Balance by Kurt Bartling Read Free Book Online

what she does well, very very well.   She knows there’ s something more involved , more to what she saw.
    Perplexed, she gets out of bed.  T wenty -mi nutes until the door unlocks, s he rushes into the shower.
    When she opens her dresser drawers, she finds they’ve been fully stocked with clothes, mostly similar to her attire from the previous day; workout clothes.  She smiles , thinking to herself, ‘M ust be expecting me to stay awhile ’ .
    D ress ing quickly, she puts her hair into a braid. N ot know ing what to expect , her long hair a dis traction she doesn’ t want to deal with. She ’s hopeful another tryout is not on the schedule .
     
    Rena waits in the entry hall.
    The computer ch imes 5:15AM, the door unlocks.
    She opens it expecting to see Michael .   His door remains closed.  She stands along the hall for a minute, than i t hits her , the realization .  Without hesitation , she steps out and proceeds to breakfast .
    M inutes later, Michael’s door opens.  L ook ing at Rena’s door for a second, s miling, he proceeds to breakfast .
    Arriving in the dining hall, he immediately locat es Rena at the buffet.  C lear ing the end of the li ne, she turns and sees him, half smile s and nods to a table in the center of the hall.  He gives her a small nod to acknowledge.
    F ollowing the pro cession through the fare , Michael joins Rena , sitting across from her as they had the previous evening.  He considers her before starting his breakfast, “How are you feeling?” his concern obvious .
    Rena scan s the hall for anybody that might be paying a li ttle too much attention, “I’m fine.   Thank you for asking. ” Lowering her voice, “ I assume you wanted me to come to the dining hall alone, avoid appearing overly dependent on your company?”
    Michael winks and smiles , starting to understand what Alexander meant about he and Rena working well together.   “We should probably con tinue that for the time being .” H e whispers, “need to mak e sure we ’re not obvious about it.  You might want to keep leaving at 5 : 1 5.  You seem more structured and precise .  I’ll try to be more random.  B eing a cage fighter from the Hustle i t ’ ll be more credible “
    Rena sm iles , “It’s a little early to call me obsessive.” She replies sarcastically.
     
    The two eat their breakfasts quietly and without incident.
    Michael finishing hi s meal first, scans the hall f or any indication that someone i s waiting to join them.  Up in the balcony, a meeting appears to be underway .  He doesn’t see Angela, but Still and the short Asian are present.
    Rena finishes her meal .  Without looking up at the balcony herself , she inquires , “See anything of interest?”
    “Not sure?”
     
    Michael and Rena remain at the table, watching the rest of the people eat breakfast and leave.  No one stops or acknowledges them.
    The dining hall empties by 7 :00AM, leav ing only Rena and Michael, making both uncomfortable.
    After fifteen minutes, the delegation in the balcony breaks up.  Two soldiers depart and descen d the stairs to the main hall, approach ing Michael and Rena.  One of the soldiers look s to be in his mid- twenties, the other in his mid-thirties.  Both take the remaining seats at the table, opposite eac h other, silent ly scrutinizing the new recruits .
    The younger soldier speaks first.  “My name is Staff Sergeant Waters.  My counterpart is Staff Sergeant Rodriguez.  While you are in this facility , we will be your handlers.  My primary responsibility will be Michael Allen .  Staff Sergeant Rodriguez’s primary will be Rena O’Neil .”
    “I don’t think Rena’s last name is ‘ O’Neil ’.  I know mine’ s not ‘ Allen ’.”  Michael remarks.
    Rodriqu ez looks at Michael without emotion, “They are w hile you two are in this facility.”
    Waters continu es, “You will be evaluated , and , assuming positive results, trained as field agents.  For our protection,