Chapter 64: The Chair is Kicked Away
(AKA . . . to any God who can find it)
Hal’s POV
We—me, Javier, Danny, and Armando—are all sitting in the garden, stunned. We’re leaning over my cell phone to ensure that it’s not too loud. We checked. You have to get within two feet of us before you hear anything. Steph is laying into Mark and it’s bad.
“Do you realize that your leadership, your attitude, is toxic? There are places I would like to place your men, opportunities within the company I would like to extend to them, but I can’t because each XO’s first thought is, ‘Am I taking a spy into my branch?’ ‘Is this person going to be loyal to me and my branch or will I have to worry about leaks to Boston?'”
There’s silence before Steph picks up again. “Your attitude has ruined opportunities for your men and I don’t think they’d appreciate that.” Silence. “Your attitude has made it difficult for your colleagues to trust you.” Silence. “Your attitude has made it difficult for me to trust you, and I shouldn’t have to deal with that. I have other worries on my mind.”
Sis picks up and the next volley is brutal. “You’re so accustomed to being the person who spies on everyone else that you didn’t consider that you might have a spy in your midst, did you? I got a call from Maria every single night during her time in Boston. She was disgusted by what she heard of your treatment of me, but you were so busy trying to pump her for information that you didn’t consider she might be pumping you. She was far more effective than you. That much I know. I already have a bunch of information on your office and I’ll bet I have information on your men that you don’t.”
Hehe. That was brilliant. Maria was a great spy.
“Let’s talk about one thing I learned. How about those hospitality contracts? You want to talk to me about those?”
My mouth drops. Hospitality contracts? That’s what he’s been up to? I look at Danny and he looks as stunned as me. Javier sits, pale. Armando is turning white. We’re looking at each other in shock.
“I don’t recall giving you permission to pursue hospitality contracts. As a matter of fact, before I offered Hal the opportunity, I offered it to you! You told me you’d had vague discussions with Lester, no numbers. So why did Les turn around and produce the numbers for me?”
Mark’s a dead man. Steph’s been watching those contracts with an eagle eye since it’s a brand new offering. He chose the wrong thing to try to pull over on her.
“So you lied to me! You lied to me about a new client offering and then, to compound the lie, you treated me as if I was too stupid to read the financial statements and look at the bank accounts and discover you’d gotten some contracts for it. I see you were careful to make sure the contract amounts stayed under the threshold required to kick them up to me for approval.
So why did you do it? Was it because Maria let it slip that Trenton and Atlanta were gunning for you? Hell, even NYC is gunning for you now. Embarrassed about the possibility that you might get knocked off your perch? Well, let me kick you off. Ryan’s been ordered to divert every penny of profit into the reserves. It won’t benefit your branch at all. Your men are working for free. Prepare to pass the crown to one of your colleagues.”
Our mouths drop in sync. Danny is trying his best to hide a smile. I look at him and we high-five. Armando’s shoulders are shaking and he’s covering his mouth to contain his laughter. Javier is just shaking his head in shocked amazement.
That’s what Steph knew that she didn’t want me to know about. She knew he was up to no good. Wow . . . Sis took my psyop and twisted it further. I’m very afraid. She’s learned a lot from us. I’m afraid and proud.
Sis blows out a frustrated breath. “I’m stuck when it comes to you. Over and over again I hear about RangeMan brotherhood. That we don’t let anyone swing in the breeze. That we don’t abandon a man except in cases of gross incompetence or misconduct. I could term your actions treason, insubordination and misconduct and recommend Leadership Core fire you. Any sane person would. Problem is, your men are loyal to you and you’re loyal to Ranger. Normally that wouldn’t sway me except that it suggests that you’re an effective leader at that branch. You and Hal are the only XOs whose men are completely loyal and don’t leak. The difference is I know I can trust Hal. You? I can’t trust you.”
Where is Steph going with this? I can’t tell. This is the most hilarious dressing down I’ve ever eavesdropped on. Fire him, Sis! Please! I want a piece of him!
“Even now, you’re enjoying my hospitality but you aren’t extending it. You’ve been uncommunicative since you got here. I’m not ignorant of your attempts to log into my laptop. Every keystroke was tracked. Your riffling through my briefcase was caught on tape! This entire house is wired for video and audio, and the Trenton men are doing surveillance to protect me and that’s what they’re seeing. You are one keystroke away from concrete boots, if you’re even lucky enough to get that. I’ve heard the word ‘shank’ being used and, although I’m still not sure what that is, I’m betting it’s painful.”
Wow . . . where is she going? This is the most hilarious firing I’ve ever heard. I send a text to Junior asking about the current number of concrete boot volunteers. Danny, Javi and Mando are doing the same.
