Mis-directed email

chapter 3-4

CHAPTER 3

Pulling on his old gray sweats and his running shoes, Dominic took his glass of water with him into the study. Sitting at his father's large mahogany desk, he turned on the light, taking a long drink of the ice water; he set the glass on the coaster beside his computer. He opened his laptop. Flipping a switch he waited as the machine hummed to life. When it had booted up he clicked on his emails and watched as the program pulled up a dozen new messages, messages that he'd have to answer.

Dominic Carrera sighed. It seemed as if his days began with depression and ended with depression. He needed to get back to work.

Sipping the water checked his emails. His personal email was limited to his family, old college buddies, a few friends and select work colleagues.

The Special Services Division, a branch of the CIA, had temporarily disconnected him from his office email, as he could not work on sensitive issues while on medical leave. All of his work emails were being directed to Roger Simms, an assistant, an eager young assistant. Dominic brooded suddenly feeling incredibly old at only 33.

Roger Simms was an eager young agent. He was only 26 and engaged to a newly graduated LPN. They were planning to marry next year. Dominic envied him his steady relationship with Eliza. They complemented each other in their temperaments and they had very similar family backgrounds. Eliza had even talked Roger into going to a couples' relationship seminar sponsored by her church. Roger had glowingly talked about the 2-week course, and how much he had learned from the course.

Eliza and he were already using the planner to help them head off any money problems they might encounter as a couple. Roger thought it a great idea for anyone planning to live together to have as much positive reinforcement as possible. The pastor had talked with them singularly and as a couple. They discussed such common issues as how to handle money and what each expected to from their relationship. They had even talked about sex and the need to be honest with each other about the need for sex or the need for some personal space.

In fact, he'd recommended the encounter to several of his married friends, telling Dominic that some of his friend had signed up for the course even thought they had been married for years.

As his temporary replacement Dominic trusted Roger. He gave thoughtful consideration to any task he tried, willing to give orders and deal with problems as well as take the heat, if that was the result. He was a very capable agent. Roger had stepped into Dominic's job with no problem. He would eventually make the move to Agent in Charge. And if Dominic did not get the Doctor's OK to return active duty, the move would be sooner than either of them thought.

His medical leave was almost over and the shoulder wound had healed. But the nerve damage to his left arm still caused a tingle in his hand that at times made it hard for him to get a solid grip on anything such as a gun. During his earlier evaluation he had not passed the Doctor's test to be released to field duty. His scheduled trip to Dallas later in the week was his last chance to get back to work in the field.

He had been with the department nearly 15 years but if he was forced to take a desk job he might as well retire. Just the thought of it was too much. He hated inactivity. Shuffling paper would drive him batty. He loved the thrill of pulling a plan together, the hunt, the chase, and the capture of the quarry. He enjoyed the company of his team, they were like a family and he would miss them if he left the service.

He also hoped that getting back to work would stop the nightmares, nightmares filled with fear, anger and pain.

He would always be affected by Stan's death and the wish that he could some how have foreseen the attack. Prevented it. Stopped time... something...if he could just stop second-guessing himself. Had he failed Stan?