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“Oh.” Hank sat back in his chair looking contrite. “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have asked you first, but I assumed if you weren’t interested, you would tell them no.”
“They,” I repeated. “The government agency. You think they might want to hire both of us?”
He nodded. “They were impressed with our unit’s record and wanted to know if any other surgeons who came out of it were civilians now. I gave them information on Heber and Jones, too.”
So they hadn’t approached him about me specifically, but for information about all the surgeons in our unit. My mind spun through scenarios, trying to make sense of what all this meant. I glanced at Evan. He didn’t look any happier about this news than I felt.
“Those two names are a blast from the past.” I pasted on a grin, trying to keep the conversation going while grappling with the unexpected turn of events.
“Yes,” Hank said. “Heber’s on staff at San Francisco General, and Jones is working with an oncology practice in Atlanta.”
“Good for them,” I said. Their stories would be easy enough to check, but I didn’t doubt their jobs were real.
“Checking now,” Alder said in my ear.
Evan and I exchanged a glance.
“Oh, sweetie,” he said, grabbing my hand, “we’re forgetting about our appointment.”
“Oh my gosh, yes!” I smiled stupidly at him, hoping he didn’t expect me to know what he was thinking.
“We have a big event coming up this weekend and I’m being fitted for a tux,” Evan told Hank. He kissed my hand. “I need Red’s impeccable taste to help me choose one.”
I tried to ignore that he used his endearment for me and followed his lead. “Yes, I’m afraid we have to run.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” Hank said. “We should get together again soon to catch up.”
Evan stood. “You know, we’re really going to be late. Red, does Hank have all your new contact information?”
“My...” I glanced at Evan. He gave me a tiny shake of his head. “No, he wouldn’t.”
Evan held out his hand to me. “Hank, why don’t you walk with us, catch up a little more, and get Samantha’s contact information before you go.”
I slid my palm against Evan’s and twined my fingers with his. “That’s a great idea.”
“Well...” Hank glanced at the door. “It does look like my lunch meeting isn’t happening, so sure.” He stood and followed us into the street.
“Smooth,” Penn said.
“I’m heading out to feed the meter,” Kessler announced, which meant she would only be a few paces behind us.
“I’ll pay the bill, and meet you out front,” Li said.
“Hey Doll,” Penn said to Sparks, “it’s getting late. I think we’ll have to skip lunch and get back to work.”
With the team announcing that they’d be shadowing us, I walked down the street between Evan and Hank, keeping up my end of the conversation as well as I could by asking Hank what he knew about mutual friends. We turned the corner into the alley where the HEAT van awaited us. Hank didn’t show any hint of suspicion. By the time we walked alongside the van, I felt confident a background check would clear him, but we couldn’t take that chance.
The back doors of the van opened and TJ jumped onto the sidewalk. He grabbed one of Hank’s arms, Evan grabbed the other and covered his mouth, and they lifted him into the van. Hank struggled, but they held him in place while Alder administered a shot of sedative. It must have been a full dose because Hank only managed to slur “Samantha” before succumbing to it.
“All clear,” TJ said to tell the tactical and logistics team to continue past the alley and on to their own vehicles.
“Dammit,” I swore as we piled into the back of the van and Jensen slid into the driver’s seat. “Do you really have to tranq every man in my life?”
“He’s in your life?” Evan asked.
There was a sharpness to his question and I knew he was thinking about my roster. The rest of the team had gone uncharacteristically silent.
“Alder, let’s join Jensen in the front of the van,” TJ said.
