“Langley?” My grip tightened on the phone. “What the fuck?”
“Bobcat got a heads up, and we were able to reroute the inquiry to Pendragon HQ. Nothing’s compromised, but Norris is digging.”
“I’ll manage him,” I said, more confidently than I felt. “Just get those cameras operational. And be safe.”
After ending the call, I found Malcolm waiting by the door, keys in hand. “Ready?”
I nodded, slinging my messenger bag across my body. “Let’s go.”
After making idle chitchat for the first ten minutes, he said, “You and Rav served together?”
“Afghanistan. Six years ago,” I replied. “Counter-WMD operation.”
“I didn’t know he did that.” He navigated through the city rather than taking a more direct route, continually checking his mirrors. “Must be strange, working together again.”
“It’s an adjustment.” I studied his profile, weighing how much to reveal. “Percival was with us back then.”
“You’re happier working with operators than civilians?”
I stared out the window as we navigated between stucco houses with their terracotta roofs. “Happier? I don’t know if that’s the right word.”
“More comfortable, then?”
It was an odd question, but he’d nailed the truth. I’d gone to Syria to complete my PhD research, then wound up in Afghanistan. Spent a few years in a lab trying to figure out how to be comfortable in that situation, then a chance reunion with Percival had me signing up for the Greek Fire hunt at Pendragon.
Thatwork nourished my soul.
“My dad was career military,” Malcolm pivoted. “The Reynolds team runs differently from the military. More flexible command structure, but you’ll probably notice some similarities.”
“I have,” I said, grateful for the shift in conversation. “You and Scarlett make a good team.”
A sudden, sharp laugh burst out of him. “She pulled a gun on me the first time I showed up at her place.”
I couldn’t help but join in his laughter. “Things seem to be going better now?”
He recounted their first job, how they’d started on opposite sides of a recovery, how he’d been kidnapped, and how he’d forced himself onto the team to rescue Emmett. His love for Scarlett was clear throughout the entire story, despite how many times she apparently yelled at him and had zip-tied him to her car.
As he parked in the university lot, I checked my phone. No messages from Rav. Not sure why I was expecting one. Maybe it was more of that hope thing.
“Wait in the car,” I told Malcolm as I undid my seat belt. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“Not a chance,” he replied, his tone light but firm. “Rav would never forgive me if I let you out of my sight.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a package that needs constant monitoring.”
“Humor me,” he said with a half-smile.
Secretly, I appreciated the backup. Norris had always been difficult, and Percival’s warning about his inquiries left me uneasy.
The lab was quieter today, with only Norris and one assistant inside. The treated suits lay on a large table, in vacuum-sealed packaging. Seeing them brought an immediate sense of relief—one critical mission component complete.
“Dr. McAllister,” Norris acknowledged without rising from his stool. “I appreciate your impeccable timing.”
He’d used my title. Not only did henotcall me ‘the Canadian girl,’ but he actually used my title?
“You’re done with the suits?” I pointed at the obvious evidence that he was.
“We finished the final quality checks a half-hour ago.” He gestured toward the table, barely glancing at Malcolm, who waited by the door. Probably figured he was my bodyguard of the day. “The oleophobic coating exceeded specifications—we achieved one hundred fifteen degree contact angle on all samples.”
