Ill Take Forever

immobile, without the sling.
    Jenny noticed how the worn jeans outlined his body, fit snugly and left little to the imagination. His hand only made them tighter. She drew her eyes away with effort.
    Kyle grinned at Jenny as she rose to meet him.
    'All set?' she asked.
    'Yep. Almost fit. No more sling. I don't have to come back, either, unless I have problems.'
    She fell into step with him as they walked back to the jeep. 'But you still have to take it easy for a while?' she guessed.
    'Ummm... there was some mention of that, but you know doctors. Want to eat at Shiloh's? It overlooks the American River.'
    'Sounds fine.'
    They ate on the wooden deck at the back of the popular riverside restaurant, overlooking the wide, placid river. The day was warm, the air soft and scented with the flowering roses in nearby profusion.
    When lunch was over, Kyle directed Jenny to a high-rise office block.
    'I need to check in at the office, make a few calls. Want to see the office?'
    'Sure, I always wanted to see how government agents worked.'
    Kyle winked at her comment, but made no reply.
    Parking in the multi-story garage, Jenny followed him into the glass and steel office building, where they were whisked to the tenth floor. The office reminded Jenny of newspaper rooms she had seen in old movies. There was a sea of desks in the center of the open space, enclosed offices around the perimeter. Men were clustered here and there in small groups; some on the phones at their desks. Stacks of files and papers seem to clutter each desk, cleared only in front of computer screens.
    As they walked in and threaded their way through the desks, Kyle was greeted by two or three of the men.
    'How are you doing?' one man called.
    'Fit and ready for action?' asked another.
    'Who's your friend?' Two men walking by paused and smiled at Jenny. She smiled back shyly. Kyle just nodded, waved and kept walking. When he reached the far side, he paused near a door.
    'There's a chair, have a seat. When I've made my calls, I'll show you around and introduce you to one or two of the more acceptable of my fellow workers.'
    Jenny smiled and sat where indicated while Kyle disappeared into the office, closing the door. She didn't have to wait for his introduction. In only a couple of minutes Stuart Brownley came out of another office, pausing in surprise when he saw Jenny, and came over to speak to her.
    'Hello, Mrs. Warwick! Nice to see you again. What are you doing here? Waiting to see me?' He looked just as he had the day he had visited Jenny. She wondered briefly if it were the same suit, or if all his suits were brown.
    'Hello, Mr. Brownley. I came with Kyle Martin. He's making some phone calls and I'm just waiting for him. I drove him in to see the doctor.'
    'Of course. I would have sent a car for him, but it was nice of you to drive him.'
    Jenny blinked at the comment. Had she missed something along the way? Kyle hadn't presented it quite that way.
    'It wasn't any trouble. Actually, I got a nice lunch out of it, and now I'm seeing how secret agents really work.'
    He laughed and glanced around the large floor, as if seeing it anew.
    'Well, it's probably disappointing, no trench coats or hats pulled down over faces. Come on, I'll show you around. Kyle could be tied up for a while.'
    Jenny went to be introduced to many of the men at the desks. They ranged in age from early twenties to two who had to be in their sixties. There was a certain air about them all that marked them as individuals in the same line of work: a certain toughness, alertness, a readiness.
    One or two knew the connection between Jenny and Kyle Martin, but she was puzzled by a few comments.
    'No wonder Kyle picked that assignment!'
    'Now I know why Kyle took this one on!'
    She asked questions, was shown some of the equipment used for field surveys, and visited a small informal drug museum, which displayed different illegal drugs in various stages–including marijuana in its various stages. Jenny was fascinated to see it at last.
    Kyle found them there.
    'Wondered where you'd wandered off to, Jenny. Hello, Stuart.'
    'Kyle. How are things going?'
    'Slowly. I have some background, a couple of leads, maybe. I can start field work soon as I build up some stamina.'
    'I can get you some help, if you like,' Brownley said.
    'Thanks. I'll call when I need it. If anyone else becomes involved at this stage, it'll give the show away. Jenny's been a big help.'
    'I have?' She was surprised. She still