, even if he was often responsible for ruining them. Regardless of the seriousness of a phone call or meeting, he always asked about Gray’s life. An outsider might assume they were co-workers who spent time together outside the office, but Randall didn’t know what a life outside the office was.
“The wedding was great.” Gray propped his feet back up while he waited for Randall to drop the pleasantries and reveal the purpose of his call.
“Good. Good. My daughter said everyone is talking about it on social media.”
The comment didn’t require a response, so Gray took another sip of coffee.
“Are you still in Providence?”
As if the guy didn’t know. “I decided to spend a few extra days visiting family.”
“I understand that. Family is important.”
What did Randall know about family? Work was his life, which explained why he was on his fourth marriage.
“We have a situation in Cozumel. I need you to fly out there and handle it.”
Gray had expected something like this, but still… He swore under his breath. “Can you send someone else?”
Under normal circumstances he never passed his work on to someone else. However, the past several months hadn’t been what he considered normal.
“I haven’t slept in my own bed in weeks. I planned to spend at least the weekend here. I’ll be back in New York no later than next Tuesday and ready for anything you toss at me then.”
The world wouldn’t end if he stayed on vacation for a few more days.
“You’re it, Gray. There’s no one else who can handle this situation.”
Gray rubbed the tension in his neck “Okay. I’ll fly out tomorrow morning. I’ll call my flight crew and tell them to prepare.”
“No good. I need you there ASAP. I’ve got you booked on a private charter leaving Green this morning. If you leave the airport by 10:30, you’ll arrive in time for phase one of my plan.”
Randall’s comment confirmed Gray’s earlier assumption that his handler had known where he was before he’d asked.
“Have your flight crew meet you in Cozumel when you’re ready to come home.”
At least his flight crew could enjoy their stay in New England a few more days.
“There will be a courier at the airport with the briefing package.”
Gray gave up rubbing his neck. No amount of massaging would get rid of this headache. “Anything else I need to know?”
“The report should be sufficient.”
“Fine. I’ll be airborne by 10:30 then.”
Gray ended his call and wished he’d been talking on one of those old-fashioned phones so he could slam the receiver down rather than hit the End button. The last thing he wanted was to fly out to Cozumel.
After taking a final bite of toast, he cleaned up his breakfast dishes and headed back upstairs to make phone calls. Besides arranging a ride to the airport, he needed to cancel his plans for the day.
***
