Like standing too close to a fire.
He didn’t need to look to know where Mac was. It wasn’t the supernatural pull Mac described. Just familiarity sharpened into certainty.
Kessler walked in late.
The room adjusted in small ways. Backs straighter. Voices softer. Eyes tracking him without seeming to.
Kessler glanced at the board.
Then at Melvin.
Then briefly at Mac.
“Afternoon,” he said. “I assume everything’s squared away for tomorrow’s escort?”
Mac answered without hesitation.
“It is. You’ll have the B route. Third will cover Alpha. Lucero’s team is on point.”
Kessler nodded. “Good. As long as the assignments stay about mission readiness.”
The pause came just long enough to register.
“And not… attachments.”
Melvin’s head came up before he could stop it.
Mac went still.
Baxter glanced up from his laptop. “We operate on competence here, Kessler. Let’s not imply otherwise.”
“No implication, sir,” Kessler said smoothly.
“Just observing patterns.”
Then he left.
Melvin watched the doorway a second longer than necessary. The feeling in his chest was sharp and cold.
Later, when they had a moment alone near the map rack, Melvin spoke under his breath.
“He’s building something. And he’s not even pretending to hide it anymore.”
Mac nodded once.
“Let him. Just keep your side clean.”
Melvin glanced at him. “Our side.”
Mac didn’t answer.
He didn’t look away either.
That was answer enough.
The rest of the morning passed in routine. Later, when Melvin entered the TOC alone, Baxter was already at the map table rolling out coordinates.
“I want to shift Third Platoon’s secondary patrol window an hour earlier,” Baxter said. “The IP station’s been reporting heat signatures near the water tower.”
