"Glad we're back on full water rations."
"Oohh. Imagine a hot bubble bath."
"Girl, a hot shower would be heaven."
"Yeah, like that'll happen. It uses too much water."
Adrian turned to a back page and scribbled a note, then went back to the schedules.
Mitch showed up ten minutes late, giving the CB updates personally, and Adrian handed him a sheet of paper, still not totally sure he'd chosen the right person for this job. They had given a dozen men the radio test, but only this sloppy drunkard hadn't flunked.
"This is the way I'd like things run from now on. What we put over the air matters."
The red-nosed man gave it a quick read over, nodding. "Sure."
"Kenn will be installing a more powerful CB system in the next week, so when he's ready, move to another truck, til he's done."
"You got it, A-Man. I'll catch you later."
The hung-over man left, eager to start using the bolder system, and the leader was relieved to see the ass-kisser go. He hated it that the camp saw him dealing with someone that no one really liked, but it couldn't be helped. He suspected Mitch was too good to waste and he'd leave him where he was, until he knew for sure.
When he was gone, Adrian waved Seth over and began gathering up his papers. He lit a smoke and gave the tensely waiting undercover cop a hard look. "Long wait."
The redhead gave a tight smile, taking off his black cap as he sat down. It didn't escape Adrian's attention that he was wearing the uniform of an Eagle, despite not being one. Yet. The redhead had been busy, trailing him almost continuously for the last week and he was good, right up there with Kyle, but the question was, why?
"I don't mind. It's better we're alone anyway."
Adrian finished off his cold coffee with a grimace of distaste. "Because you want to know why I passed you up for the new Level Ones again, but don't want anyone to know you're questioning my judgment?"
Adrian's words were brutally honest and Seth nodded, not sure whether he was ready for the truth he'd come for, or if the things he needed to say to this man, who he now respected above all others, would get him asked to leave.
"Because I'm not sure about you yet."
The cop's hurt green eyes flew to his, and Adrian shook his head, thinking of his surprise when it was Seth who joined Kyle to watch with him during the storm. "Not like that. Not sure where I need you the most."