“Yes, sir,” I agreed mildly. Did he really think it would take me long to learn what he had in mind for the Director of Interior Affairs?
“You’ll be given a free rein to bring the department up to what I know it can be.” The Boss extended his hand, and I rose to accept it. My palm was dry. “You’ve more than lived up to the promise I always saw in you, Mark.”
“Thank you, sir. That means a great deal to me.” It did, but I was regretting the fact that I would no longer be out in the field. I didn’t bother asking him if there was any way he could bend the rules further. As he’d said, he’d kept me in the field longer than any other agent. It was just longer than he actually thought.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable with the desk job just yet. You’ll need to train someone to replace you.”
“Of
