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ASAP.”
    “Right away, sir.” Jones disappeared just as a shadow crossed the doorway and the oversized team leader for Team One knocked on the door.
    Tufo looked up and felt a sudden urge to scream. If Apollo came to him first, something went wrong on the op. “Report.”
    Apollo shook his head, “Nothing to report, sir,” he stepped into Mark’s office and stood at parade rest, “other than a successful mission.”
    Mark studied him a moment then waved him on. “Then why aren’t you debriefing with your operations officer and getting your report ready for me?”
    “I, uh…wanted to speak privately with you, sir. About the new guys.”
    Mark closed the training reports and leaned back in his chair. “Problems?”
    “Negative, sir. I mean nothing I can put my finger on.” Apollo glanced off to the side and seemed to be searching for the right words.
    “Spit it out, Apollo. We don’t have all day.”
    “Permission to speak freely, sir?”
    Mark nodded. “Of course.”
    “I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about Little John. Either the guy is just a stone cold killer or…”
    “Or?”
    “Or the guy is trying to pull a fast one on me. I mean, it seems like nothing fazes the guy. No matter what I throw at him, he’s a stone wall.”
    “And this is a bad thing because…”
    “Because people just ain’t wired like that, boss.” Apollo shrugged. “See, I knew I couldn’t explain it. Call it a gut feeling.”
    Mark pushed away from his desk. “Look, Apollo, I understand if you’re just a bit worried about placing the new guys on the teams. But it’s not like you’re personally responsible. You make the recommendations, and then it’s up to me to make the decision.”
    “No, sir, it’s not that.”
    “Then I guess I’m not seeing the problem.” Mark sat up from his chair and took to his feet. “The way I see it, the man was recruited, he gave informed consent to be augmented, he’s gone through the training, and now you have reservations because he’s a little too…what? Detached?”
    Apollo thought a moment then nodded. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
    Mark stepped around the desk and approached the larger man. “Do you remember how long it took you to come around after Maria’s death?” As soon as he asked the question, he saw the man visibly stiffen. Mark feared that Maria’s death was still a raw nerve with Apollo, but it was his only avenue.
    “What does that have to do with anything?” Apollo’s voice was defensive and edged on menacing.
    “I’m just asking you, do you remember how long it took you before you allowed yourself to ‘feel’ anything again?”
    Apollo’s shoulders slumped as he thought back to the toughest four months of his life. “I remember.”
    “Some people put up these…I dunno…walls, I guess. They’re a defense to help protect what’s left of their sanity.” He patted the large man’s shoulder. “Have you considered that perhaps Sully has just seen too much or been through too much and his behavior is a defensive move?”
    “So I should think outside the box?”
    “Think wherever the hell you want, big guy, you’re the team leader. I’m just throwing out ideas.”
    Apollo turned to leave. “Guess I got a debriefing to get to.”
    “Look forward to reading the report.” Mark patted his back as he stepped out of the office. He watched the large man round the corner before he shut the door to his office again. “Psycho-babble bullshit might have actually come in handy once.”
     
    *****
     
    Robert Mueller ran along the wet beach, all cares and worries gone from his mind as he pushed himself to run faster through the soft white sand. Although he could feel the sandy mud splashing up against the back of his thighs, he ignored the minor distraction and forced himself to run faster, to push harder, his lungs burning, as he tore through the next breaking wave.
    From the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Barbara walking