2. Leo
2
LEO
L eo Camaro was in that great stage of life where he had endless energy and the body to keep up with the desire to constantly be on the move. Sure, that little spat in Afghanistan wasn’t ideal , and the medical discharge from the Marines post-training accident (and the subsequent “who am I if not a Marine” mental breakdown) allowed him just enough experience to land a job in a rather elite security agency.
Totally normal.
A brute was a brute, his father liked to say, so may as well get paid for it.
This was not the job his father was expecting Leo to take, which made it all the more fun. He appeased his highly decorated veteran of a father with, “It’s a job while I study for the MCATS and apply for med school.”
But that was two years ago and Leo still hadn’t applied to medical school despite having pretty decent MCAT scores. He continued deferring, saying he wanted to bump his test score just a little more before applying. It was true.
Sort of.
Leo liked this job fairly well. It allowed him to still be that disciplined guy, carry a gun, and serve others. The jobs were long and tedious but the likelihood of getting to fight someone was enough to hold his attention. The pay wasn’t bad either. And he liked to travel and see the country (it had grown on him and was the excuse he continued to give his family when they asked him to settle down, which was a monthly occurrence).
He had just come off a job and was heading into the office to drop off reports and get his next job assignment.
“Leo, my boy!” Jenson called from his office. That man really did live and breathe efficiency. Leo had only been in the office thirty seconds before he was called in for his next assignment briefing.
“What do you have for me?” Leo asked. He’s been at the Sentinel Security Agency for a year and a half and his last job nearly did him in.
“That eager to move on?”
“Afraid Mr. Congressman will change his mind and want us back,” Leo admitted. Mr. Congressman was a child stuck in a 66-year-old’s body and Leo, despite having enjoyed the location and the random bar scrap he’d been able to put out, was rather excited to leave that piece of work behind.
“If the congressman decides he does want to extend his security, Chandler can handle it. I have a solo job for you. ”
“Without Chandler?” Leo asked. “Alone?” This was news.
“That is what the word solo means. Chandler thinks you’re ready for a solo job. This will be good testing waters for you. If the job goes well we can officially call your training complete.”
The idea of not having to be the “gopher” of a team was appealing. And progressing and improving was a personal high for Leo. Bettering himself in all aspects of his life was essential to his values. And sure, maybe he didn’t want to stay at the agency forever (or maybe he did) but always being the low man on the chain would slowly drive him insane.
This was good news. The agency had taken a chance with hiring Leo so young, and Leo knew it.
Now to put it to the test.
“I’m ready. Give me the portfolio and I can be on my way tonight,” Leo said. He was a professional at living out of a suitcase now.
Jenson laughed from behind his desk and slid over a paper portfolio (some things were still old-school with this guy in charge). “I figured you’d say that. Go on and book your flight. See you back here when this is over.”
Leo grabbed the thick folder of paperwork and flipped through the first page. His stomach dropped. “Sir, is this right? It says Hollandsway. Oregon?”
“That’s correct. Is that a problem? I thought it would be good news Mr. Never Takes Time Off.” Jensen laughed. “Plus, I thought you’d like anywhere other than D.C.”
Oh, this was going to be rich. He had literally, hours ago, told his mother in no uncertain terms that he would not be able to take time off to come home for the annual family reunion because he was on a very special security detail.
Leo forced out a laugh. “Guess I can pocket that living stipend. Dear old Dad and Meddling Mother will be tickled pink to have me back in town.” He tried to come off sarcastic and not at all bitter. (He failed.) He was already planning on crashing up with his sister.
Leo had worked hard to stay out of that small town and now he was back in it for, he checked the portfolio, six months. Six months? That was on the longer end of the spectrum.
Jenson seemed to be enjoying this. “The job should be fairly straightforward. Wanted to give you something light for your first solo. Chandler might need some help with tech support so let him know if you have the downtime for that. We’ll compensate you,” Jenson said, shuffling paper around and prepping for the next meeting.
“Sure, no problem.” As if money were the issue here.
Leo considered asking if there was another assignment. People could do that, appeal assignments due to personal reasons or whatever, but he didn’t want to miss out on a chance to do his first solo job, especially if his reason was “Hey, sorry, I don’t really want to be in the same town as my parents right now. No, they don’t scare me.” (Not much, anyway.)
The opportunity for a solo job might not come around again for a while, or worse, they might think he was inflexible and too emotional for the job.
Leo strode out of the office, smiling at the secretary as he dropped off his receipts and got busy booking a flight during the Uber to the airport.
Leo only took real stock of the situation when he was seated on the flight, heading back home. “Home” sounded too familiar. Too cozy. His mom had nearly thrown a fit of excitement when she heard her “baby boy is coming home tonight!”
He had to talk her off a ledge. She was already threatening to throw him a “welcome home party” which was really just another excuse for her to host something.
“This is for work, Mom. Simmer down for a little bit until I get my work squared away.” Leo hoped she’d heard him through the buzzing noise of the airport.“I’m staying at Tess’s place.” He did not need his mother hovering. Tess was probably off on some pilot job anyway, her apartment was vacant most of the year.
“She’s in town, hon,” his mother said. “For that wedding she’s in! I can’t believe I’ll have all my little duckies back home!”
“Okay, love you, about to take off.”
It was a small white lie. He just needed to call Tess to warn her that he would be crashing with her.
