Vortex by Julie Cross Read Free Book Online Page A

cheeks and her pulse slowed to 91 .
    “What are the dimensions of the space?” she asked.
    “You’re assuming you can see?” another agent from several seats away said.
    “I can measure without seeing,” Kendrick responded, still keeping her eyes on Freeman.
    He tossed some random numbers at her and she countered with yet another question:
     “What is the estimated temperature of the space?”
    Freeman lifted one eyebrow, sweeping his eyes over her clock, which now held steady
     at 79 . “Eighty-nine degrees.”
    “Without knowing any potential methods of escape and the skills required to attempt
     those methods, I’d choose Agent Sterling.” Kendrick’s response came without hesitation,
     showing she hadn’t been stalling. She really needed that information to form her answer.
    “Why is that?” Freeman asked.
    “With that tight of an area and the normal temperature already being on the warm side,
     Mason has the lowest body fat percentage and his entire body mass is nearly the smallest
     of the group, therefore he’d use the least amount of energy.”
    “Nearly the smallest,” Stewart pointed out before Freeman could respond. Stewart herself
     was actually the lightest and smallest of all the trainees, maybe of all the Tempest
     agents.
    Freeman turned his eyes to Stewart and back to Kendrick, who looked unbelievably calm
     compared to ten minutes earlier. “She has a point…”
    “Yes,” Kendrick said, keeping her voice even. “But I had to consider psychological
     compatibility. Stewart’s more likely to create conflict, which would lead to delayed
     solutions.”
    “But Agent Stewart tests higher in pressure situations than nearly anyone in the division,
     as she’s proven today. Agent Sterling, however, seemed to struggle the most,” Freeman
     pointed out. “Wouldn’t you rather be confined with the agent most likely not to panic?”
    Yes, Stewart definitely had earned that role in a very scary and intimidating way,
     but in the past few weeks I’d managed to challenge her on more than one occasion.
     Sometimes it was easier to let your fears and emotions turn numb and allow your mind
     to take over and just … go through the motions. Apparently the CIA likes those methods
     very much and rewards them with high test scores.
    “Fine,” Kendrick said, a trace of annoyance and reluctance leaking into her voice.
     “I wouldn’t pick Stewart because she knows she’ll handle it better than I would and
     it’s possible she’d kill me just to have enough oxygen to plan her escape and complete
     whatever mission had gotten us trapped in the first place. And even though I’d like
     to put the division first, I’m pretty sure my own self-preservation would kick in
     and I’d prefer not to be killed for the greater good.”
    I was slightly shocked by Kendrick’s response, but in an almost humorous way. Did
     she really think Stewart would kill her just to save the world or whatever? Stewart
     completely infuriated me ninety-nine percent of the time, but I didn’t think she’d
     ever actually kill me.
    “Honesty is always appreciated,” Freeman said, then his gaze flitted over me, pausing
     for a split second before moving to Stewart. “Agent Stewart, who would you choose?”
    I waited for her comment on Kendrick’s answer, but she didn’t even look like she cared.
     “I’d also choose Mason, for pretty much the same reasons.”
    Freeman continued to ask the same question of the entire group and everyone chose
     Mason. It was obvious we were being judged on more than our answer, and a couple other
     agents tried to come up with intelligent questions like Kendrick had, but it was clear
     the information wasn’t important enough to really affect their choice.
    “I find it very interesting that none of you chose Agent Stewart—”
    “Actually, you didn’t ask me,” I said, interrupting him. “I’d choose Stewart.”
    “Why?” Freeman said, immediately shifting his