We hear shuffling in the background and we look up toward the house. Sis doesn’t appear. We huddle back over the phone.
“At the moment, I’m hiding your insubordination from both the Leadership Core and from Hector. I know about Ranger’s little trip to Boston in April. I know he told you that you were a dead man if I ever called the Leadership Core on you again. If Ranger threatened you then you’ve lost his trust and confidence. That’s a done deal. Whatever you meant to Ranger no longer applies. I know Lester’s just waiting for me to call and I’m the only person holding Hector back from making a quick trip north.”
We all cringe. Sis is his salvation at the moment.
Junior replies, ’30. Full count when breakfast is over. Today?’ I reply, ‘Standby. DEFCON4. Resolution uncertain.’ Javi has 50 on standby (Mack has sharpened 5 separate shanks) and there’s 75 men ready from Atlanta and Charlotte. Diego and Thomas have packed a car and are refreshing flight schedules. They’re waiting.
“So I’m going to give you the ‘Javier’ treatment that you thought was so stupid. I need to know why I should save your ass, and if you can’t come clean in the next 10 minutes, you belong to Lester or Hector, whichever one arrives first. No, you belong to whoever arrives first, including the men outside. I’m done.”
Every mouth drops open. WHAT?! Every man immediately pulls a blade and starts examining the edge. Javier sets his down, pulls out a piece of paper and writes, I prayed for absolution. I received it. It’s the moment I became completely loyal to the CO. He better take this opportunity.
We all nod. Sis gives one chance. Screw up and it’s over. My men are ready. We are ready.
Javier’s POV
I’m waiting, breathless, to hear what Mark is going to decide to do. I’m so glad I’m close to Danny and Hal. I’m in the brotherhood again and I get to attend stuff like this. This makes up for all the hell I had to go through to get here. I smile. ‘Javier treatment’. I still think of it as absolution.
What will Mark say? How can he explain himself? Does anyone have a sharpening stone handy? Mando read my mind. He passes his over.
“I expected to be a partner by now.”
I can’t believe he said that. Shit, we all know that. Tell us something new. Otherwise, Mack will be the least of your problems. I start honing the edge of my blade. I might be shit on the mats but I stab to kill. TREMONT!
“I expected to be a partner. I’ve been in the company since the beginning. I’ve worked hard and I’ve done everything I’ve been asked to do. I’ve never shirked a duty, never avoided a task and I cannot, do not, and still don’t understand why you were named ‘Managing Director’. I don’t understand why you’re the CO. I’ve tried to accept it but I just don’t understand. I can’t understand where I went wrong.”
We hear a hiccup. We sit down, still staring at the phone. Mark’s breaking. Shit. I don’t want to listen to this man cry. He’s made my life hell. I don’t want to feel pity for him.
“I don’t understand! Why? Why won’t they elevate me? What more do I have to do?”
“Stop.” Steph’s voice is cold. “Just stop. It makes no sense. Did they ever promise you a partnership?” Silence. “Did they ever give you the expectation that they were going to take on more partners?” Silence. “Are you unhappy as an XO?” Silence. “Then why are you so hell bent on becoming a partner?”
“Because . . . because . . .” Sniffle. Shit, he’s crying. Every man outside is looking at each other in shock. “Ever since I met Ranger I’ve wanted to be his right hand. Help in any way I could. Be the person he trusts. I wanted to stand by his side and do whatever was necessary to support him. He’s brilliant! I wanted to be just like him.”
“Why?”
Sniffles, then a sob. We all sit. He’s breaking. She broke him. He’ll never live this down.
“Because . . . because . . .”
We listen as Mark sobs. I feel the tiniest bit of pity for him and I squelch it. He put me through hell. He better have a good reason. Finally he pulls himself together and there’s silence.
“I nearly washed out of SERE training,” he says quietly. We look at each other, confused. “I made it through by the skin of my teeth and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue. I sucked it up and went to the next phase, the Army’s Basic Parachutist Course at Fort Benning. That’s where I met Ranger.”
We sit back. This should be good.
“I watched him. He was a Ranger already and he was there with Tank, I don’t know why, and they were watching all of us. I watched him and it was clear that everyone deferred to him. Everyone acknowledged his brilliance. Guys talked about ‘Mañoso’ in whispers, as if speaking about him out loud would cause him to appear.
I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I felt like I was going through the motions and, one day, I look up and the mighty Mañoso is in front of me, staring at me. He didn’t say anything, just stared at me. Then he said something I’ll never forget. He said, ‘Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If you quit, that lasts forever. Surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with you. So when you feel like quitting, ask yourself, which would I rather live with?‘ “
We all look at each other. Damn. That’s deep. That’s the essence of Ranger training. Yeah, if Ranger had said that to me when I was at my lowest, I’d carry that for the rest of my life too. Hell, I remember every word of his apology in NYC.
