Instead, he led his team into the infirmary where they once again methodically pulled apart everything that wasn’t bolted down. Once they were finished there, they entered the crew’s quarters and began again, going room by room, checking every surface, every compartment, under every bed and inside every damn toilet.
While in his room, he slid into a fresh flight suit, glad for a change of clothing. He was tired, on edge, jumping at shadows, so even the comfort of a new suit did little to abate those feelings.
“Still nothing,” the Zantharian closest to him said, pulling all of his clothing articles out of his dresser.
Jeffrey nodded. There didn’t seem to be any sign of the Hareema. “There has to be at least one more Hareema on this ship,” he said. “Major Ontarii and Captain Brooklyn saw it before they were trapped on the alien vessel.”
“Maybe it left,” one of the soldiers volunteered. “Maybe another ship came by to pick it up?”
“Perhaps,” Jeffrey replied. “But then why keep the human ship puttering along toward the Hareema base?”
“They could have wanted to confuse us,” another soldier put in. “Have us waste our time searching this vessel while they attacked something more vital?”
Jeffrey considered his words. Maybe the Hareema were using this ship as a diversion. Still, it didn’t seem likely. His gut told him there was still a Hareema on the ship somewhere.
And everywhere they searched cut down on available options. Every moment they spent searching made it more likely that the Hareema would be forced to take some kind of action.
Unable to help himself, he thought again of Kat stuck on the bridge.She’s a big girl, he tried to tell himself.She can take care of herself.
Those words didn’t help the sick feeling he felt inside.
Not one bit.
