Chapter 8 #2
“Time wasn’t on our side, and I’m not the one who fell.
If I’d waited…” Images of the cord fraying as it rubbed against the metal edge, dropping him forty feet into raging rapids looped through her head, the cold slide of fear prickling down her neck.
“You’re not the only one adapting here. Trying to find new footing.
I don’t know why it’s different. Why I can’t seem to shove my personal feelings aside, see you the way I used to, but…
” She straightened. “Like I said to Darwin. I’m not apologizing for considering the safety of my team, first. And you’re the first person who would have done the same.
Like when you darted out to grab that woman despite Ramsey’s men filling the air with rounds. ”
She turned, heart squeezed tight with a familiar ache she thought she’d buried. The last year still coloring her perspective.
That despite what he’d said, he just hadn’t wanted her — wanted them — enough to make their future a priority.
Coulter hooked her arm. “We’re not done. It’s my turn—”
“Hate to interrupt…” Shepherd stood at the threshold, two mugs of coffee in his hands, the scent of fresh bread swirling in with him. “Zadie and Scout managed to pry that Pelican case open. You two should come and see this.”
Coulter muttered something under his breath, releasing his grip as he clenched his jaw, started walking, his body rigid, each step followed by a slight hesitation before he planted the next.
She tried to release some of the tension straining her shoulders, accepting both cups as she followed him down the hallway, then into the comms room.
Scout looked up from the desk she and Zadie had huddled around, the overwhelming stench of burnt polymer and high-grade plastic saturating the air.
Scout pointed to the Pelican case. “It took some time to get past the melted latch, but we finally cracked it open. Thinking Darwin might be the best person to explain what that UAV was carrying.”
Neve moved in close, peeking over the edge of the case as she handed one of the mugs to Coulter.
Three flesh-colored transdermal patches sat in individual slots, each one thin, translucent, roughly the size of a large coin.
Beside it, inside a torched, plastic case, laid a matte-black device — what looked like a cross between a watch and a fancier, thinner, Fitbit — the narrow, silicone band snapped off from the housing on one side.
Zadie grabbed a set of large tweezers and removed one of the patches, holding it up to the light. “This doesn’t bode well.”
Neve nodded, glancing at Darwin as he stepped into the room, eyes narrowed, lips pursed into a fine line. He made his way over, taking the tweezers from Zadie when she held them out.
He blew out a rough breath, finally placing the patch in his palm, fabric-side down. “Definitely disturbing.” He ran one finger across the back. “I’ll need to test the surface, but it looks like it’s just adhesive.”
Scout crossed her arms. “You think that’s Finch’s new toy?”
“I think Finch doesn’t give a crap about limitations or proper procedures.
If my theory’s right, and he’s using a bastardized form of TITAN to fuel his soldiers, then this is likely his next step.
Though, based on how unstable those men’s vitals were, I can’t imagine he’s got the correct dosage to convert it into a readily absorbable compound that won’t result in horrific side effects. ”
He put the patch back into the slot, removed the device from the case.
Coulter nudged him. “Thoughts?”
Darwin smirked. “It’s a watch. Tells time, measures steps. Probably records your heart rate.”
Coulter huffed. “Funny. But I saw a medic strap something less sophisticated on one of my crew after he administered that new drug. And Ramsey’s men all wear sleek matching watches on their wrists that aren’t much different in shape and size than this. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“I’m sure it’s not. But I’m not an engineer. I can only speculate that it might be how Finch plans on monitoring anyone who wears one of these patches, should he actually get that far. But I don’t have any idea how it works other than the obvious. Though, I know someone who would.”
Zadie coughed, slashes of red rising on her cheeks. “He’s talking about the legendary Gideon Rhodes.”
Darwin nodded. “He was Director of Network Security Operations at Hyperion. Engineered the telemetry system used to monitor soldier’s utilizing VKR-1 in the field in real time.
Was fired a couple months ago on what I now believe were bogus charges.