“I carried that with me through the rest of my military career. Every time I thought about giving up, I could hear his voice in my head, reminding me I’d have to live with it. He later showed up in SERE training with Lester and I was stunned. The mighty Mañoso was there, with me, in my unit and it was just like watching him at Benning. He led, men followed without question.
When I heard he was starting a company and needed men, I didn’t hesitate. I resigned my commission and joined him. That’s why I’ve done everything I have. To show him I hadn’t forgotten his words. That his leadership mattered to me. That I’d never quit striving to prove myself. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I continued to hope, to prepare for the day when I could stand by his side. That’s why I don’t understand what I’ve done wrong. Why he elevated you over me.”
Silence. I’m sure we’re all thinking it and I’m glad Steph asks. “Mark, are you gay?”
The response is instant. Hal turns deep red and bites his lip. Danny also turns red and leans into Hal, biting his fist, wheezing. Armando doubles over, holding back laughs, and hits his head on the table, which makes me bite right through my lip. OUCH! I’m sure I’m red too. My stomach hurts.
“OK, not gay,” Steph mutters. We’re still wheezing and wiping our eyes. My cheeks hurt. “What? Don’t look so offended. It was either gay or hero worship and that was a bit intense for hero worship.”
Again, we’re all biting our lips or fists trying not to laugh. Jesus, this is great!
“Mark, if that’s truly what you want to show Ranger, then you have screwed the pooch.”
Damn! The CO is brutal. I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud and again, I’m not the only one.
“You are the senior XO. You. Not Armando. You. He put you in charge of the second location he started, his first expansion location. You know what that tells me? That at some point in the past, he did trust you. He did value your opinion, your leadership, so much so that he put Boston in your care. He put Miami in your care when he brought up Boston!
When he brought up other locations, he put you in charge. Armando is in charge of the home office, but he didn’t put him in charge of the company when he brought up Trenton. He didn’t put Armando in charge when the entire Leadership Core went on missions. He put you in charge. And how have you repaid him? By questioning his judgment. By making my life difficult. By spying on everyone.”
We hear a loud exhale. “Even now, after everything you’ve done, Ranger is still clearly hoping you’ll get your shit together. You know how I know?” Silence.
“You haven’t had an “exit interview” with Bobby and you haven’t been dropped in a ‘Stan. And believe me, the guys are fighting for the right but Ranger is protecting your ass. Problem is, you’ve broken your chance with him. At this point, he’s done. I’m the only person between you and an “exit interview”.”
We wince. Wow. We hear another loud exhale.
“I never wanted to be a RangeMan but even I know that they bought out their silent partners.”
We all look at each other in surprise. She does have more information than we have. Silent partners? The company had silent partners?
“That tells me that, far from taking on more partners, they were going to consolidate the company to themselves alone. At least, that appears to be the plan. So what gave you the idea that you would be up for a partnership? And I still don’t understand your motives. You were never going to stand at Ranger’s side. How could you? It’s a bit crowded. You’d have to knock off Tank, Lester, Bobby, Hector, and me.”
We all sit, amused. Duh, dumbass. Even I know that. You couldn’t take on any of them.
“Why do you look so stunned? Do you think it was a coincidence he got shot in my apartment? You think that he was staying there on a whim when he was accused of murder? Tank and I were the people hiding and helping him, the people by his side at those points. Not you. I didn’t even know about you. The things you could do to show Ranger you support him and aren’t questioning his decisions you aren’t doing. You don’t understand why I’ve been placed in charge? Well, neither do I. I didn’t want this. I thought it was a snow job, a way to chain me to a desk while they were in Texas.”
We look at Hal, who nods.
“Now I don’t know what to do. My original plan was to leave at the end of the year and go back to being a solo bounty hunter. Unfortunately, my weasel of a cousin has given my job away and my replacement is competent. So I’m stuck. And this job may be all you dreamed of, but it’s a nightmare and a half for me. I’m so busy I see my parents and friends on occasion. I have to plan ahead. I’m no longer independent. You have no idea how much that frustrates and angers me.”
Again, we look at Hal, who nods.
“That memo you guys got a few weeks ago, telling you to steer clear of the CO? Yeah, I know about it. I was so frustrated I was snapping at everyone in Trenton. I was close to shooting anything in the building with a penis.”
We look at Hal, who nods. We squirm in sympathy. Damn. Trenton was going through it.
