With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“And those four who actually looked me in the eye when you introduced me?” asked Greg, glancing at Charles.

“Sean and Jim because they’re straight, Dana and Drew because they’re married and before you ask, no, they’re not married to each other,” said Charles.

The agency was busy at that time of day—or night, rather—but everything dulled to faint noise as Greg walked beside Charles. It was only then when he realized that he really did miss their bantering.

Greg smiled. “I’m sure they all respect you.”

“They do,” said Charles as he entered his office.

Greg grinned. “So, Star?”

Charles laughed, shaking his head fondly at Greg. “Only you, Greg.”

Greg widened his eyes in mock innocence. “Who, me?”

Charles only laughed.

Greg rolled his eyes. “I’m used to people trying to distract me from the initial course of the conversation.”

“Star’s the head of Cell Twelve Tech Operations at Langley,” said Charles, a small smile on his face. “She’s brilliant, really. She hacked the FBI archives at age 17.”

Greg’s raised eyebrow prompted Charles to talk further.

“We met at a meeting. The CIA arranged an inter-Cell meeting regarding each Cell’s, not to mention each headquarter’s, Tech Ops division. Naturally, since we’re both Cell Twelve, we got grouped together. Her name’s Meredith, though I call her Star because she loves astronomy. She studied it, too.”

Greg nodded. “Sounds like she’s good for you,” he said, sitting down on a nearby chair.

Charles shrugged. “I don’t think much can happen between us. I live here and she lives all the way there. It’s pretty hard to schedule a date when your date is so many states away from you.”

Greg nodded slowly, digesting the information. “Love finds a way, I suppose. It certainly did for us when we were still together.”

Charles shook his head. “That was different. We were apart by Cells. Star and I are apart by states. Besides, we broke up in the end.”

“True,” agreed Greg, his eyes gaining the faraway look he didn’t sport often. “Such a shame, wasn’t it?”

Charles shook his head. “We parted on good terms and managed to still be good friends after. I wouldn’t give that up for anything. Plus, you’re happy with Joshua now.”

Greg grinned. “There is that, yes. But don’t you ever wonder what would have happened if we stayed together?”

“We would have resented each other in the end if we continued when we knew we were better off friends,” said Charles. “Why are we having this conversation?”

Greg smiled softly. “Those tech ops agents remind me of myself when I adored you.”

Charles put a hand to his heart, a mock-hurt look on his face. “You don’t adore me now?”

Greg playfully smacked him on the stomach, the only thing he could reach while still sitting down, and shook his head. “You’re still the same.”

Charles smiled, a twinkle in his eye. “I’d like to think I changed. As did you, Van Kamp,” he said, bowing regally, not unlike the bow of a royal.

Greg smiled, bowed his head minutely. “As did you, Browne.”

Paris, France

Reini had always adored France.