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she could get through it and into her car. I could just get in and drive to the closest airport and fly back to Yemen. The people who said that being with MSF was dangerous clearly had never met her family and friends.
    Before she could fully formulate a plan, two large boots appeared in her line of vision. Damn!
    “Vivi, can I speak with you in your office for a few minutes?” Joel inquired.
    Raising her eyes slowly, she shrugged. “Sure.” She should have just made a break for it when she had the chance. Now she was stuck.
     
    Vivi entered her office, took a deep breath, and let her lungs fill with the calming scent of lavender. She had a big pot of it on her bookshelves and hoped it was going to give her the peace she needed to get through the next ten minutes. Settling into her chair, she crossed her legs and pasted a pleasant expression on her face. “Thank you for coming down. Sorry to waste your time.”
    “No time has been wasted. This is a serious situation, whether you realize it or not.”
    Vivi sat forward, and her smile slipped slightly. “I do realize it, and I trust that the NOPD and the FBI are going to solve the problem.”
    “Why would you settle for amateurs when you have three SEALs who are willing to take care of you? I have never met a more stubborn woman in my life. You clearly care about the people who work here. Why would you put them in danger?”
    Even Mama wouldn’t expect her to behave well in the face of the accusations that had just been hurled at her. “It’s time for you to leave, Joel.”
    “That’s it?”
    “Absolutely. You have just insulted me for the last time, and I have no interest in what you’re offering.” Sitting up straight, she skewered him with a look she rarely used. “I don’t know what it is about me that offends you, but you have been rude to me from the moment I met you. I have done my best to behave in a civilized manner, but if I spend five more minutes in your company, that no longer will be possible. Ben and Dane can stay and install a system. I will even let them sit in on the meeting with the FBI. But you, sir, are not welcome. Send me a bill for your time, and I’ll take care of it promptly.”
    She watched him sit back and steeple his fingers in front of his face as he studied her. She knew what she had said was clear. Even he wouldn’t be able to misinterpret her statement. Why in the world was sitting there like she had just invited him for a drink?
    “I’m sorry, Vivi. You’re right. I’m acting like an ass.”
    Okay, that wasn’t what she expected to hear. What in the hell was going on? She tried to pull herself together. “Thank you. I appreciate your apology.”
    “So, is it true? You all are widows?”
    And the strangeness gets…stranger. “Yes. It’s not something that someone would make up.” Twisting around, she picked up a picture off her bookshelf. “This is my husband, Matt. He was killed in Somalia when we were working with an NGO. We had been married a month when he was hit by a stray bullet. A group of rebels invaded the village where we were working and shot up anyone who got in front of them.” Rubbing her finger over his face, she smiled to herself. “I didn’t know that a happiness like that was possible. It turns out, it wasn’t.”
    “How long have you been a widow?”
    Placing the picture carefully back on the shelf, she scrubbed off the small fingerprint. “Three years, one month, two weeks, and three days. But who’s counting?”
    Nodding, he studied her closely. “My fiancée was killed when I was OCONUS, four years ago. I didn’t find out for a month because we were on a mission and couldn’t be reached. Had we been married, I would’ve found out right away.” Clearing his throat, he moved around in his seat. “It was a freak accident. She was crossing the street, and a car hit her.” Flattening out his pants, he glanced up. “I wasn’t there when she was buried.”
    “I’m awfully sorry for