Chapter 5
The office was sparse, almost comically so. A desk, folding chairs, a laptop, and papers were scattered about. No filing cabinets, no decorations, no coffee maker in the corner. Just the bare essentials in a room that smelled faintly of warm wood and sawdust.
“I’m sorry for the rudimentary interviewing space,” Logan said. “This temporary setup allows me to interview potential employees while we finish the compound’s headquarters.”
Mary smiled despite her nerves. Something was refreshing about its simplicity and lack of pretension.
Logan Bishop wasn’t trying to impress her with a fancy setup.
This was just a man building something from the ground up, one piece at a time.
She hesitated just long enough to wait for Logan to sit, then rolled her wheelchair to the opposite side of the desk.
Logan settled into his chair and glanced down at his tablet, then lifted his gaze to her. She had the feeling she was being studied.
She placed her hands in her lap and forced her shoulders to relax.
The tightness between her shoulder blades had been there since she’d turned onto the property, and she consciously released it.
She believed in directness and trustworthiness.
It had served her well in the military, and it would serve her now.
“I admit that I’m a little nervous,” she said, meeting his eyes.
“After the accident, I was medically retired from the Navy, but I was able to apply as a civilian for a DoD admin position. I’ve been working in that capacity for the past thirteen months.
But this?” She gestured vaguely toward the window, encompassing the building and the compound beyond.
“This feels different. More important, somehow.”
Logan’s expression softened fractionally.
“You should know, Mary, that by the time someone gets an invitation to interview with me, they’ve been thoroughly vetted.
Background checks, reference checks, skills assessment.
I don’t waste time on candidates who can’t do the job.
” He leaned forward slightly. “But what I’m building here relies on more than just ability.
I need people who can align with the vision we’re creating.
People who understand what it means to be a Keeper. ”
The word hung in the air between them, weighted with meaning she didn’t fully understand yet, but could sense was significant.
He continued. “Mace Hanover built Lighthouse Security Investigations based on the old lighthouse keepers who guided others to safety. That’s why the LSI employees are known as Keepers.”
“I understand,” she said, and she did. The military could mold people into the service members they needed through training, discipline, and sheer force of will.
However, in the private sector, especially in a field as specialized as Logan’s, he needed to select individuals who already fit.
People who shared the vision and could work as a cohesive team without constant oversight.
“You need to know that we’re going to work well together before you make the investment in hiring me. ”
“Exactly.” Logan nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. “I know what I can see in your file, and I know what Admiral Brenner told me. But I’d like you to tell me about yourself. Your words, your perspective.”
Mary had learned to present her story honestly without dwelling on parts that made people uncomfortable. She straightened in her chair, gathering her thoughts.
“I grew up in Montana,” she said. “Small town, about an hour from here. My family had a ranch. Nothing huge, but enough that I learned to ride before I could tie my shoes, and I knew how to work before I knew how to complain about it.” A smile tugged at her lips at the memory.
“Like many young people, I wanted to get away from small-town life and see the world. The Navy seemed like the best way to do that.”
Logan was listening intently, his focus absolute in a way that made her feel truly heard.
“My family supported the decision even though I know my mom cried when I left for basic training. Three tours in logistics. I was good at it.” She said it without arrogance, simply stating a fact.
“I understood supply chains and procurement and how to keep things running smoothly even when everything was going wrong around me. I planned to finish my twenty years, make a career of it.”
She paused, her hands flexing slightly against the table. This was the hard part, but she’d learned not to shy away from it.
“A distracted driver ran a red light on base two years ago. Wasn’t my fault and wasn’t anything I could have prevented.
But it happened anyway.” Her voice stayed steady, professional, even as the memory tried to claw its way up her throat.
“T-boned my vehicle. They had to cut me out. Incomplete spinal cord injury at the T12-L1 junction. Multiple surgeries, a year of physical therapy, and a medical retirement I didn’t want but couldn’t fight. ”
Logan’s expression didn’t change. His eyes didn’t fill with the pity she’d seen too many times. He just nodded, acknowledging the information as he would any other relevant fact.
