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“What’s up?” Hobbie asks as he joins Dennis and Stella in the meeting room.
“You might want to sit,” Dennis starts and Stella elbows him in the ribs.
“Please, Dennis, that’s so cliché,” she complains. “That being said, you should probably sit.”
“What happened?” Hobbie asks after having taken a seat. “Did my parents die in some accident? Because I haven’t talked to them in quite some time and I wouldn’t really care.”
Stella and Dennis exchange questioning looks, surprised by Hobbie’s comment and silently trying to decide who should tell him the bad news. Finally, Dennis decides to do it.
“Your old team is dead,” he says almost casually as he thinks it’s better not to put too much emotion into it. Stella immediately regrets having allowed Dennis to talk.
“Everyone?” Hobbie’s voice is cool and very much business-like.
“Everyone but the team’s sniper Hank McDonald,” Stella informs him.
Hobbie is quiet for half a minute; then he announces, “I want him on the team.”
Dennis looks at Stella who knows McDonald’s file better than Dennis does. “Is he our kind of man?”
“We could use a sniper,” Hobbie says looking at his hands. “Wes is not up to it. That guy would be good for the job.”
Stella watches both men. She can see that Dennis is contemplating offering McDonald a job much to her astonishment. She knows that Dennis usually listens to what Hobbie has to say.
“We’ll look into it,” Dennis promises Hobbie. “Now, tell me, what’s your connection with McDonald?”
Hobbie shrugs. “I never even met him.”
“Then why …?”
“Marie put him on the team after I left. I trust her to make the right decision; I owe the guy for filling my spot.” He gets up, ready to leave, then adds, “I’ll take the responsibility for the man if you don’t want to do it yourself.”
“Don’t you even want to meet him first?” Dennis asks.
Hobbie shakes his head. “No need to. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
