The harsh, rhythmic pounding against my heavy steel door dragged me out of a deep, dreamless sleep.
"What?!" I barked, my voice gravelly and raw from being choked out the night before.
The lock clicked open, and Steve stepped into the room, his tactical vest slung loosely over one shoulder. "Director needs to see you in her office. Now."
I rubbed my uninjured hand over my face, wincing as my fingers brushed the tender, bruised skin around my left eye. "Why?"
"I don't know," Steve said, leaning against the doorframe with a slight grimace. "But yesterday's client called. Sounded pissed."
"What?!"
The last remnants of sleep vanished in a sharp burst of adrenaline. I threw back the thin sheet and swung my legs out of bed, not bothering to change out of my oversized sleep shirt and shorts
