Made In Basalt

Aftermath

It was Wednesday, 12pm on the dot. Jeffrey knocked on Hannity's door, waited for the affirming response, and after a taking a second to breathe, entered the room.

Hannity was writing something on a document. His signature, Jeffrey noticed as he took a seat. With some surprise, he looked at the chair he was sitting in, feeling it with his hands. It was new; where the previous seat was made purely of plastic and metal, this one had a pleather cushions on the seat and backrest, and it had armrests on either side, too, also cushioned. It looked glossy and somehow incongruous in Hannity's office, and Jeffrey's nostrils twitched at the faint aroma of bitter richness. The smell of new furniture wasn't something he'd come across much.

Hannity turned a page, and inscribed his signature again, flicking his wrist neatly and tightly without unnecessary flourish. Jeffrey went to crack his knuckles, changed his mind at the last second, and dug his fingertips into the armrest instead.

At last, Hannity put his pen down, folded his hands over the papers, and graced him with his full attention.

"Well?"

Jeffrey cleared his throat, and rubbed his palms back and forth over the armrests, tightening his fingers over the edges. "I didn't do it."

Hannity's expression didn't waver. He didn't even appear surprised. "What happened?"

Taking a breath, Jeffrey folded his fingers together and clasped them in his lap.

"I tailed him for a day and a half," he began. "Figured out his routine, where he lived, what his plans were. I figured out how and where to do it. I did everything right, just how I was supposed to. But then, he..."

His hand shot up and scratched his neck quickly, then shot back down into his lap.

"He spoke to me."

Jeffrey fought to keep his voice from rising, or becoming agitated.

"He spoke to me, and I got a good look at him, and he looked way too much like - like Tommy. Tommy Lee."

There was nothing he could do to stop himself glaring at Hannity now.

"I knew what you were doing as soon as I read the file. I knew you'd chosen him on purpose. But I figured, I'd try anyway."

They stared at each other, Hannity's face and body language betraying nothing.

"I didn't do it. I couldn't."

Jeffrey gave Hannity a tight-lipped, humourless smile, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

"And I think you knew that would happen."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Hannity nodded, smoothing the papers in front of him absently. "You're right. I did have a feeling you'd struggle with this particular job. I did, however..."

He leaned back and put his head to one side, looking wistfully at Jeffrey as he tapped his fingers against the desk. "I did hope."

"You hoped?"

"Yes. Our first...assignments are always the most trying. I make sure of that. But I thought if anyone could make a success of it, it would be you."

Jeffrey's nostrils flared as he exhaled. He clenched his teeth together, trying to stop himself saying anything, feeling the muscles in his neck tensing and throbbing.

"You've done exceptionally well so far. I thought I'd push you to what I perceive to be your limit, see how you reacted. And I don't see it as a total failure. You planned it excellently, and Nikki believes that you could have stayed hidden, if you wanted to."