How had that happened? I looked up at the sky saw some clouds, and guessed the threat of rain had made people skittish. That made more sense than thin...ing that Callie could empty the beach at her whim. She ran a finger over my lips and I lost that thought. "Where shall we go?" I asked. Callie stood and walked away from the water; I followed. She grabbed my towel from near the trees, strode over to a pile of large rocks and spread the towel on the sand in front of the rocks. I watched, barely. “I’ll see,” I said. I plucked out my phone and called her.“Adam?” she said when she picked up the phone. “Is everything okay?”“Yeah. I’m talking with Grant and he wants to talk with you. Are you free today?”“I’ll MAKE the time. Anything you need,” she promised. “I can be there in about half an hour.” We hung up and I nodded to Grant.“She said she’ll be here in half an hour,” I confirmed. “What’s your plan?”He smiled and told me that I’d see.When she got there, the three of us sat in the. Allen speaking, sir." Allen? This is Bradford."His voice was enthusiastic. "How the hell are you? Are you okay?" I'm rehabbing in Kabul. They've put me back together well. I should be out of here in a few days." I have a job for you right here at Salerno." Then he laughed loudly. "You stirred some shit, sailor." Yeah, I heard. That's what I'm calling about. You got your ass in trouble?" Yes and no. I have enough time to do a good retirement and open my own business." Gonna be a mercenary?" Hell. He's fully limp now. His heart beats rapidly. He thinks about the business he's built up in Emmer, and how much it would suck to lose it all. "You know, that looks like fun," Mr. White says, looking at Grace, now getting double-speared. "Maybe I will have another go at her."---Later that evening, I decide to try to relax - the look on Julie's face from earlier still haunting my thoughts. Saturday night is poker night. That's what Drew keeps reminding me. Last week, the last thing I wanted to do.