It was about the size of a typical prison cell and just as inviting.
“Just the one room?” said Reel.
Robie shrugged. “Guess so.”
“Well, this will be fun. Comfy-cozy. I just hope you don’t snore.”
“Thinking the same thing about you.”
They walked in and shut the door behind them. There were two bunk beds with thin mattresses and a single sheet and flat pillow on each. There was a sink. There was no commode. There was nothing on the walls. There was a single metal desk. There was a single chair bolted to the floor. There was an overhead light. The walls were painted beige.
Robie sat on a bed.
Reel leaned against the wall.
The door opened and Marks stood there.
“You both did better than I thought you would. But it’s only the first day. And it’s not over yet, of course. Plenty of time.”
Reel looked over at Robie and hiked her eyebrows as if to say, I told you so.
Marks shut the door behind her.
“So what’s the deal here?” said Reel. “Did Tucker tell you to make sure we never left here alive? Are we going to end up maimed? Drugged out of our minds? Losing a limb?”
“Or all of the above?” added Robie.
Marks smiled. “What, from just those little exercises you divine some sinister purpose? Regular recruits go through far worse.”
“No they don’t,” said Reel.
Marks focused on her. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“And you know this how?”
“Tucker didn’t brief you properly. I used to be an instructor here. Recruits didn’t get hit with this much even on their last day. But it’s your program to run, not ours. So just save the bullshit for somebody who has her head up her ass.”
Robie looked from Marks to Reel and back to Marks. “What now?” he said.
Marks finally drew her gaze from Reel and looked at him.
“You get a little break. You’re both going to have physicals. So strip down to skin and follow me.”
“Strip down here?” said Reel.
“You have a problem getting naked in front of people, Reel?”
“No, but anyone that’s not a doctor grabs my ass or my boobs, they won’t wake up for a week. And that includes you.”
She shucked her clothes and stood there naked while Robie peeled off his own.
Reel said, “You joining us, Marks? Or you sitting this one out too?”
“I don’t have to have a physical,” she shot back. But as she looked over Reel’s lean, muscled physique, it was obvious she was impressed by what she saw.
She turned her attention to Robie. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on the man; he was in his early forties yet nearly as fit as an Olympian. But her attention was drawn to the burns on his arm and leg.
“I understand you have Reel to thank for those,” said Marks in a mocking tone.
“If you’re going to do something, do it well,” said Robie matter-of-factly. “Now, if you’re done eyeballing us, can we get our physicals?”
Chapter 10
You should probably get skin grafts,” said the doctor who was examining Robie’s burns.
“Thanks. I’ll put that on my to-do list,” Robie said.
The doctor was a man in his fifties with powdery white hair and not very much of it. He was beefy and sweaty, and he had a thin line of mustache over his top lip. Robie didn’t know if it was by design or just inattention.
“Well, it should be sooner rather than later. The agency has an excellent person on staff.”
“And how long would I be out of commission?”
“Well, several weeks at least.”
“Yeah,” said Robie.
“Got any vacation coming up?”
“No, can I have some of yours?”
The doctor straightened and put some of the examination instruments into a drawer next to the table.
“I take it you don’t get much downtime.”
“Well, it’s been nice here so far. Started with a leisurely run. Then I went for a swim and then did some sauna time. And then a little target practice.”
“With you as the target?”
“Didn’t think the medicos were read in for details like that.”
“I’ve been here a long time, Agent Robie. I’m surprised our paths never crossed. I presume you’ve been to the Burner before.”
“I have,” he said curtly.
“Otherwise you are in outstanding physical shape.”
“Are you also examining Agent Reel?”
“No, we’re running parallel courses today.”
“You know her? She used to instruct here.”
“I know her,” he said. “Proud to call her a friend, actually.”
“That’s good to know, Doctor…?”
“Halliday. But you can call me Frank.”
Robie looked around for surveillance devices planted in the walls. Halliday followed his movement with understanding.
“Not in here, Agent Robie. One of the few places they’re not. Doctor/patient confidentiality extends even to the CIA. The room where you’ll be staying is not so configured.”
“Yeah, that I knew.”
“I’ll give you some topical ointment for the burns, but you really should consider the skin grafts and some antibiotics. If left unrepaired, at some point the skin will tighten so much it will limit your mobility. And then of course there’s always the possibility of infection.”
“Thanks, Frank. I’ll definitely consider that option.”
“You can wear that robe hanging on the wall.”
“Good. It wasn’t my idea to come here in my birthday suit.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
Robie slipped off the table, crossed the room, and donned the robe. “Are you also aware of why we’re here?”
Halliday stiffened just a bit. “No, not really.”
“Two different answers, Frank.”
“I’m just the doctor. As you know, my security clearances are limited.”
“But you still have some or else you wouldn’t be here. What do you know about Marks?”
“She’s the DD, Clandestine.”
“You know what happened to her predecessors?”
“Of course. It’s sort of like the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. Bad things happen to them.”
“Defense Against the Dark Arts?”
“You know, in Harry Potter.”
“Makes one wonder why Marks wanted the job.”
“She’s ambitious.”
“Has she been here recently?”
“Yes.”
“To get ready for us?”
“I don’t know about that. Look, I’m very uncomfortable with this discussion.”
“I’m very uncomfortable having to ask, but I have to. I’m in the intelligence business. It’s second nature.”
Halliday washed his hands in the sink. “I can see that.”
“So you knew Reel when she instructed here? You said you were friends.”
“Yes, well, as much as one can be in this place.”
“I’m her friend too.”
Halliday dried his hands and turned to look at Robie. “I am not unaware of what the two of you recently have been through.”
“We’re just trying to survive, Frank. Any assistance you can give on that will be much appreciated.”
“I’m not sure I can do anything to help with that.”
“You might surprise yourself. I’ll tell your friend you said hello.”
Robie left Halliday standing there lost in thought.
Robie was escorted back to their room. Reel had not yet returned.
Their duffels had been brought to the room and Robie quickly dressed. He had no idea what was next on the agenda, but he preferred clothes over being in the buff.
He looked around the room and his experienced gaze caught four different surveillance devices, two audio and the other pair video feeds. The video cams were strategically placed so that there was no hidden angle anywhere in the small space.