Spectre nodded and walked behind the counter. He followed Marcus into his office and closed the door behind them. Marcus collapsed into his big leather chair and rubbed his temples.

“Nice speech, boss. The troops are ready for war,” Spectre poked with a grin.

“War is a lot easier than this shit. Way easier. You have a target. You have an objective. You kill him. This? This is a cluster fuck.”

“What’s going on? When I left yesterday, things weren’t so doom and gloom. Sure we had a bad quarter, but nothing we haven’t seen before,” Spectre replied. He was referring to the quarterly financial reports their accounting staff had put together the day prior. As expected, gun sales were down across the board. The only thing doing well was the internet sales department.

“We were doing fine. Until this morning, and I got this,” he said as he handed Spectre a letter.

Spectre took the letter and started reading. He couldn’t believe it. It was non-renewal notice from the local Customs and Border Protection branch. One of their largest government contracts for supplying firearms, ammunition, and tactical gear was being terminated.

“I’ve got a buddy at CBP; I’ll ask what’s going on.”

“Don’t bother, I already talked to the Air and Marine Branch Chief in Homestead,” Marcus said, eyes closed as if what he was saying was also physically painful, “the President has cut funding to all Customs Air and Marine branches nationwide. He thinks this one might be closing altogether.”

“It can’t be! This is one of the busiest branches in the country!” Spectre was beside himself. The Homestead Air and Marine Interdiction branch of CBP was the front line in the country’s battle against smugglers, drug runners, illegals, and terrorists. With a fleet of Blackhawk helicopters, ASTARS helicopters, Dash-8 surveillance aircraft, and trained interdiction agents, it was second only to the Tucson branch in activity.

“I know. Fucking Democrats.” Marcus sighed.

CHAPTER THREE

Homestead, FL

“I love you, I’m just not in love with you anymore,” she said. Her eyes were watering, but her tone was unwavering and she looked him right in the eyes. There was nothing left for interpretation.

“Chloe, I don’t understand. Where did this come from?” Spectre was sitting on the couch right across from Chloe Moss. He was leaning forward, hanging on every word and every gesture from the woman he loved. The woman who, until just seconds ago, he thought loved him too.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, baby. It’s just not the same anymore. You’re not the same anymore.”

He leaned back on the couch. Where did this even come from? They had been together for nearly five years, the last two of which they had been engaged. And despite no firm date for their wedding, he had never questioned their mutual resolve to be together.

“What do you mean I’m not the same anymore? I’m the same man you fell in love with when you first showed up to the squadron. What’s going on?”