"I know how to handle equipment."
"Do you? Because you're hovering over military-grade hardware like it might explode."
"It might. That's why I'm checking it." He straightens, meets her glare with calm professionalism. "Someone with your level of access is a prime target for tampering. I'm making sure no one's compromised your setup."
"How thoughtful. Tell me, do you subject every civilian contractor to this level of scrutiny, or am I special?"
"Everyone gets the same treatment."
"Somehow I doubt that." She waves a hand dismissively. "Fine. Check whatever you need to check, then leave me to do actual work."
They face off, the air practically crackling between them. He's methodical, thorough, completely unfazed by her attitude. She's bristling, protective of her workspace, but there's something else underneath the irritation—interest, maybe, or at least grudging respect for someone who won't back down.
"Griff," the man says, not extending a hand. "EOD."
"Charmed." Nox's tone suggests she's anything but. "Lennox Bradshaw. Cyber security. Though I suspect you already knew that."
"I read the briefing."
"How comprehensive of you."
He finishes his inspection, makes notes on a tablet. "Everything checks out. You're clear to proceed."
"Oh, what a relief. I was so worried without your approval." The sarcasm drips. "Now if you're quite finished interrupting?—"
"Just doing my job."
"As am I. The difference is mine requires concentration and yours apparently requires bothering people who are trying to work."
Griff's expression doesn't change, but I catch the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. "Good luck with the investigation, Ms. Bradshaw."
"It's Nox. Luck has nothing to do with it."
"Noted."
He leaves. Nox stares at the closed door for a long moment, then turns back to her screens with more force than necessary.
"Insufferable," she mutters.
I bite back a smile. "He seemed professional."
"Professional. Right." She pulls up another window of code. "Professional and patronizing and entirely too calm for someone who just barged into my office uninvited."
"He was checking for security threats."
"I know what he was doing." Nox's fingers fly across the keyboard. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
I slip out while she's still muttering about EOD protocols and overbearing military men, pull out my phone in the hallway.
Spotted your next team dinner entertainment. EOD guy and Nox are about to kill each other or something else entirely.
Thatcher's response:
Griff? Good luck to both of them.
I'm heading back to the conference room when Rivera intercepts me.
"Dr. Abernathy. We got a location on Garrison. Off-base rental property, twenty minutes out. NCIS is coordinating withCaptain Caine's team for arrest." She pauses. "Briggs is still at large. Last confirmed sighting was on base yesterday."
