I spent the rest of the day in my room, stewing in my own rage. Normally, when a job went sideways or my blood boiled like this, I’d head straight down to the training room and beat a heavy bag until my knuckles bled or spar until my lungs burned. But with my left wrist wrapped tight in Doc Vance’s heavy compression bandage and a black eye throbbing on my cheekbone, training wasn't an option. So, I moped.
Linda came by my quarters a couple of times, dropping off a tray of food and a cold ice pack. She didn't try to force a conversation or offer unsolicited pity; she knew better. We’d been through enough Academy hell together to know when to leave each other alone. She just gave me a knowing nod and left me to my solitude.
It was late in the afternoon when the heavy steel door chimed agai
