Brendan matched his smile, eyes sliding shut as he reached for Lindsay.\u00a0 He felt her surprise as their minds touched, then relief flooded through him\u2014relief that wasn\u2019t his, but hers.<\/p>\n
Where are you?<\/i> She wondered at him.<\/p>\n
On base, at Ops with Marshal Windsor. Is Rachel with you? Where are you?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>He saw through her eyes for a brief moment\u2014they were in the shelter secreted in the caves beneath the Council House, and she wasn\u2019t alone.\u00a0 He caught a glimpse of Rachel, Mugabe, Marshal Rose, and a few others with them.\u00a0 Safe enough, <\/i>Lindsay\u2019s voice whispered in his thoughts.\u00a0 We were waiting for Kara to get here when the sirens started.\u00a0 Is it bad?<\/i><\/p>\n
Brendan glanced toward the displays.\u00a0 We\u2019re not sure yet.\u00a0 Sent the lead on the CAP to be our eyes.\u00a0 Sit tight and I\u2019ll give you the all-clear when it\u2019s safe.<\/i><\/p>\n
Be careful.<\/i><\/p>\n
He smiled.\u00a0 Always.<\/i><\/p>\n
Windsor was watching him when he came back to himself.\u00a0 Brendan drew a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re both safe,\u201d he reported. \u00a0\u201cThey\u2019re in the shelter beneath the Council House.\u00a0 Marshal Rose is with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Freder?\u201d\u00a0 Windsor asked, then winced slightly, casting a quick glance around.\u00a0 Though Frederick Rose\u2019s survival was something now known to some of the Council and to Inspector Winston, it wasn\u2019t common knowledge and they were still aiming to keep it that way\u2014despite the man\u2019s daily peregrinations.<\/p>\n
No one seemed to have heard the question\u2014and if they had, they ignored it.\u00a0 Brendan frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t catch a glimpse and she didn\u2019t say.\u00a0 I could\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cNo, that\u2019s not necessary.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019s found his way to shelter, too.\u00a0 The Inspector?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d Brendan said. \u201cBut he usually\u2014\u201d\u00a0 He stopped and swore.\u00a0 \u201cHe goes down to the shore every morning to look at the ocean.\u00a0 It reminds him of when he was growing up.\u201d\u00a0 He started heading for the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d\u00a0 Windsor called after him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo find the inspector,\u201d Brendan said, already halfway to the lift.\u00a0 \u201cHe doesn\u2019t know enough.\u00a0 He\u2019ll get himself killed and then where the hell will we be?\u00a0 Someone in Parliament will find a way to blame it on us.\u201d\u00a0 He held up his link as he climbed into the lift.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be on comm.\u00a0 Yell if you need me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brendan\u2019s heart thundered against his ribcage as the lift doors eclipsed his view of Windsor\u2019s horrified expression.<\/p>\n
This is bad and I\u2019m not going to make it in time, am I?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well.\u00a0 I won\u2019t know until I try.<\/i><\/p>\n
The lift hit the top ground level and he bolted out of it as soon as the doors sprang open, ignoring the startled looks of the staff officers rushing around.<\/p>\n
There won\u2019t be much time, either way, depending on what their plans actually are, how many they\u2019ve sent\u2014enough that it tripped the alarms, enough that they\u2019re probably trying to hide their numbers.<\/i>\u00a0 He swallowed bile again.<\/p>\n
How long can you keep up a dead run, Cho?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As long as it takes.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Brendan matched his smile, eyes sliding shut as he reached for Lindsay.\u00a0 He felt her surprise as their minds touched, then relief flooded through him\u2014relief that wasn\u2019t his, but hers. Where are you? She wondered at him. On base, at … Continue reading