She answered on the first ring. “You’ll have to beg.”
“Excuse me?”
Tess snorted. “Mom already texted me. So, baby brother in town, finally?”
“You know I’m older.” They had been arguing that point since they could talk and despite trying as hard as the twins could, their parents refused to tell them their birth order. “And yeah, I’m crashing at your place. Leave a key under the mat.”
Tess laughed again. “Sure thing. I’m only in town for a few more days. Then I’m gone for like a month and then will probably be back unless another job comes up or something so the place is yours.”
This was good news. “Sweet. Thanks. I think I’ll actually have some downtime but I’ll know more once I get the Subject situated.”
“Oooh Subject. Fancy. Do I know him?”
Leo couldn’t tell if she was genuine or being sarcastic. It didn’t matter. “Can’t say. I’ll call you when I land.”
“Have fun mister big shot.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Bye.”
Once airborne, Leo flipped open the portfolio and scanned the pages, doing preliminary research on his new Subject.
Name: Sage Moon
Sage. That name seemed familiar. He knew of two “Sages.” One was an acquaintance from high school a few years below him. Another was a dude from his grade (who later moved) who then turned into a professional ultra-runner. Neither with the last name of Moon. He continued reading.
Age: 23
Occupation: Online Gamer, Streamer, Influencer
Leo rolled his eyes so hard they scratched his brain.
A streamer. He shuddered.
An influencer. He grimaced.
Leo pictured a young woman with blue hair, talking like she had just gotten a lobotomy, wearing a low-cut shirt, and busy promoting whatever green powder was paying her that week .
Day to day: Subject spends most of her time in her home on the outskirts of town. She owns the home. Subject spends hours online playing games for a virtual audience making money through viewership, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Leo rolled his eyes. A YouTube star wannabe. Another chick flashing skin online and guys paid her all while she thought it was because she has some skills people want to watch. Sure, if a woman wants to do that, that was her prerogative—but don’t tell anyone it’s the gaming that pays the bills when it’s really just a pretty face.
Threat: Subject has been receiving strange and threatening letters delivered to her mailbox or left on her car. The general thought is this might be a delusional fan. Miss Moon has several scheduled appearances (in-state and out-of-state) in preparation for a big competition in Los Angeles.
Hiring notes: The sponsor for Sage Moon, LilyTech, hired protection. If there are concerns, please reach out to Lily or Jared at LilyTech. See attached note from LilyTech. “Please send someone younger and who may be able to blend in on social outings with Miss Moon.”
Miss Moon’s calendar of events and planned outings were also attached. Nothing too crazy over the next few months. Events like “Tech Con.” And “ Welkin Wall Panel” and “Meet and greet.” Looked like she was staying local for the holidays as well, which was probably a good thing for Leo. He’d be able to have Christmas at home. His mother might actually have kittens when she found out the news. Too bad he was allergic to cats.
Apparently all of the events were a big lead-up to the massive gaming competition for the game Welkin Wall . Leo had heard of Welkin Wall , not that he had time to play. Well, he did, but Higher Pursuits (like studying and running and cold plunges) called to him, and to be fair, Welkin Wall was hard. It was technical. But if he was given hours to squander away he was confident that he could get good at it too. But he had better, more meaningful, things to do. He couldn’t allow himself to grow stagnant and waste time on games.
Leo continued scanning the pages of the portfolio. Jenson had called ahead and got cameras set up. Easy. All Leo would have to do is check that the cameras were set up correctly, introduce himself, and wait. Protocol didn’t demand 24-hour surveillance unless the Subject asked for it or some new development occurred.
Leo skimmed his list of regulations he would present to the Subject and spent the rest of the flight gearing up to face his mother and father after avoiding them for the last year.
The landing made him nauseous and the pilot, in his singsong voice, assured everyone that everything was okay despite the turbulence. Leo hoped it wasn’t an omen for what was to come.
Once Leo’s feet were firmly on the ground, he picked up his rental (a new 4Runner) and made his way toward Tess’s apartment. But instead of stopping to drop off his things, as he initially planned, he made his way to the outskirts of the small town.
Leo scanned the long road, driving slowly through the neighborhood. The Subject’s house was in the old part of the town and the street was narrow and giant trees lined the sidewalks, mature beasts towering over the few people out walking their dogs. October was quickly ending and the leaves were falling, covering the sidewalks and wooded trails with a carpet of orange. A warm feeling came over him.
Was this nostalgia? He pushed that feeling away. He needed to remain focused.
He pulled into Miss Moon’s driveway and glanced at his watch. 4:00. He had made great time considering the travel day. He’d be home in time for dinner. His stomach growled in agreement.
Leo marched up the steps. They creaked under his weight and he took note of the boarded-up window (the portfolio had mentioned a little break-in). He knocked on the giant wood doors and stepped back. He appraised the house. It was old, but it was massive. It could also use some work. Serious work. The large wrap-around porch sagged in some places, the yard was overgrown, and it could do with a fresh paint job.
He knocked on the door again and this time he heard a muffled, “Coming” and footsteps.
And when the door swung open he was faced with the last person he had ever expected to see again, a person he was certain he’d successfully blotted from his memory. But there she was, standing right in front of him.
“Wait, you?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
She slammed the door in his face.
It was going to be a long and uncomfortable six months.