Her Secret Service (Jane Roe 1), Jason Letts [story reading .txt] 📗

“I’m getting there,” Vale said with no trace of joy that might’ve given her hope. “There’s plenty about the growing risks to the president. Threats coming from all directions, and more people than ever acting on them. It specifically mentions this latest one from the American Underground Movement. The growth of fringe movements and even attempts to create illegal parallel government structures all point to the president being under constant assault.”

Nodding, Jane found herself holding her breath.

“It concludes with a statement that advises us not to take the risk continuing to place so much responsibility on a person with such a history of error, who has shown herself to be a liability to the department and a clear and present danger to the president. Allowing you to continue on would make myself and Deputy Director Salidas complicit in any mishaps that might follow, whether or not you’re directly responsible for them. The prudent thing to do is to let you go,” he said softly, growing somber.

Jane caught a look in his eyes, set under a heavy brow, that reminded her of the first time she’d met him, shortly after she’d completed her training. She’d expected condescension and sexism, but what she’d gotten from him was a vote of confidence and a leg up. The least she could do was repay the favor.

“OK,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t mind saving you the trouble and resigning. I suppose I did get lucky that things didn’t turn out worse. The last thing I’d want would be for you to get discredited after all you’ve done for me.”

She started to get up when he extended a hand.

“Jane, wait, I’m not going to follow the recommendations in the report. I’ve already spoken to Salidas about it. There may have been mistakes, but the Secret Service can’t keep hemorrhaging its best people just because there are bumps along the way. That’s the nature of the mission. I want you to stay.”

“What?” she asked, frozen in place. Ever since she’d started working in government, and particularly the Secret Service, she’d never come across a situation where someone didn’t try to reduce their liability or cover for himself. Vale was taking the risk himself that she would cause another problem and he’d have to pay for it.

He scratched his neck and hunched his shoulders.

“We’re all blessed to be working with so many dedicated servants, but what I’ve seen from you in the past months has been an inspiration. There aren’t many people who could tackle a time-consuming training regimen and still find the time to outfox the Investigative Division and the FBI when it comes to locking down a jackal. I refuse to let that go, because I know our cause will suffer for it if I do.”

A smile stretched across Jane’s lips despite her continued apprehension. Hearing that might not have meant so much if she didn’t love her job and hadn’t come into work every day determined to do her best. It looked like she was managing to avoid fleeing back to Colorado by a hair.

“I promise there won’t be another mistake. I realize what you’re doing and I won’t let you down,” she said.

Vale sucked his teeth.

“But between the valid critiques and the compliments in this report, what it says to me is that you may not be in the best role for you. It’s not the right fit, and working logistics puts a lot of your talents to waste,” he said.

She glared at him, wondering what he meant. There were only so many other places she could go.

“The Investigative Division then?” she said, wondering if she’d end up working with Nathan. “Or counterfeit currency?”

“I’m not sure,” Vale said. “I’ll need to give it some thought and have other discussions with the directors to see where you might belong.”

“Thank you,” she said, trying to sound optimistic even though the question of where she belonged was one that frequently rattled around her brain. Helping to oversee the Presidential Protective Division was an honor and an incredible credential, but perhaps there really was a job better suited to her. But judging from what Vale had hinted at were her strengths and the jobs in the Secret Service, what she envisioned as being perfect didn’t exist as far as she knew. Where could she protect, investigate, and need to use her body all at the same time?

When she left work, it was a relief to be able to leave the boxes where they were, and for all she knew she’d be back to unpack them tomorrow, or she’d be whisked off to a new job somewhere else. Despite still being employed, the feeling she had about her tenuous work position was bittersweet. The report had laid bare her failings, in some ways unjustly, and she knew that no matter Vale’s praise she wasn’t being trusted with the Presidential Protective Division anymore.

Jane tried to look at the bright side and extract some satisfaction in the moment by stopping at a gas station to pick up some ice cream. It would go well with the cereal and cartoons she was planning on for a muted celebration she’d be embarrassed if anyone found out about.

Inside, the shop had a TV right over a newsstand with some talking heads going on about President Morrin’s plummeting approval ratings. Time magazine had a cover with the title, “Women Turn Their Backs on Morrin.” Maybe it was the dreary atmosphere of a gas station at night, but that Alex had reached a low point in his fledgling presidency was hitting home with her.

She wished she could help, but the only thing she could do at the moment was pick up a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough and shell out a few bucks at the counter.

Back at her apartment where boxes of her belongings were stacked up close to the door, she was again confronted with the uncomfortable reality that she didn’t know where she was