Page 60 of A More Perfect Union

He stared at her,puzzled, and then shook his head. “All right then, let’s go find her.”

Ten minutes later,they were standing in the doorway of Zoey’s empty office. Jack walked in andlooked around, picking up a cup of coffee on her desk, and placing his handsaround it. “It’s still warm, so she probably hasn’t gone far.”

“I think I know whereshe is, but before we go looking, I need to tell you something.”

“Sounds ominous.”

“It is.” Rookmotioned for him to take a seat, dreading what she was about to say, butfocused on getting it out as quickly as possible. She started with the reviewof Mitchell’s coded emails and ended with the news she’d just received aboutthe NSA investigation, taking the time to answer his careful, pointedquestions. When she told him everything she knew, she finished with, “I knowhe’s your godfather and maybe this is all a big mistake, but if it is, then thefaster we can clear it up the better, right?”

“Julia knows allabout this?”

“Yes. She’s briefedthe president and the director of the NSA. To tell you the truth, this isprobably all code-word clearance now and neither one of us should know aboutit, but I need your help to find Zoey.” She started to correct that to MajorGranger, but decided she no longer cared about pretending her relationship withZoey wasn’t personal. “Will you help me?”

She watched a paradeof emotions cross his face, but ultimately it was stoic expression of thededicated soldier that won out. “Yes.”

Sharp’s office suitewas a brisk five-minute walk away, and when they entered, a sense of dreadsettled over Rook. No one was seated at the desk outside the door to Sharp’soffice, but they could hear raised voices from within. She and Jack lined up oneither side of the door and she heard a male voice she didn’t recognize saying,“She’s trying to send a text. Why didn’t you take her phone?” followed byZoey’s voice shouting, “Give that back to me, right now!”

Rook reached for thedoor handle, but Jack pushed her back, placing a finger over his lips. Shenodded that she understood, but willed him to hurry up, and when he jerked thedoor open and burst into the room, she was right on his heels.

“Jack!” Sharp calledout. “What are you doing here?”

While he was focusedon Jack, Rook surveyed the room. Sharp was seated at his desk, and the otherguy, the lieutenant, who’d escorted her to Zoey’s office the first day they’dworked together, was standing beside Zoey who was seated in a chair across fromSharp’s desk. If they hadn’t heard the loud voices, the tableau would seemperfectly innocent, and Rook wondered if she’d overreacted. “Zoey, are you okay?”

Zoey grabbed herphone out of the lieutenant’s hand and nearly toppled the chair to get awayfrom him. “I am now. We need to get DCIS in here right now.”

“Major Granger isunder a great deal of stress,” Sharp said in a commanding tone to no one inparticular. “We were just discussing ways to make things easier on her. It wastoo much to ask her to work on this McNair thing so soon after the Nine Techdebacle. I’m thinking a short leave is in order, right, Major?”

Rook watched Zoey forher reaction and Zoey looked her directly in the eyes. “I think Major Grangermight be taking a leave,” Rook said, “But only because she deserves it for heract of heroism in uncovering your act of treason. The NSA should be hereshortly.” She reached for Zoey’s hand and pulled her to the door. “I need tomake some calls. Jack, you got this?”

“Yes, ma’am,” hereplied, pulling up a chair right next to Sharp.

Rook and Zoey werestanding in the doorway when Zoey whipped her head around. “Where’s Louden?”

Rook looked around.“I didn’t see him leave. Is he part of this?”

“Yes,” Zoey said. “Idon’t know the specifics, but he’s definitely involved.”

“On it,” Jack calledout. He picked up the phone on Sharp’s desk. “This is General Sharp’s office.We need to initiate a lockdown. General Sharp’s assistant, Lieutenant Louden,has gone AWOL. Presume that he’s armed and dangerous, but he needs to beapprehended alive. Send DCIS to Sharp’s office pronto.”

Satisfied Jack hadthe general under control, Rook led Zoey from the room, determined to put somedistance between her and her traitorous boss. Rook tucked her arm around Zoey.“I guess we can’t leave the building right now. Do you want to wait here orback in your office?”

“I don’t know. I’msorry, Rook. I should’ve listened to you.”

Rook placed a fingeron her lips. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t have sent Blake to give you the bad news.Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I will be. There’sprobably going to be a shit storm to wade through first.”

“You’re probablyright about that.” Rook motioned for Zoey to have a seat at Louden’s desk, andshe took a deep breath as Julia’s words from earlier echoed through her head.Youreally like this one. Not quite accurate. Maybe it was the knowledge thatZoey had been in danger or the rising emotion from this whole situation, butRook was certain what she felt for Zoey was way past like, and she wanted tobring to life her fantasies about sharing everyday moments with her. Thiswasn’t the time or the place, but they had a few minutes alone and she had toknow if Zoey felt the same way. “We need to talk.”

“We will, but notnow.” Zoey hung her head. “Sharp was like a father to me and he’s been spyingfor the Russians for God knows how long. How could I be so stupid?” Her voiceshook. “I’m not cut out for this.”

Rook wanted to ask if“this” included her, but she was scared of the answer. Zoey was grieving aloss, and she had to let her be no matter how much she wanted to discuss thingsbetween them. Before she could form a suitable reply, her phone buzzed with thesound of an incoming text. She checked the screen and saw a text from Zoey.InSharps off. U were rt.She laughed and held her phone where Zoey could see.“If I’d gotten this message earlier, I would’ve known for sure you were introuble. Abbreviated words, barely any punctuation—so unlike you.”

Zoey smiled. “You trytexting under duress without looking at the screen and see what happens. To behonest, I didn’t think there was a chance it would go through, but I had totry.”

Rook reached over andsqueezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would’ve doneif—” Her phone buzzed again, saving her from speaking out loud the unthinkable,that Zoey might not have been rescued. She took it as an omen, and rather thanfinishing her sentence, she looked at the phone which was sitting on the deskbetween them.

“Oh, Rook,” Zoey’svoice was strained and low. “About that…”

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