The question didn’t come from Bit.
Instead, the inquiry had been posed by Sylvie Deering.
She was sitting in one of the other chairs, though she had rolled herself away from the monitors. Bit wasn’t too keen on people eating and drinking near his workstation, and she was enjoying her morning tea while reading over something on her tablet.
Her blonde hair was pulled back into a smooth, tight bun at the base of her neck, and her black-rimmed glasses were perched perfectly on her nose. The navy blazer made her appear more like a librarian than a field agent.
Where Bit was chaos contained, Sylvie was order personified.
They were also the best of friends.
“The search for Jacob has been officially called off,” Theo stated grimly as he leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. The casual position gave him a clear sightline down the hallway. He could spot anyone approaching from this angle, ensuring their conversation remained private. “Brook says she's fine with it.”
The ease with which Brook had fallen into old habits was unsettling. It was like witnessing someone slip into a well-worn straitjacket with a smile. She was comfortable in those familiar constraints that had once kept her vigilant and alive. That didn’t mean the rest of them needed to approve of such a backward step. S&E Investigations might be Brook’s company, but they all operated with a silent understanding that sometimes they needed to look after their leader when she wouldn't look after herself.
Sylvie rested her tablet in her lap so she could cradle her teacup with both hands.
Her blue eyes met his with quiet concern.
“When you say that she’s fine with it, what exactly does that mean?” Sylvie rested her elbows on the chair's arms. “Is she going to touch base with Alex DeSilva? I’m sure he has an experienced team that he can send to search those ice caves.”
“No,” Theo replied in disappointment, adjusting his position slightly to ease the phantom ache where his right eye had once been. The pain sometimes happened at the oddest times, though he’d gotten used to them. Fortunately, the brown leather patch was snug against his skin. The slight pressure helped alleviate his discomfort. “It’s almost as if she’s back in her element.”
“That’s…not what I expected.”
“You know, there’s a good chance that he’s dead.” Bit gestured toward a lone computer positioned on the other end of his workstation. Theo had learned to bend at times. Bit’s tendency to blur the line of justice had saved several lives, and that particular computer was an accomplice to Bit’s rather indiscreet decisions. “I’ve got alerts set up for any potential sightings. No viable pings have come through.”
“Jacob has been able to evade law enforcement for years. The only reason we had him in custody in the first place was because he turned himself into the FBI,” Sylvie reminded them, her frustration coming through loud and clear. Jacob’s previous decision had been strategic, though it had backfired when one of his disciples had failed in taking Sylvie’s life. “If he did manage to survive that collapse, he knows how to stay off the grid.”
“Has Boss asked for additional security measures?” Bit adjusted his beanie. It was as though he were itching to return to his keyboard and implement security protocols regardless of Brook's wishes. Theo understood the impulse. After the close calls, the injuries, and the near misses over the past five years, they couldn’t afford to be lax in their awareness. “For her? The team?”
“No.” Theo could sense that Sylvie understood the reason behind his response, too. Bit, on the other hand, probably wouldn’t be able to wrap his mind around such a decision. “And she won’t, Bit. Brook believes Jacob will come for her directly this time, not target those around her.”
“She’s right, too,” Sylvie murmured as she averted her gaze to the remaining contents in her cup. “Everything changed up on that mountain.”
They fell silent upon hearing Sylvie’s opinion.
She wasn’t wrong.
Each of them carried a different shard of memory from that day. The Alaskan mountain had left scars, some visible, others buried deep.
“So…that’s it? We just twiddle our thumbs until Boss’ brother decides that it’s time for a family reunion?”
“It's not about what we want, Bit,” Theo said, his voice hardening slightly. “It's about preparing for whatmighthappen. Brook's acceptance feels like she's shifted into a defensive posture. Like a chess player who's spotted the opponent's strategy and is setting up her pieces accordingly. We’ll just have to be more observant, that’s all.”
The truth they all silently acknowledged was that Brook always functioned best when operating from a position of calculated risk. She spent her entire life searching for signs of her brother's next move. It was her natural state. The last six months, with Jacob presumed dead, had been an adjustment. She was now back on familiar ground.
Such an environment would make most people crumble under pressure.
“Thanks for the update, Theo.” Sylvie’s expression softened as she did her best to stem her frustration over sitting on the sidelines. “Did Brook refer the Hartmans to that private detective she knows in Ohio?”
“No,” Theo replied, glancing down at his watch. “As a matter of fact, she thinks they might be onto something. She’s checking on a few things first, and then we’ll meet in the conference room.”
“Off topic, but does anyone have any idea why Gumshoe is acting like he raided my stash of energy drinks this morning?” Bit asked, his mind working at a high rate of speed, as usual. Theo shifted his weight from one foot to the other, unsure of how much to divulge. Brook hadn’t mentioned anything about Arden and Elizabeth Elliott being a secret. Still, Theo wasn't one to gossip. “He almost broke a handle off the espresso machine this morning.”
Sylvie narrowed her eyes as she leaned forward slightly, mindful of her tea. She had an uncanny ability to read body language, though what was even more impressive was her close-to-eidetic memory.
“You know something, Theo,” Sylvie murmured, the statement leaving no room for denial. “Your right shoulder tenses when you're withholding information. Spill it.”
