๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐จ | ๐:๐๐ ๐๐ฆ โข ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐ก
Mitch pushed me off of him, and from the corner of my eye, Craig is stunned at my performance. His hands were on my wristโfirm but not bruising, steadily breaking contact. He stepped back.ย
"That is definitely not part of the standard interview process, Blair." From the looks of it, he wasn't expecting it. If my father has taught me one thing, it is that I need to use every weapon necessary.ย
"I was just testing to see how far your arrogance goes, Lt. Mitch," I reply, staring at him. "Sorry you had to witness that, Mr. Pomeroy."
Craig seemed to have forgotten how to speak.
"Testing my arrogance?" He said, his voice dipped to a low rumble. He stepped back into my spaceโinvading it like he's something bigger than me. "Arrogance is thinking you can walk into my headquarters, nearly take out one of my men on a motorcycle, and then manipulate me with a stunt like that."ย
Pointing towards the window, towards the expanse of the ocean. "Out there, the ocean doesn't care about your 'tests.' It just waits for you to make a mistake. And right now, Blair, you're making a big one. You're treating this like a game. But when I'm out there in a rescue, I need to know the person behind me isn't 'testing' meโI need to know they're saving lives."
He turned to the desk and picked up my recommendation letter, which was all lies. The edges crinkled. He's got a tight grip. And the silence followedโheavy and dripping.ย
"You're lucky we're short-staffed for the summer season," he said, facing me. "And you're lucky I'm curious. But let's get one thing straight: You want to be on this team? The 'drama' stops here. You wear the red suit, you follow my lead, and you stay away from Elena until I figure out why she looks at you like you're a ghost from her past."
"Craig, take her down to the lockers. Get her a uniform and a buoy. Let's see if she's as good in the water as she is at... whatever this is," he adds.ย
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐จ | ๐๐:๐๐ ๐๐ฆ โข ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐ก
I am all suited up now and have been briefed. Iris gave me some intel on Craig Pomeroy.ย
Iris: "Craig Pomeroy. Lead Lifeguard. Exceptionally high rescue count. He's the 'moral compass' of the team, Blair. He grew up in the Valley, has a background in competitive swimming, and a reputation for being fiercely loyal to Mitch. He's observant, but he leans on emotionโunlike Mitch, who leans on instinct. If you want to remain undetected, play into his sense of heroism. He wants to believe you're a good person beneath the 'drama.'"
A moral compass with a wonderful wife, whom he loves. Mitch had no choice but to hire me, I guess. I gently twist my head and watch them both. He seems butt-hurt about this.ย
Iris: "Mitch's pupil dilation suggests high suspicion. He is currently cross-referencing your swimming style with Coast Guard manual techniques. He has found a zero percent match. You are too efficient, Blair. You look like a machine."
A shadow fell over me a few minutes in. Ah, Mitch.
"Tower 12," Mitch said, his voice a low, gravelly command. "That's your post for the afternoon. It's isolated, it's rocky, and the tourists there are usually the ones who think they're too smart for the warning signs."
"Good to know, you finally trust me, Lieutenant. I was starting to worry," I said, voice calm as the ocean.ย
"Trust is a heavy word, Blair," Mitch said, his voice barely audible over the wind. "In this job, trust is the difference between someone going home to their family or becoming a statistic. Right now? I trust that you can swim. The rest of it? That's what the tower is for."
I watched him retreat after that. Well, it's not easy for me to fool you, you know. But I don't say that.ย