Page 65 of Fury

Don’t panic, don’t panic.

He seemed to mull that over. “What’s the project about?”

“That’s the thing.” She sank onto one of the island stools. “It’s just an AI program designed to allow underwater cameras to self-guide and self-correct themselves. It allows them to teach themselves so they avoid repeating mistakes.” She huffed. “I guessjustis the wrong word. It’s important for our field, but I don’t know why anyone would want to kill for it.”

Davis nodded.

Fury shifted on the floor, but when she went to pet him, he jerked his head back with a growl. She recoiled, fear pricking her senses. He certainly blew hot and cold. Not unlike his handler.

“Hey,” Davis reprimanded. Though he gave his dog the warning, Davis’s expression clouded over as he seemed to take a full body scan of her.

What was he looking for?

Fury blew out an indignant breath through his snout and continued his stare down that matched his handler’s.

Hollyn swallowed. It was unnerving to have them both eyeing her like they were trying to figure out a puzzle. “I tried to backtrace the IP address that attempted to get into the lab files but hit a wall. Do any of your teammates have backgrounds in computers?”

His jaw muscle flexed.

Something was wrong, but she didn’t have the foggiest clue what. “Maybe they can do something I can’t. It’s not really my area of expertise. I signed out of the lab, but I can get back in anytime they need me to.”

“I’ll see what they can do.” Stone-faced, Davis took the laptop she offered.

“You okay?” Hollyn asked.

An invisible shield slid into place, and suddenly Davis felt much farther than a couple feet away.

He gave her a tight smile that didn’t fool her in the least. “Good.” Davis and Fury stalked off, and she was left alone at the island.

Was he heading back in there to continue interrogating Braum?

Despite her intrinsic aversion to the whole situation she found herself in, Hollyn had no choice but to press forward. It was the only way through. She just hoped answers came sooner rather than later. For the sake of all involved.

13

DAMOCLES SAFE HOUSE, ABU DHABI, UAE

Germaine’s head lolled forward,body strained against hands tied around the backside of the chair. He squeezed his eyes closed momentarily. Laughed.

A sound that Davis was growing tired of. He clenched his fist around the lead in his hand while he stood guard with Fury in the corner of the room. The shepherd’s loud barks echoed off the hard walls.

They’d paused the music to ask Germaine their list of questions over and over. Still nothing. Add to that, he was still trying to figure out what Fury had hit on earlier with Hollyn.

Figure it out later.

Macklin took a break. Turned away with an almost imperceptible shake of his head to Davis.

“You Americans.” The Frenchman hauled in a ragged breath. Spat onto the floor. Their eyes met. Exhaustion was written all over Germaine’s face. “Always think you have the upper hand. Think you know everything.”

Fury traded off whining and barking.

“Yeah?” Macklin spoke firmly. “What don’t we know?”

“For starters,” Germaine spat again, “you don’t even know who you’re looking for. And to think any of this will make me tell you?” He huffed. “You’ll have to do better.”

Macklin held the guy’s gaze evenly. “I’d say we got our man.”

Germaine’s lip curled. The grin that replaced it was unexpected and began to look half-crazed as the guy sized them up. His breathing was slightly strained. No matter what he said, they were getting to him. “No . . . ” The word stretched out. “You’re not even close. Did you really think we’d make it that easy on you?”

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