Percival shut up for a while, until we reached the passageway that had been widened recently, where we’d mounted our first camera.
Repeating my earlier steps, I retrieved the camera, found the battery was dead, and replaced it.
“The guilt I understand, but what really surprises me,” Percival said as I worked, “is how you still think no one knew.”
“Knew what?”
“About you and Brooke.”
My hands stilled on the camera. “What are you talking about?”
He laughed, the sound bouncing harshly off the stone. “Come on. The whole team knew. Not day one, but we figured it out.”
“Bullshit.”
“Sure, you were assigned to her, but the way you volunteered for every detail inside the FOB? The equipment checks that took twice as long as they should have? The way you two somehow ended up running into each other on trips to supply closets?”
None of them had said anything. “Why didn’t you report it?”
“Because it wasn’t compromising the mission. You were both professionals.” He paused. “And we liked her. She was good for you.”
“How?”
“You were less…”
“Less what?”
“Less like everything was life or death all the time. You actually smiled occasionally.”
I frowned at him and pulled out my phone, connecting to the group call. “Drew, Huck, camera one is operational. Confirm signal.”
“Signal confirmed. Both feeds are clear.”
“Moving to camera three.” I turned back to Percival, unsure how to process this revelation. All those weeks of careful distance in front of the team, sneaking around, the tiny touches when we thought no one was watching—and they’d known.
Had we been that obvious?
Percival led the way this time, toward the camera I’d mounted to watch the robot dog. When we arrived, the robot was gone. “Fuck.”
We’d missed them. Goddamn Fenix had collected their robot while the camera was out. I joined him, studying the ground for traces. “I don’t like this timing.”
“Me either.”
Had Fenix discovered our surveillance? Had they screwed with it in order to retrieve their robot? Part of me had hoped the malfunctioning cameras were exactly that, but the doubting part of me knew I’d screwed up.
“Either way, it confirms they’re still active in Pompeii.” I stood, brushing dust from my hands. “We need to brief the team.”
We completed our final sweep methodically, checking each drainage pipe and access point for signs of tampering or new installations. Finding nothing, we headed back toward the western exit.
“Did she tell you about after?” Percival asked as we navigated a narrow section of the tunnel.
“For fuck’s sake, Percival. After what?”
“After Germany. After you were evacuated.”
I shook my head. We hadn’t gotten to that part yet.
“She refused evac from Kandahar for three days,” he said. “She was waiting for you to come visit her. I think it was the drugs, but she couldn’t accept the condition you were in. If I hadn’t known she was in love with you before that, it sure sealed the deal.”