“I know Ranger. I know Lester and Tank and Bobby. Right now, five months into my time at the head, this company has grown 7½%. I’m going to be hit with every form of emotional blackmail those four can come up with to stay in this position. You don’t understand why I’ve been placed at the head? Neither do I, but they thought I could make a difference, try new things to grow the company. I haven’t even started doing the things I’ve thought of but I’ve definitely beat your old record. If the company continues like this, we’ll hit double digits by the time the guys return to Trenton.”
We all sit back in shock. Holy hell. Bonus checks are going to be beautiful this year. Monica might end up looking at a ring at Christmas.
“You don’t understand why I’m in this position but I’ve proven that I can handle it. Problem is, I don’t know if I want it. I’m not sure I’m going to stay past one year. I hate not being independent and I’ve never wanted to work for RangeMan.”
We’re horrified. She has to stay! I finally have someone I can call on, someone who will listen to me and can help me when I need it. She can’t leave.
“Like I said, I know the guys. I’ll be hit with every form of blackmail they can think of to keep me in this position so I’ve got to start deciding now if I want to stay and, I’ll be honest with you Mark, you are the biggest reason I don’t want to stay. I’m tired of having to suit up mentally to battle with you. I’m tired of distrusting you. I’m tired of having to work around you. I’m sick of it! I can see myself recommending Hal or Danny for this position at the end of the year.”
I look over at them. Both look horrified. Hal’s shaking his head. Danny’s shaking his head and whispering, “Hell NO!”
“The reason why I wanted to hold your interview first is because right now, you’re on the chopping block. If I get rid of you I can see my way to staying, but then I have to find someone for Boston and I have to ensure that the Boston RangeMen will accept that person. And I know Les. If I choose to fire you, all senior and mid-level management at RMBoston will be fired. More effort than I want to put in and it’s unfair to the men who followed your command, not realizing they were walking into a trap.
You, Pat and Rod? You deserve everything Les chooses to dish out to you, but I can’t accept firing the next level too just because of you. If you stay and continue to disrespect me as you have, I’ll leave and you’re a dead man when Lester and Ranger ask me why. And for some reason, even after all the disrespect you’ve shown me, I don’t want your death on my conscience.”
Each of us is huddled over the phone now. She’s lowering the boom. No man wants to miss a single word.
“The ideal is if you get rid of your animosity to me and work with me, like the other XOs have, but that’s too good to be true. You’ve had five months to do it and you haven’t and, honestly, I’m not the only person who has been affected by your actions.” Silence, then, “Sit here and don’t move.”
Armando’s POV
I’ve already decided to level with Stephanie during my one on one. She needs to know what I’m dealing with. Ella was right. I need some brotherhood too. Javier got it. Danny and Hal get it. I want it too. I want her support. I’m tired of battling those assholes of mine alone.
She can’t leave. I need her to come assess my office. I can’t find that fucking leak anywhere! I motion for my stone back. Gotta sharpen the edge of this blade. I’m not much of a knife man (Marine! Rifleman!) but I know how to use this.
Hal’s eyes widen. He lowers the volume and slips the phone into his pocket. We all quickly hide the blades and sit back, pretending innocence. Steph steps outside and walks over to us.
“Oh please,” Steph says, smiling. “I’m not fooled.” I lift an eyebrow and I’m not the only one. “No one needed the restroom? Or water? How much did you hear?”
We look at each other. “Everything,” Hal answers. “You mad?”
She shakes her head. “I know you, big bro.” Hal grins. “I knew there was no way you’d let me be in there alone with him without eavesdropping. Again, I expected it. Is all of Trenton listening?”
Hal shakes his head. “I ordered them to suspend all video monitoring until I call back. Audio is being patched to my phone.”
She nods and takes a seat at the head of the table. She leans back and blows out a breath. “I’m not the only person who’s been affected by his actions. Each of you has been. Armando, I’m sure you can’t breathe in your office without Boston finding out.” I nod. “Javier, Mark attempts to order you around without regard for your feelings in the matter. If you had allowed him to send Patrick, we may never have hired Jorge.” Javi nods, a small smile on his face. “Danny, you had a leak in your office but you also had your strategist pretending to be disloyal. Not an ideal situation. And Hal, you had to issue a death threat to ensure Trenton would keep their mouths shut.”
Hal frowns. “How did you know?”
“Ella,” she says. “Don’t worry. That’s all she told me about the staff meeting I wasn’t invited to.”
Hal smiles and sits back.
She continues to look at the sky and eventually Hal places a hankie in her hands. She smiles and I notice the tears. “Here’s what I’d like from each of you. Everyone at this table has an equal vote and it has to be unanimous. Thursday morning, tell me if I should bother to keep him. Assess him on what’s he’s done to you in the past, how he behaves this week, and how you think he’ll respond in the future. He’s your colleague. He has to work with you. If you guys feel you could never trust him again, I won’t keep him.”
