Page 104 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1

Hank just grins, shaking his head. “Remind me never to underestimate you.”

Mitzy taps her finger thoughtfully against her mug. “But during your time there… No one could have accessed it, even briefly?”

“Positive. That drive contains years of my work—I wasn’t about to let it out of my sight.” I meet her gaze steadily. “Why? Do you think something’s wrong with it?”

“Might be unrelated, but my phone’s doing the same thing as her laptop, not holding a charge. So is Gabe’s,” Hank interjects.

Mitzy’s expression sharpens. “Since when?”

“Mine started last night,” Gabe says. “Charged it fully before bed, woke up to find it at 20%.”

“Same,” Hank nods. “Thought it was a coincidence.”

Mitzy sets her coffee down, suddenly all business. “I need to see all three devices. Now.” The note of urgency in her voice sends a chill through me.

“You think something’s wrong?” I ask, though I already suspect the answer.

Her eyes meet mine, serious despite the cheerful color of herhair. “I think we need to rule out some possibilities. Did you have your USB drive connected to any of these devices?”

“I checked my research on my laptop yesterday,” I confirm. “And Hank borrowed my laptop briefly to look something up.”

“And the phones have been near the laptop? Same room? Same table?”

“Yes,” Gabe confirms, exchanging a concerned look with Hank.

“That’s what I thought,” Mitzy says, rising from her seat. “Let’s continue this conversation in my lab. Bring your drinks if you want, but we need to move.”

Malia catches my hand as I stand. “I’ll catch up with you later,” she promises. “This sounds important.”

I nod, squeezing her hand. “Definitely. I want to hear everything about what you’ve been up to.”

“Dinner tonight?” she suggests. “Walt and I would love to have you over.”

“Rain check?” I glance at Hank and Gabe, who are already following Mitzy toward the exit. I’d love to have dinner with Malia, but if our medical tests come back, I know exactly what Hank and Gabe will want to do.

She smiles knowingly. “Call me when you’re free.”

Before we can leave with Mitzy, Hank’s phone buzzes. The shift in his posture is immediate—from relaxed to alert in a heartbeat. Gabe’s phone buzzes next, followed by Mitzy’s.

They each glance at their screens, then exchange a look that contains volumes of unspoken communication.

“What is it?” I ask, already knowing the answer won’t be good.

Gabe’s hand covers mine on the table. “We’ve been called in,” he says, his voice gentle but leaving no room for argument. “Emergency briefing.”

“Both of you?” I can’t keep the disappointment from my voice.

Hank nods, already standing. “Alpha team needs backup for an extraction. Details classified, but?—”

“Time-sensitive,” Gabe finishes. He squeezes my hand once before releasing it. “We shouldn’t be long. A day or two at most.”

A day or two. The words hit harder than I expect.This will be the first time we’re separated. Well, the first time since Hank dismissed my security detail and brought me to stay with him and Gabe.

“Oh,” I manage, trying to keep my voice steady. “Okay.”

Hank leans down, pressing a quick, firm kiss to my temple. “We’ll make it up to you,” he promises, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

Then he straightens, glancing at Gabe, then back at me. That sharp, calculating look crosses his face—the one I recognize as Hank taking charge.

---