” He sighed, adjusting his glasses. “I have no idea where he is. Based on the rumors, he vanished. But this doesn’t look like the watches he designed. ”
He placed the device back in the case. “I’ll run some tests on the patches. See if Shepherd can discretely enquire about Gideon’s whereabouts, not that he could fix it. The device looks like someone took a torch to it.”
Coulter sighed. “Ramsey’s guy had a thermite puck. It leaked onto the case before I was able to grab it. Though, maybe that’s for the best. Not sure we’d want it functioning in case Finch could use it to locate us.”
Darwin grabbed the open case, closed it. “I’ll keep it secure. Now, I suggest you all get some rest. You look like shit.”
Neve stepped out of his way. “Thanks. We can always count on you to give us an ego boost.”
Darwin stopped at the doorway. “Try not getting shot, then I’ll lay on the compliments.”
Neve ran her fingers through her hair, wincing at the bite in her ribs. Nothing like Coulter’s, but they still stung, and she chalked it up as a reminder to do better next time. Wynn gave Coulter one last check, then followed after Darwin.
Coulter watched Wynn leave, one hand absently holding his ribs. “Is it just me, or do those two spend a lot of time together?”
Scout snorted as she slapped Coulter on the arm as she moved past him.
“Sooner or later, they’re gonna realize all that heat simmering between them goes much deeper.
” She stopped at the doorway. “But don’t worry, you two are still the poster couple of sexual tension.
” She thumbed toward the living area. “I’m gonna work on my puzzle.
Maybe you should take Darwin’s suggestion. Hit the sack.”
She ambled out, looking more than amused with herself.
Neve scrubbed a hand down her face. “In case you haven’t noticed, Scout doesn’t do subtle. But she’s right. You should rest before Darwin handcuffs you to one of the medical beds.”
Coulter turned, stared down at her. “There’s only one person who I’d let get that close to me.”
She inhaled, a shiver working down her spine. He looked lethal, like he had when he’d first realized she wasn’t a figment of his imagination. “Guess we’re not done talking.”
“Not even close, sweetheart.”
The endearment caught her off-guard. Sure, he’d let it slip on the mission, but she’d chalked it up to adrenaline mixed with pain. The fear of failing with a civilian’s life on the line.
With Neve’s life on the line.
Hearing it again, now…
She swallowed. Hard. He inched closer, his chest pressing against her hand as she instinctively palmed his torso. He didn’t seem to care if the gentle pressure aggravated his ribs, his breathing kicking up as he stared at her.
The air thickened, that tension Scout had mentioned making it hard to breathe. Neve tilted her head to the side, silently judging if this was the start of that fated encounter he’d mentioned when his left eye twitched, the corner of his mouth pulling tight for a moment.
She sighed. “I’ll make you a deal. You get some actual rest, then, once you can move without having to physically shove down the pain with every step, we’ll finish our talk.”
“I’m fine. A hundred percent focused.”
“If you were fine, your eye wouldn’t be twitching.”
He clenched his jaw, the muscle in his temple jumping from the strain. “This is important. You said you’d listen.”
“I know, and I will. Just… Christ, Coulter, your chest…” She pushed down the stab of pain. having seen all the bruising only added to the guilt burning beneath her skin. How, ultimately, all those injuries were on her.
The price he’d paid because she hadn’t stood up to Gus. Hadn’t followed her heart and insisted Coulter be brought into the fold.
He narrowed his eyes, then eased back. “Fine, but this isn’t me conceding. It’s a strategic pause. So, get it all straight in your head, Neve, because the running stops now.”
He swept his gaze the length of her, then turned on his heel and walked out, favoring that one side. She watched him turn down the corridor toward their bedrooms, his massive silhouette vanishing down the hall.
The running stops now…
She didn’t know if it was a promise or a threat, just that she’d run out of time. Coulter was done waiting, and she either had to jump, or toss her future into the fire.