“Why don’t you simply get rid of him?” Javier asks.
Good question. I want to hear her response and, to my surprise, she’s smiling.
“Thanks. I can add the four of you to the list of emotional blackmailers.” We grin. “See, each of you automatically assumes that I’m going to stay beyond this year. I was told this was a one-year gig. Unlike you, I’m not assuming I’ll be here permanently. I know that’s what you think but that was never my intention and that’s not what I was told.”
We nod. She’s right. The moment we get a chance, we’ll start figuring out ways to keep her. I haven’t even had that much interaction with her and I want to keep her.
“So I don’t really consider it within my power to fire him. Yeah, I know I have the right and power to, but firing someone is an action I elevate to Leadership Core. I let them take that. That’s why Bobby conducts the “exit interview”. I recommend terminations to Leadership Core but I don’t conduct them. I consider myself a temporary employee and it’s not fair to fire someone when I’ll be gone too.”
We nod. Sound logic and it’s respectful of her position, ours, and Leadership Core. She stands and walks back into the house.
We hold Mark’s fate in our hands. This is going to be a hell of a week for him.
Danny’s POV
“And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
Steph’s just proven her leadership to me, not that I was uncertain at all. She’s offering the nosy fucker an opportunity to save himself instead of firing him or selling him down the river. Even better, she’s giving us the opportunity to hit him with both barrels for the rest of the week and he has to kiss our behinds to keep his job.
I catch Armando’s eye and I can see he’s going to make Mark pay for every slight he’s ever suffered. As a matter of fact, 80% of his job is sitting around this table and it’s clear that every man is planning to make him feel the sting of his disrespect for the rest of the week.
We redraw the blades and I point to the stone. My turn. I hone my blade carefully while I think about Mark’s leadership and wonder what I want to say to him. Surprisingly, it’s story time with my boys that springs to mind.
“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”
It describes Steph perfectly. Steph was, is, by far the best choice for a manager that the Leadership Core could have made. She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want this job, so her actions are always about preserving our authority and ensuring we have what we need to do our jobs. It’s the reason my men love her; there’s no fakeness in her, no sense that she’s not genuine. It was clear that she was concerned about making sure everyone had what they needed to do their jobs, so she was interested in listening to them, hearing their concerns. Watching her win over my men almost immediately showed me how I could improve as a leader and manager. That’s the difference between Steph and Mark: Mark makes it clear that he is the authority. Steph makes it clear that she’s here to preserve everyone’s authority.
Hal takes the phone out of his pocket and turns the volume back up. We wait and finally we hear shuffling in the room.
“Like I said, I’m giving you the ‘Javier’ treatment this week. It’s not over. It’s just beginning. In sitting here, looking at you, I realized that I’ve only had to deal with you for five months. There are men outside who have had to deal with you for much longer. So they’ve agreed to give you a small amount of mercy too. You have the rest of this week to convince all five of us, unanimously, to keep you as a colleague. Or, if you feel it’s a good idea to hand me a resignation, I’ll accept that. Even one vote against and I call Leadership Core to conduct your “exit interview”.”
I cringe. Shit! I heard Liam had to have a catheter put in thanks to Bobby. Looking around the table, I’m sure that’s exactly what every man is thinking of.
“I’m done. You have anything you want to say to me?”
Silence, then a very quiet, “No, Stephanie. I’ll take what you’ve said under advisement.” More shuffling and Mark exits the house. He stands in the doorway, looking at us and we stare back at him. He nods and heads off toward the beach.
We all look at each other. No man knows what to say. I think Mark’s probably going to need to look for his balls and asshole much much later. The pain has to be killing him. She ripped him a new lower half.
Steph walks out in a bikini. I miss my wife. “Where’d he go?”
“Beach,” I answer.
She nods. “I feel like soaking up some sun. I have my phone. Call me when there’s food.” We grin and she leaves in the same direction as Mark. I offer the stone to Hal. He shakes his head and raises his blade. Lethally sharp already.
Javier blows out a breath. “Straw poll. In favor of keeping him?” Not a single hand. He’s fucked.
Armando shakes his head. “Steph’s right. I need an apology for the six years of hell I’ve endured. I can’t take a shit in my office without him finding out.”
Javier nods. “I’m not sure I can ever trust him. His style is to order us around. I need someone I can bounce ideas off, not someone who expects me to blindly follow his orders.”
I look at Hal, who shakes his head. “I have no problems. Steph’s right. I issued a warning when I took over that any man caught leaking to anyone would be on the mats daily with the Trenton Leadership for two straight weeks.”
