Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
The ride back to the Edge Security compound is only about twenty minutes. In the crude triangle that makes up the cities of Bishop, Disciple, and Revenant, our place is right off the highway just about halfway between Bishop and Disciple. Which is kinda convenient when it comes to running errands and shopping.
Edge is busy, as usual, when I pull into the long gravel driveway. There are sixty ex-soldiers living here with us and they are going about their day, training. Getting ready for the big August first deadline Collin has set up with Charlie Beaufort, our DC contact. I’m not sure what the first job is just yet—everything with Charlie is on a need-to-know basis and no one needs to know that but Collin at the moment. But we’re on track, so I’m not worried about it.
I drive my truck all the way to the back where my house is, then pass it by and pull right up to the kennel. It’s a long brown building that can hold up to sixty dogs. We’ve only got thirty-six at the moment, but more puppies are on the way.
The dogs are therapy for the men, but we train them up to military specifications and will sell them—eventually. But we haven’t sold any yet.
When I enter the kennel, it’s empty of dogs because they’re all outside with their partners. But I say hi to the men in here who have clean-up duty as I make my way into the walk-in freezer with my cart of bones and unload.
When I’m done, I take the cart out, close the door, and just pause to have a look around. Sometimes it feels like I’ve died and gone to heaven. Like I need to pinch myself because this life we’ve created feels more like a dream than anything resembling reality.
I train dogs for a living. Not just any dogs, either. The world’s smartest dogs. If you’d have asked me two years ago if this would be my life, I would’ve laughed. The bad press from all those congressional hearings hadn’t faded yet, it was all very fresh. And there was a time when I thought Collin, Ryan, Nash, and I would be spending a few years in prison over our part in the scandal.
But Charlie Beaufort worked it out. As Charlie Beaufort usually does. And, well… here we are. Free, and happy, and well on our way back to successful.
So maybe for the first time since Collin and I were pulled aside by those MP’s when we got off the bus for basic training, I let out a sigh.
We made it.
It was rough, and we lost a lot of men, but four of us pulled through.
And now we’re here, back in West Virginia, and it’s all gonna work out.
I really do believe it.
Just as I’m thinking this a high-pitched whistle to the tune of ‘Yankee Doodle’ cuts through the silence and a tall man about my age comes around the corner holding a clipboard. He’s looking down at this clipboard, not paying attention, and we nearly collide.
“Whoa, there,” I say, putting up both of my hands, pushing him back. “Watch where you’re going.”
The man stops and his eyes lift up slowly, revealing a strange expression on his face that I can’t quite place, but comes off a little bit challenging. But just as quick as I catch it, the look disappears and then his blue eyes are smiling as the corners of his lips turn up. “Oh, sorry.” He clicks his pen and points it at me. “You’re Amon Parrish, right?”
“I am. And who the hell are you?”
“I’m Sawyer.” He thrusts a hand at me. “The inspector.”
My eyebrow shoots up. “Inspector?”
But just as I say that, Collin comes around the corner. “Oh, there you are, Amon. We were just lookin’ for you.”
My one eyebrow is still cocked because I’m confused. “We?”
Collin nods his head to Mr. Clipboard. “This here is Sawyer Martin. He’s here to inspect everything for Charlie.”
“Inspect it for what?” For some reason I find myself annoyed at this revelation. Mostly because of the near-collision that came with a side of confusion. But also because this is the first I’m hearing about some fuckin’ inspection, and since Ryan, Nash, Collin, and I are all equal partners, the idea that some stranger would be passing judgment on my kennel makes me feel put out.
It’s not even Collin who answers me, which just escalates my vexation. Mr. Clipboard once again thrusts his hand at me. “Nice to finally meet you, Amon. I’ve been looking forward to it.”
I actually growl. It comes out past an upturned lip and everything. Because there’s just something about this guy I don’t like. “Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this?” I’m looking at Clipboard, but I’m really talking to Collin.