Page 22 of Wintering with George

“That’s a bit jaded, don’t you think?” she asked me.

“It’s true, though.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong.”

As I drove—and my cat screamed from inside his carrier because he hated being in there more than anything—Kurt put his hand on my thigh.

“Should I be the one driving with how tired you are?”

“Once we change cars and we’re on our way, I’ll let you drive. I’ll have to. I’m running on fumes at this point, and I don’t want to pass out.”

He nodded. “May I ask how you knew we were in danger?”

“Technically, you and me, not in danger.”

“You know what I mean,” he said in that way where he made his voice soft and calm, but underneath, I could hear the stress and worry. It was the same tone he used when he was talking to patients who were arguing with him.

I took a breath. “You know I have friends I work with at Sutter, and I’m friends with all the men in my unit.”

“I know.”

“And then there are others I’m close to that I used to work with, like Ian Doyle.”

“Yes. I’m aware of that as well.”

“Okay. Well, I have other friends I used to work with that you haven’t ever met, who are now in the private sector.”

“Private?”

“Yeah.”

“Define private.”

“Self-employed people who don’t answer to any government agency.”

“You’re talking about mercenaries.”

“I wouldn’t characterize them that way. Mercenaries, at least the ones I’ve met, are callous and morally compromised, and that’s not any of my friends. They all have a code, even if it’s not always easy to understand.”

“So you’re saying they’re all good people.”

I grimaced. “Good is a judgment call.”

“You’re saying it’s not a black-and-white distinction.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

“Okay… These friends of yours, what you’re telling me is that the things they do are not legal, correct?”

“Sometimes yes, sometimes no.”

“This is sounding worse and worse.”

“It’s not so cut-and-dried, and my friends are my friends for a reason,” I said firmly.

“I know,” he said quickly. “Please don’t think I was questioning you for even a moment.”

And I knew that. I felt my body unclench and knew I’d been bracing for a fight.