Javier, Armando and I cringe. Shit! That was a death threat.
The guys look at me and I shrug. “There are times when I’d like to call on Mark’s experience but I don’t need him to tell me what to do. Like you, Javi, I want advice. Opinions, not orders.”
Hal leaves and returns with beer. We replace the blades, open the bottles and kick back. Two hours later, Mark walks into the back yard, blank face firmly in place. We look at him, blank faces in place, as he pulls a chair and sits quietly. We’re waiting.
For at least ten minutes Mark says nothing. He just looks at us. Finally Javier speaks. “You’re fucked.” Mark nods. “We took a straw poll. At the moment, you have zero votes at this table.”
Mark pales and nods.
“We’ve endured years of disrespect from you,” Armando says. “A simple ‘I’m sorry’ will not cut it. We have years of proof that tells us that you’re arrogant, conceited, disrespectful, rude, and obnoxious. You treated us like underlings, subordinates, simply because you had the power.”
“You are the senior XO at this table,” I tell him, leaning forward. “When we needed your advice, we got orders. When we needed your help, we got lectures. We were constantly eavesdropped on trying to conduct business. Every man at this table is running a counter-surveillance operation in his office except Hal.”
Mark is biting his lip and nodding. Hal leaves and returns with beer for everyone, including Mark.
“Thanks.”
“Fuck you.”
Everyone blinks and turns to Hal. Hal Linden is not known for cursing so everyone is shocked.
“As the newest XO, I wanted someone like you to turn to for advice. I was worried every day about making a mistake, doing something wrong, embarrassing myself and disappointing Tank.”
Hal is pale and angry. Hal is going to be the first man to release both barrels.
“Instead, what I got was someone who I was warned never to trust from the moment I took over, during the test period. I was told never to tell you anything that I didn’t want to hit every office before I hung up the phone.”
Hal takes a sip of his beer and everyone is looking at the table. It’s too uncomfortable to look at either man.
“My first day as XO, I had to hand you your ass because you were questioning my men and trying to snoop in my office. I was brand new and you gave me no reason to respect or like you. You disrespected me and you disrespected Tank. Worse, you’ve disrespected a woman I love as my little sister since the moment you met her. You know nothing about Stephanie Plum. You know nothing about the woman who has put herself into harm’s way time and time again for my men. You know nothing about the woman whose instincts I trust and whose judgment I respect. You know nothing about the woman whose instincts and judgment the Leadership Core trusts.”
Hal has pinned Mark with a lethal glare. It’s like looking at Tank, only pale, angry, and shaky.
“To get my vote, I need to know, in my heart, that I’m looking at a different man. I need to know that the CO will never know a moment of disrespect from you ever again. I need to know that every man at this table will be able to trust you.” He sits back and blows a breath. “I need to know that I’ll be able to let go of this need to plant my fist in your face every time I see you or hear your voice. So don’t make your situation worse by trying to blow smoke up my rear. I need to see genuine change, not some half-assed effort or an attempt to fool me.”
Hal stands and drains his beer. “I’m riding a pew tomorrow, on my knees in prayer that God directs my path in this. I’m so filled with anger I can barely look at you. I need to release that anger on another target before I let my fist fly. So God help you.”
Hal slides his bottle to the middle of the table and leaves. His entire body radiates tension. Mark is pale and shaky. I don’t think he ever expected that. I didn’t expect that and Hal is my closest colleague and friend.
Javier drains his beer and stands. “I don’t think there’s a single thing I could add to what Hal just said. That’s my criteria also.” He slides his empty bottle to the middle of the table and leaves. Armando and I look at each other, drain our beers and leave.
Mark’s POV
I’m looking at four empty beer bottles and an empty backyard. My job is in the hands of five people who have made it clear that they despise me.
The CO’s ‘discussion’, lecture, was harsh. It hurt and I’ll need to search for my asshole. I still can’t believe I cried in front of her.
I finally accept that I can’t dispute anything she said.
When our ‘discussion’ was over, I sat on the beach and thought about everything she told me. My first temptation was to dismiss all of it. I mean, she’s brand new to the business. Five months in. What does she know? She’s still learning. If she were more open to sharing what she was doing, explaining her decisions, then I’d feel more confident in her leadership. No way was I putting my branch on the line to follow any of her insane ideas.
As time went on, I wanted to know more in order to help her, discreetly. I had no intention allowing her to sink the company. After all, it’s not like her track record would indicate she’s a success in anything. I give her credit for her capture rate, but I’m deducting points for the fact that she doesn’t do it well. She gets hurt all the time and it takes her days (days!) to capture elderly skips.
