Page 97 of Silent Comrade
“I’ll never tell.”
“Got it.” Rodeo stopped cold. “Hey.” Hepointed at the far end of the hall.
A flicker of movement, and then it was gone.Of course Red didn’t have Rodeo’s targeting ability.
“What?” Red asked.
“Someone ducked out of a room down there.Where’s Britt?”
He pointed. “In the bathroom. Downthere.”
They took off at a sprint. Lights were on inthe bathroom. Damn it. Rodeo covered the door. Red checked underthe stalls, then banged on one stall door.
“Britt?”
“Red?” When her voice broke, it took all ofhis restraint with it. He ripped the door off the metal hinges,denting the metal where he gripped it.
Britt stood frozen on the toilet seat, handsbraced against the walls, face bloodless, still wearing herbackpack. She didn’t move.
“Are you okay, sweets?”
“Yep. Sure. Fine.” The words came out of hermouth, but her body told a different story.
“What happened?”
“Lequire was here,” she said, voiceshaky.
Rodeo ripped out a curse with eloquence thatmade Red jealous.
Red held out his arms and hugged Britt tohim as he carried her, backpack and all, out of the small space.Her entire body trembled.
“Did he hurt you?” He set her on her feetand patted her from head to toe.
A jerky shake of her head. “Right after youleft, a man came in here. Flipped on the light. Used the urinal.Washed his hands. Then he started talking. Sounded like Lequirefrom earlier today.”
He tucked her next to him. Anything tomaintain contact. “And?”
“Said that he will enjoy destroying theMorpheus Squad. What’s Morpheus Squad?”
“Shit,” Rodeo spat. “He knows.” He paused.“Nowsheknows.”
Her shoulders rose with a big breath.“Mentioned that now that he had some ‘special goodies,’ he couldplay the game even better. This time he’d win.” She looked up atRed. “What did he mean?”
“He’s just an unhinged guy, that’s what,” hesaid, darting glances all around as he forced a fist to open andclose, over and over. He assessed exfil, infil, options,liabilities.
“I think there’s more to what’s going on,and you need to tell me.”
He glanced at Rodeo. His friend lifted apalm up. “You have to tell her, but not here.”
“Tell me what?”
God, every well-laid plan, every secret,ever illusion of secure life for Red—andpossibly for Britt—unraveled in front ofhim.
“Soon. We’ll talk in a safer place. Please.”She had to hear him. Had to cooperate.
Rodeo stared at him, mouth pressed into agrim, hard line. “Bro, exfil. ASAP.”
“Roger.” He looked down at Britt. “Let’s getback to the apartment, okay?” At her hesitation, a jolt ofadrenaline made him stammer, “Trust me.”