“My parents wanted me close. My brother and sister are still here, and I have a passel of nieces and nephews. And honestly, I wanted to be close to them, too. So I finally had my rehab at the VA hospital in Montana, and when I was ready to work again, I took a civilian position with the Army. Administrative assistant for Colonel Bennett.”
“He spoke very highly of you,” Logan said. “Said you were the most organized person he’d ever worked with and that losing you would be a significant blow to his operation.”
Mary felt warmth spread through her chest. “The colonel is a good man. But the work...” She hesitated, then pushed forward.
“It wasn’t challenging. I was grateful for it at first, grateful to be working at all.
But after a while, I realized I was capable of so much more than filing paperwork and managing the colonel’s calendar.
I needed something that would push me, something that would let me use all my skills, not just the safe ones. ”
“And LSI Montana fits that?” Logan asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.
“I think it could.” She leaned forward, her enthusiasm breaking through her professional veneer.
“I have an acquaintance who works for Mace Hanover. Marjorie Tiddle. We met many years ago at a conference, and we stayed in touch. When I hoped I’d be able to get an interview with you, I called her to find out more.
The chance to build something from the ground up, to be part of creating something important? That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”
Logan studied her for a long moment, and Mary resisted the urge to fidget under his scrutiny. Then he nodded, his posture relaxing slightly.
“Your résumé is exemplary,” he said. “So let me give you some information about what we’re creating here.”
Relief flooded through her so strongly that Mary had to fight to keep it from showing on her face.
She knew that if Logan hadn’t been seriously considering her, he never would have invited her out for the interview.
And if he wasn’t feeling confident that she would fit into what he was building, he wouldn’t be sharing details about LSIMT. Good.
“Thank you, Logan. I’m eager to hear it.”
He settled back in his chair, his hands folded on the table.
“Since you’ve talked to Marge, I’m sure you have some idea of what LSI is about.
But let me give you the full picture.” His voice took on a quality that suggested he’d given this speech before, but he still believed every word.
“Mace Hanover had the opportunity to lead a CIA team that included special ops personnel from SEALs, Delta Force, Rangers, and Air Force special tactics. All egos were checked at the door, and he said the experience was so profound that he wanted to replicate it when he got out of the service.”
Mary nodded, leaning in slightly. This was the heart of it, the philosophy that would drive everything else.
“He built Lighthouse Security Investigations based in Maine. Hired the best people he could find, regardless of which branch they’d served in, and created something unique.
The success led to opening a second LSI on the West Coast with Carson Dyer taking the lead.
” Logan’s expression grew more animated as he spoke, the passion behind the project showing through his normally reserved demeanor.
“They provide security, install specialized systems, and conduct investigations. They’re often called in by the FBI, work hand in hand with the DEA or ATF, and handle situations that require specialized skills and absolute discretion. And that’s what we’ll be doing here.”
“And the position you’re considering me for?” Mary asked, her heart rate picking up.
“I need an administrative manager,” Logan said.
“But that title doesn’t really capture the scope of what I’m looking for.
Your background in logistics makes you even more valuable.
I need someone who can help run LSIMT from the operational side.
Someone who can handle payroll, correspondence, requisitions, and coordinate with our equipment specialist on what we need and when we need it. ”
He gestured in the direction of the compound.
“Bert Tomlinson, one of the men you met outside, served with my SEAL team as a support specialist. He’ll handle equipment and weapons here.
You would work closely with him on procurement and inventory.
Between the two of you, I need to know that this place will run smoothly whether I’m here or out on a mission. ”
The scope of it settled over Mary like a challenge and a promise combined. This wasn’t just answering phones and filing papers. This position was integral to the operation, and she would be trusted with significant responsibility.