I’d follow Ranger into any hellhole because I’m confident in his leadership. I’ve followed Ranger’s orders into hellholes and come out alive because of his leadership.
Her personal life is a shambles too. Divorced and in a relationship with a local cop. How did Ranger fit into that? I know my boss. He isn’t the type of man to share ass, so what kind of relationship was she running? So I didn’t have any respect for her there because I’m certain she’s not his woman. Gossip might say she is but Ranger wouldn’t allow himself to be the other man.
I refuse, refuse, to consider the idea that Ranger was the man on the side. Ranger respects himself too much. Ranger would never allow anyone to use him and he damn sure isn’t going to allow someone to make him their option if he’s making them his priority.
I’m sorry, but I considered myself as protecting Ranger’s interests, as I’ve done from the moment I entered this company. Bobby, Tank, and Lester put her in charge, not Ranger. He just signed off on Lester’s insane idea. If it had been Ranger’s idea, I would have backed off immediately; I trust Ranger’s decisions, but Lester? The man is insane! I saw him in SERE training! He confounded our instructors on a routine basis. He’s brilliant but crazy. I’m certain all the synapses aren’t firing up there.
Even Ranger once said that Lester, although brilliant, will occasionally concoct a plan so diabolically inspired that it makes him nervous.
OK, so Les has never failed. Still doesn’t mean this was a good move. First time for everything and an inexperienced novice being promoted to the very top position? One who nearly flunked out of college and couldn’t do her BEA job with injury and explosions? It was either diabolically brilliant or nerve-rackingly insane. I’ve been betting on the second.
Turns out, I should have bet on the first.
I thought about everything she said, removing my own biases, attempting to look at the situation rationally, and I felt sick. I nearly choked on my failures. I no longer have Ranger’s confidence and trust. That alone made me sick to my stomach. I resigned my commission, followed Ranger to RangeMan, stayed here as the loyal soldier and have done everything I could to prove to Ranger that I was worthy to be a partner, worthy to be his right hand man. Instead of proving my indispensability, I’ve proven dispensable. I lost his confidence. I lost his trust. I lost his respect and I have no way of regaining it any time soon.
I’ve disrespected his woman, if she is his woman. I still have yet to see that it’s true, but considering what Hal said, I’ll go with it. I have to give it some thought, some credence. If nothing else, the entire Leadership Core voted to put her in place, so even if she isn’t Ranger’s woman, they all trust her. They all believe in her but I don’t understand why. It’s the biggest fucking mystery yet.
I’ve insulted his business partners, which is a scary proposition. Les has oversight of my branch and he’s hated me for a while. I was hoping that by showing that this wasn’t a great move I could get Ranger to see that I was looking out for the company, as I’ve always done. I was hoping he’d see I want what’s best for the company and I could use that to ask that he take oversight of Boston. I saw Liam’s “exit interview”. It’s the fifth one I’ve seen and Bobby gets more painfully gruesome in each one.
I prefer not to think of Tank. It’s been a while since I sparred with him but I still remember the pain.
I’ve angered my colleagues. What’s more interesting is that the balance of power seems to be held by the newest XO. Hal is the man everyone is rallying around, not me, and that hurts. I’m the senior XO. I should be the man everyone looks to for advice and support but I’m ignored in favor of the man brand new to his position. Worse, he’s the closest to the CO and they’re like brother and sister. I wonder how much he knows and what he’s told the others.
Knowing that even Mando doesn’t support me hurts. Mando and I joined the company at the same time and were named XO at the same time. We’ve been through thick and thin but he left me out in the cold a moment ago. I’ve kept him from making assloads of stupid mistakes but even he won’t vote to retain me? Why?
I will never make partner and apparently there’s something going on among my men that I’m unaware of. Honestly, when she first said that, I mentally scoffed. If nothing else, I have the backing and support of my men. But the thought remained, like an irritating bit of sand caught in my shoes.
“The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” – Colin Powell
That’s what did it. That’s what finally convinced me she was right. Something is going on. Aside from Pat and Rodney, no one in the office is really speaking to me. So I may have lost the confidence of my men. I’m not respected. I’m not counted on. I’m not trusted outside my office. My men have lost opportunities because the CO can’t stand me. She’s right: they’ll kill me for that. They’ll kill me because we’ll drop from first to at least third because of the loss of the profits from Hospitality. That’s going to kill the profitability numbers.
I’ve killed our branch numbers trying to prevent her from killing the company.
Again, I don’t understand this woman. I would have fired me, in her position. I would’ve kicked my subordinate’s ass open after learning that they went ahead, behind my back, and opened a new line of business in their office simply because they thought I wasn’t paying attention. She knew the entire damn time. I wonder how long she’s been holding on to that information. I was prepared to confess but she beat me to it and she beat my ass with it.
