Chapter 17 Captain, is your wife at home doing well?

George told Patrick he'd swing by at 8 a.m. the next day, but he showed up at 7:30 a.m. instead. He parked his ride in front of the villa and started blowing up Patrick's phone with calls.

Patrick, who was still clinging to his wife's hand, heard the phone ring and was about to lose it. "Wasn't it supposed to be 8 o'clock?"

Hearing Patrick's annoyed voice, George felt oddly satisfied and replied coolly, "This kinda thing can only be moved up, not pushed back."

"Dammit!" Patrick tossed off the thin blanket and rolled out of bed. "Give me ten minutes!"

"Alright."

George hung up but kept staring at Patrick's little villa, reminiscing about the place he and Ellie used to call home. The new house the bureau set him up with was a small detached crib on the outskirts, complete with a yard.

But since he was always on the road for work and the place was too out-of-the-way for Ellie, they moved to a more convenient spot in the city. Now, looking at Patrick's pad, it didn't seem too shabby.

Once this mission wrapped up, he figured he could put in for a small villa in the city. He could plant some flowers and stuff in the yard, and when they had kids, there'd be plenty of space...

Oscar, sitting in the driver's seat, noticed George zoning out and called out, "Captain Stone."

"Hmm?" George snapped back to reality and turned his head.

"What are you staring at?"
George paused for a second, then chuckled softly, "Nah, just admiring his digs."

"I think it's pretty sweet too." Oscar turned to check out the villa and pulled out a cigarette. "Hey, Captain Stone, you think I can apply for one of these with my creds now?"

"Give it a shot. You won't know until you try. If it doesn't go through, I can still help you get the reason," George said.

"Really? I've only been with the bureau for five years." Oscar's eyes lit up as he offered George a cigarette.

George smiled and waved it off. "Five years ain't nothing to sneeze at, and you've been killing it at work. I think you've got a good shot."

The job was risky, and they dealt with stuff that pushed the limits of human desires. So, the organization hooked them up pretty well when it came to material needs.

If you'd got a request, just put it in, and most of the time, they'd make it happen. Material things were the easiest to sort out.

Since most of the crew could get what they need as long as they did their job right, they didn't have much to worry about. Those with a strong sense of duty tended to stick around.

Of course, there were always a few who were never satisfied. The Organization had traitors before, which was why the Organization kept tightening the screws on mental and emotional checks.

The reason George being here this time, besides the tech issue, was to keep an eye on Patrick and made sure everything was on the up and up.
After all, the lure of the Egyptian pyramids was massive, and not something most folks could just shrug off.

In the time it took Oscar to finish his smoke, Patrick came out with a small travel bag, looking seriously ticked off. George glanced up at the second-floor window and, sure enough, saw a figure peeking from behind the curtains. He frowned, and Ellie's image on the couch before he left flashed through his mind. He quickly looked away and sighed.

Patrick strolled to the back seat, tossed his travel bag in, and climbed in himself. He slammed the door shut, leaned back, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and crossed his legs like he owned the place.

Oscar, already getting fed up with Patrick's attitude, couldn't hold back any longer. "What's with the attitude, man? We're all working here, not just you." If it weren't for the Organization giving him a shot, Patrick would be rotting in jail right now!

"What attitude?" Patrick shot back, still acting all high and mighty. "You guys sent me on a mission just days after my wedding, and I don't even know how long it's gonna take. Can you single guys even get what I'm dealing with?"

Oscar wasn't having it. "Who you calling a single guy? Captain Stone's been hitched for six years!"

Patrick paused, the cigarette halfway to his mouth, then lowered it. "Captain Stone, you've been married for six years?"

"Yeah."

"Didn't see that coming. How old are you? You've been married for six years?"

"I'm 30."
"I can't believe you're two years older than me. Didn't expect it.." Patrick muttered, genuinely surprised. Captain Stone always had that refined, youthful look, making him seem younger.

Patrick's lips curled into a sly grin. He uncrossed his legs and leaned over the back of the passenger seat. "Captain, how's your wife doing at home?"

George's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his cool. "She's fine, no need for you to worry."

Oscar couldn't hold back any longer. "What the hell are you saying? What do you mean by asking that?"

"No, what I meant was, Captain Stone, you're always out and about. Aren't you worried?"

Patrick's words hit George right where it hurt. He furrowed his brows. "What do I have to worry about? And you sure I'm out and about all the time?"

"Huh, even a newbie like me can't avoid the overwhelming business trips. Let alone you're a captain." Patrick laughed, sensing the steady vibe George usually gave off. "Captain Stone, ever heard of the seven-year itch?"

George's heart skipped another beat, but he played it cool. "I've only been married for six years, not seven."

"Hahaha, it doesn't mean exactly seven years. They meant this period of time, which is prone to accidents..." Patrick's voice took on a mysterious tone, emphasizing his point.

Normally, George would brush off such comments. But after last night's events, he really wanted to deck Patrick right now!