“Yes. How would you feel about that?”
“Uhhh,” Ella stuttered. She’d never even considered such a thing, and maybe it could work, but right now wasn’t the best time to start new ventures. “Sorry, director, but I’m not interested in working with anyone but Ripley. Her safety is my priority at the moment too. Maybe in the future, but it’s not the best idea right now.”
“Are you sure? This is a big opportunity.”
Ella moved the phone away from her ear and tried to picture how such an arrangement might play out. It didn’t work in her mind. She still considered herself a student. She couldn’t be a teacher. The last time she’d been paired with someone other than Ripley, she found herself missing her old partner more and more every minute.
“I appreciate the offer but I’m not the person for this right now.”
“Understood, Miss Dark. Call me if you change your mind.”
Ella thanked him and said her goodbyes. She turned her attention back to Ben who’d been waiting patiently.
“Teacher, huh?” he asked.
Ella turned her phone to silent, not interested in any more intrusions. “FBI director wants to team me up with a newbie. I’d be their mentor. Bad idea at the moment.”
Ben looked confused. “Why? You’ve obviously got the chops for it. That’s a big deal. You ought to consider it.”
“My partner’s in the hospital. I don’t wanna be away from her,” Ella said.
“You’re not with her now, are you? And I don’t know this Ripley woman, but she sounds like she can handle herself. Wouldn’t she want you to take this opportunity, anyway?”
Ella ruminated on it for a moment. “I don’t know. What would you do?”
Ben gulped down his coffee. “I’d do it. Not everyone gets the chance to pass their knowledge down, and I’m no expert but I’m guessing no textbook in the world can teach your job.”
Ben was right, Ella thought. Practice drills were one thing, actually taking down suspects in the field was another.
“You’ve got a point,” Ella conceded.
“You once told me you were in your job to save lives.”
“I remember. And you told me I couldn’t save everyone, so I should stop thinking I should.”
“So, wouldn’t this be a good chance to impart your wisdom and save lives exponentially? Think about it.”
Ella started into her coffee froth, hoping the answer might lie within.
“I say go for it,” Ben continued. “Hell, I’ll keep an eye on your partner while you’re gone.”
Ella’s concern for Mia overrode everything else, but Ben made a convincing argument. Maybe she could just hear the director out and not commit to anything for the time being?
“No, I don’t want you any closer than you’ve already been.”
“Fair enough. I was just hoping you’d lend me one of your guns. But seriously, I can be your eyes while you’re not here. For anything.”
That could actually be quite beneficial. “Thank you, Ben, but I’d have to leave right away. I’m not doing that to you… again.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’ve gotta get to training in an hour anyway.”
This could work. Nothing too intense, just a quick conversation with the director.
Ella took out her phone and sent a quick message.
I’ll be there in an hour, she wrote.