“I did.”
“Then you know.”
“No.”
I stopped.
“The report says Marcus abandoned prescribed movement, entered an unsecured structure against instruction, and was killed by an explosive device.”
Whitfield’s expression hardened.
“That’s correct.”
“Then why did all three dogs react when I said home?”
Nothing.
I continued.
“Marcus used that word as an extraction cue with them. Not kennel. Not heel. Home.”
Daniel turned toward Hargrove.
Hargrove looked away.
I caught it.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Cross pressed the intercom button.
“Captain Mercer, secure the animals.”
Ares’ ears flattened.
I looked at him.
Then at Cross.
“Say it again.”
Cross stared at me.
“What?”
“Give me the same order.”
Hargrove stepped toward the microphone.
“Mercer—”
I ignored him.
“Cross. Tell me to secure the animals.”
A muscle moved in Cross’s cheek.
Then he said, “Secure them.”
Thor backed away so quickly his claws scraped the concrete.
Zeus crouched.
Ares stepped between me and the glass.
The hairs along his spine lifted.
I felt cold move through me.
Not because I feared the dog.
Because I understood him.
That voice meant something.
Something bad.
I turned toward Daniel.
“What did Marcus say in his last transmission?”
Daniel went white.
Cross slammed a palm against the glass.
“Parker, you are not authorized to discuss operational material.”
Daniel did not look at him.
He looked at me.
And for the first time since I arrived, the exhausted kennel supervisor looked less tired than terrified.
“There isn’t supposed to be a last transmission.”
Whitfield’s head snapped toward him.
“What?”
Daniel swallowed.
“The official file says the recording was corrupted.”
I stepped closer to the glass.
“But it wasn’t.”
“No.”
Cross’s face went empty.
That was worse than anger.
Daniel continued.
“I heard it.”
“Where?”
“Eight months ago. Before the after-action package was sealed.”
Hargrove whispered, “Daniel.”
Parker finally looked at him.
“You knew too.”
The words fell hard.
Whitfield slowly turned toward Hargrove.
Hargrove’s face drained of color.
Cross moved toward the exit.
I pointed.
“General.”
Whitfield looked at me.
“If he leaves now, you’ll regret it.”
Cross stopped.
Whitfield’s voice changed.
“Deputy Director Cross, remain in this room.”
It was the first actual command I had heard that morning.
Cross turned.
“You have no idea what you’re stepping into.”
Whitfield stared at him.
“Then educate me.”
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