The FBI agent shuffled his feet, looking over her head, then around the hall to make sure they weren’t overheard. “Look, Rainford, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. There’s no other way to say this other than to say it. You didn’t make it. I’m sorry.” Sam knew they weren’t just words. Yakum was sorry. Special Agent Yakum was one of the good guys. At least in her eyes.

God, she wanted to cry so bad, to stamp her feet and just pitch a fit. She knew she couldn’t do any of those things. She squared her shoulders and struggled for a sickly smile. “I know.” She absolutely refused to ask if she was the only one who didn’t make it.

The agent shrugged. “It was your lack of upper body strength, Rainford. If it’s any consolation to you, Hawkins didn’t make it either.” Hawkins was a six-foot-two, 180-pound hunk of a guy who was so good-looking he made your eyes water. The agent continued, “Nine others, not including you and Hawkins washed out. A total of a eleven washouts for this class.”

Sam turned and started down the hall. Yakum was still with her. “I guess that means you want me to leave now.”

“That’s your call, Rainford. I can walk you out to your car and that way you can avoid any…”

“Embarrassment? You’re thinking I’d rather slink out than walk out with my head up, is that it? Maybe the others will slink out, but I’ll go out the way I came in. I’ll walk out on my own, thank you very much,” Sam said, a catch in her throat. The hot tears were pricking her eyelids. She had to get to the room she shared with Slick. She wondered if Slick made it. She almost asked but knew the words would come out all garbled. Big girls didn’t cry. Especially big girls who wanted to be FBI agents.

They were at the door to her room. A hateful room, with stainless-steel this and stainless-steel that. She had one suitcase to pack. Ten minutes tops. She turned to the agent and said, “Thanks for the heads-up. I know you didn’t have to do that.”

“You worked hard, Rainford. Sometimes life just isn’t fair. Good luck.” Yakum held out a big, beefy paw. Sam shook his hand. “See ya around.”

“Yeah, see ya around,” Sam responded. Like she was ever going to see this big galoot anywhere.

Sam opened the door to see Slick sitting on her bunk, her packed bag at her feet. “What took you so long?”

“Yakum gave me the bad news. You washed out, too! I thought…”