AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A round of applause broke out around the room with Theo even giving Kate a standing ovation. Sylvie quickly made her way around the table to give Kate a congratulatory hug, followed up by Bit.
It was a bittersweet moment, because Kate had proven herself a valuable team player. It had taken months for Brook to warm up to the idea of bringing on someone who she personally hadn’t met and brought aboard herself. Theo had basically handled the initial interview process, and he’d been the first to recommend Kate to the position.
Considering that working for S&E Investigations came with severe risks that weren’t normally at other firms, Brook hadn’t been so inclined to hire a young woman. Jacob could potentially see her as a way to prove some pointless element that only he could rationalize. Kate had eventually convinced Brook that she would take the appropriate precautions, and a working relationship based on mutual respect had been born.
Brook was truly supportive of the young woman’s journey, but the team would be left without the support that they had come to rely on this past year. Unfortunately, Theo would have to begin the interview process all over again. Brook wasn’t looking forward to their differing of opinions when it came to future applicants.
“Congratulations, Kate,” Brook stated once everyone had given their own accolades. “You’ve worked hard for this, and I have no doubt you will graduate from the academy, as well as succeed in your future career as a brilliant agent.”
“Thank you,” Kate said as she held her phone close to her chest. She was practically beaming, and it was obvious that she wanted to say more, but she was too overwhelmed at the moment. “Thank you. I…”
“You need to call your father,” Brook suggested supportively as she began to collect her own items. “Better yet, you should tell him in person. He’ll want to celebrate with you.”
“Yes! Yes, he will,” Kate said with a bubbling laugh. She gave Sylvie another quick hug before brushing past everyone else on her way out of the conference room. “Thank you! I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.”
Sylvie snatched the cookie tin before Bit could take it and made her way through the doorway after mentioning something about making two cups of tea. Bit grimaced, but he still maintained that he loved tea just as much as Sylvie. He’d somehow managed to convince himself that it was a bond between them that no one else had, and Brook figured it wouldn’t be long before he actually convinced himself that hedidhave an affinity for the hot beverage.
Brook stood from her chair before turning off the monitor. She would be working most of the day in her office, anyway.
“I just realized that we have to hire someone to fill Kate’s position.” Theo rubbed his chin in frustration. “That means countless of applications, resumes, and interviews. My life is going to be hell for the next few weeks, isn’t it?”
“Nothing says that we can’t push out interviews until after this case is solved,” Brook put forth as she walked around the table. She had her tablet, cell phone, and coffee cup in both hands. “I mean, you certainly won’t get an argument from me.”
“I’m making a new rule when it comes to new hires,” Theo stated with a little too much confidence. “I pick three for you to approve, and you have to pick one of the three.”
Brook shot him one of her rare smiles as she brushed past him on her way out the door.
“Agreed?”
She continued down the hallway without answering, knowing full well that they would go through at least ten applicants before she told him that none of them were qualified enough for her. She fully admitted to being painstakingly difficult during the interview process, but Jacob was back in town.
That detail alone changed the dynamics of their situation.
A part of Brook was relieved to know that Kate would be at Quantico for twenty weeks during her training period. She was one less person in Brook’s life who needed to be worried about their safety.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Theo called out right before she entered her office.
Before Brook could set her things down on the desk, a soft ring emitted from the phone unit. It was her direct line, so it was someone she knew on a personal level. She was very particular about who had access to her private phone numbers.
“Sloane,” Brook answered as she tucked the handset against her shoulder.
She took a seat and moved the mouse on its pad to awaken her computer.
“This is Martin Sinnett. I hear you wanted to speak with me about a profile that I worked up for Agent Parker a few years ago. I’m going to be in your neck of the woods on Wednesday. I think it’s best that we meet face-to-face, don’t you?”
Chapter Eleven
Sylvie Deering
February 2023
Tuesday — 10:47am
Popmusicdriftedfromthe overhead speakers of the hair salon. Most of the stations were occupied with stylists engaged in conversations with their customers. Some even had glasses of wine as they finished being fluffed and spritzed. The establishment was classier than some of the other ones that Sylvie had frequented over the years, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave her own hairstylist.
A decision like that would be similar to the breakup of a marriage.
She would never do something so extreme.
