Chapter 1
“Hey, Recker. So, here’s the list.” Amanda held out a fist full of papers then frowned at them when he didn’t immediately take them. Pulling her hand back she offered, “Oooor I can send it to your smartphone.”
“Do that,” he grumbled as the corner of his eye pinched. “Tell me again, what I did to piss off Monroe for this assignment.”
“You Walkers,” she frowned with a slight head shake. “If it doesn’t involve maiming or bloodshed, you’re offended by it.” Turning, she walked back to her desk. “It’s an easy ‘A’, Recker. These people have all been vetted and vouched for.”
“Then why in the hell am I going?”
“Because,” she busied herself with typing, ignoring the scowl that was boring into her. “Monroe wants Walker/human interaction before hiring.”
“So I tell them I’m a Walker?”
Amanda shrugged a slim shoulder. “I dunno. That’s your job. You figure out how to determine if they’re a good fit here.”
“So waltz up to ‘em and shift?”
Her eyes left her screen. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then how in the hell…”
“Don’t know,” she shrugged again, eyes going back to her screen. “You’ll figure something out. Just start at the top and work your way down.”
“And there’s no one else for this job?” He growled, still holding a faint hope of getting out of the assignment. “Someone less imposing. A female? What about Aries?”
Amanda blinked hard, and when her eyes opened, they weren’t on her screen but on Recker. “Did you actually just imply that Aries Drago is not imposing?”
Recker swallowed hard.
Amanda shoved up out of her chair. “Are you actually implying that you are more impressive or magnificent a Walker than Commander Conn Drago’s Angel? The very Angel who evaded capture for years by going on the run. The same Aries who evaded the Commander Conn Drago and his elite team?” She stood taller. “The very same woman who before she even knew how to shift rolled out of a flying helicopter and free-fell with a parachute she’d snagged on her roll out of the chopper clutched to her chest!”
Aw hell! He knew all this about Aries, everyone did. She was a legend among Skin Walkers, and he hadn’t been trying to imply that he was better than her in any regard. Scrubbing his hand over the back of his neck, he had the good sense to look sheepish. “I just meant someone smaller.”
Cheeks still red, Amanda slowly sat. Everyone knew she and Aries were good friends. All the females at StoneCrow and Apex were. Recker assumed it was because they were so few that they banded together.
“I meant no offense, Amanda.”
She huffed a breath and seemed to calm a little. “Take the list, Recker, and find me employees.”
He reached over and snagged the sheet of paper off her desk and eyed it. “Uhhh,” he held the paper up. “There’s only one person on here.”
“I know.” Amanda’s lips lifted at the corners. “Other Walkers will be assigned to the other potential candidates.”
His brows snapped down, and alarms started going off in his head. “What gives?”
Amanda was smiling now, but it wasn’t the friendly oh-it’s-fine smile. No, this was an I’m-about-to-pay-you-back-for-the-Aries-comment smile. “Mr. StoneCrow feels it’s best to assign a Walker to each candidate. If you approve your choice for employment, then the new employee will be assigned to you.”
“Assigned to me?”
“Yes. He doesn’t want another incident like Cindy and RedKnife. He feels that if the new employee is watched, then we’ll be aware of whether or not their intentions are pure.”
Recker’s eyes rounded. “Watched? For how long? I didn’t sign up for that. I was just supposed to go retrieve this guy. Not bring him back and babysit!”
“It’s not babysitting,” she frowned. “It’s ensuring the safety of StoneCrow and Walkers. It’s important Recker. RedKnife thought Cindy was an enemy here under the guise of work. He misjudged her and ended up having to hide her from Monroe until he could prove her innocence.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “Don’t make the same mistake. Watch your candidate and make sure before you give your final report that what you’re claiming is accurate. Retrieval and surveillance. Monroe expects your final report in three months.”
“Three months!” He paled, and his eyes shot to the paper. “I’m supposed to follow this guy around for three months?” He quieted a moment as he re-read the name. Alex Hayworth. “That sounds boring as shit! I’m a Sentry! I should be fighting somewhere!”
Amanda stood again. “Think about it, Recker. Your candidate could be a Megalya infiltrator. I know this feels like a lame assignment, but it’s not. Walkers are counting on you.”
Well, when she put it like that. He heaved a sigh. Fuck! “Fine. Where?”
Amanda grinned. “Great Falls. Obviously.” She lowered herself back into her seat and jotted something on a post-it. “Here,” she handed him the paper. “Place of employment. I’ll text you the rest. Everything else is up to you.”
He took the paper. “Does he at least know I’m coming?”
Red-tipped fingers shooed him toward the door. “The candidates know someone is coming.” She clucked her tongue, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Times a wastin’.”
Growling, he turned and stormed out the door.