The Archimedes Effect (40 page)

Thorn nodded, still watching Jamal’s retreating back. “There’s no reason for me to stay. We caught Lewis, and they’ll put her in a room so deep it’ll take daylight a week to get there. Nothing else on my plate.”

He sighed, then turned to look at her. “I’m not a military man, Marissa, and I don’t want to be one. My position isn’t really necessary in the new chain of command, but then most of the people who work for Net Force aren’t necessary. There’s too much duplication of effort. Kent commands a Marine unit, though. They can at least find a place to stick him and his troops, those who want to stay. Or he could retire as a general, get a job in private industry, if he wants. Jay probably won’t stick around unless they offer him something he can’t get elsewhere, which they can’t. General Hadden knew all along, I think, that I would be leaving. Sooner or later, it would have come to a pissing match, and I’d have lost. Better to retire a winner in your prime than hang on and get knocked out by some young and hungry fighter on the way up as you are going down.”

He paused again, then asked her, “So, are you okay with this?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t want you to quit for the wrong reasons—ego, mostly—but you make good points.”

“Now and again, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn.” He paused. “You heard that Abe Kent is getting married?”

“No, really?”

“His guitar teacher.”

“Wow, seems like everybody is getting married, doesn’t it?”

He took her hand. “Everybody important, anyhow.”

She smiled at him. “So, Tommy, are we going to live happily ever after?”

He reached up and touched her cheek with his other hand. “Believe it,” he said softly.

And kissed her.

 

THE MIND PALACE
BLOOD HEAT
MAXIMUM VIGILANCE
PAX PACIFICA
STATE OF EMERGENCY
HIDDEN PASSIONS
MY BELOVED TALLEYRAND

 

For more information on Steve Pieczenik,
please visit
www.stevepieczenik.com
and
www.strategic-intl.com
.

 

 

 

 

 

ACTIVE MEASURES
ACTIVE PURSUIT