I finally accept what Pat and Rod have been saying. She’s competent. She knows what she’s doing. 7½%? That 150% of my record. She’s broken my record in less than half the time. And she kept insinuating that men across the company are ready to kill me. I’ve noticed Danny, Hal, and Javier seem to be some kind of clique, so I’m guessing that it’s their men that are ready to kill me.
I saw a sharpening stone on the table. I’m thinking they’d join in with their men. I wonder where my body would end up. I think my head would end up on a spike in Trenton.
She’s made it clear the only reason I’m still employed is because I’m loyal to Ranger and my men are loyal to me, but she also made it seem as if there’s a possible mutiny going on. I wonder how much information Maria passed to her and I wonder what’s going on that I don’t know about. If I lose control of my office, I have no reason to stay. And if she’s the only thing standing between me and an “exit interview”, my ass is grass.
I bite back tears and think about what Ranger told me in April. One more call from her and my family might never find the body. Assuming he got to me first. She’s right. I’m dead man walking and she’s the only person standing between me and death.
I love my job. I love the company. I have no idea how to fix this problem and less than one week to convince five people to give me another chance.
The next morning finds me awake at dawn, dressing for church. I haven’t been in years, but I feel the need to go now. I’m going to need divine help and, evidently, I’m not the only person who feels this way. Everyone is in the kitchen eating breakfast, except the CO, when the doorbell rings. Hal hustles her into the kitchen for breakfast before answering the door.
A stunning woman walks into the kitchen. 5’9″, long blond hair, blue eyes, and at least a DD up top. I haven’t felt myself get this hard this fast in years. Every man pauses, mid-bite, to stare. Finally, Danny swallows his mouthful of coffee and smiles.
“You must be Candy.” She smiles and the effect is stunning. “I’m Danny. Nice to meet you.”
“Danny!” She hugs him and my pants get tighter. Who is this woman? “I’m glad to finally put a face with the name. Hal tells me about you all the time. Atlanta, right?”
Danny nods and my mouth drops. Is this Hal’s girlfriend? My God, she’s a stunner. Hal walks in and scowls.
“Hands off.” Danny grins and backs away. “Everyone, this is Candace Taylor, my girlfriend. Candy, this is Danny, Javier, Armando and Mark.”
Her smile dims when he introduces me. Damn. Even the girlfriend hates me.
“And this is Stephanie Plum, my boss.”
The CO is drooling. “Holy cow. If I were into women, I’d love you,” she mutters. Hal turns red while Candy laughs. Every man in the room is fighting an erection over that thought. Even I have to admit the CO is hot. Steph and Candy together? I sit to hide my response. “Hal, I don’t know what you did right, but congrats.”
Hal is rapidly turning deep red. Candy smiles. “He was the right man in the right place at the right time.” She smiles at him, a smile full of love. I’m jealous as hell. “Believe me, he’s done everything right,” she grins, “including cop to you. I smelled Dolce Vita on him repeatedly and I was ready to dump him when he confessed his boss was a woman he nicknamed Sis and he liked to hug her.”
Steph laughs. “Whoops! Sorry Hal.”
Hal shakes his head. “No problem. Anyway, we’re off to church. You with us Danny?”
“Yeah.” Danny takes one last bite of toast and finishes his coffee. Hal turns to me. “Mark?”
I shake my head. “Methodist, right?” He nods. “Catholic.” He nods and they wave goodbye. My eyes are glued to his girlfriend’s rear. I shake my head and look at Javier and Armando. They’re still staring.
“Taken,” I say. I’m trying for a teasing voice and I guess I got it right. They both turn red and smile.
The CO grins. “Hey, no shame. Even I was staring.” She gasps. “Crap! I need to talk to Candy. I have a few ideas I want to run past her.” She dashes to her bedroom and returns with her phone. She taps a message and smiles at the response. “Good. She’ll come back for lunch and dinner. I have time to pick her brain.”
We’re all confused. I’m fighting the urge to ask a million questions. What on earth could she want to talk to Candy about? Finally, she pushes back from the table and stares at us. “Everyone Catholic?” We nod. “OK. Anyone know where the church is?”
I nod. “Looked it up this morning. It’s a 10 minute walk. Next service starts at 9:15.”
I’m getting the full measure of how little I’m trusted. I can see the CO desperately wants to check I’m right herself. Shit. I’m not even trusted to give the correct time for Mass? Finally, she purses her lips and frowns.
“OK. I’ll be ready in…” She glances at the clock. 0815. “I’ll be ready in 30 minutes.”
We nod. Javi looks at me and shakes his head. No need to say anything.
I know.
