Page 57 of Code Name: Tank
“I guess there’s no hiding that I spent the night here,” I muttered.
“Couldn’t even if we tried with the compound’s security.”
I dropped my phone on the bed and put my head in my hands.
“Hey.” His fingers touched my shoulder, steadying me. “What’s going on? Are you really that upset that anyone knows we were together?”
I looked at him with wide eyes. “Not at all,” I said, cupping his cheek. “It’s just Admiral said Flint never came back to his camp last night.” I met his stare, processing the information.
“Right, I heard him. You think he just left?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I swung my legs out of bed, my mind already racing with possibilities.
We dressed quickly, sharing glances and soft touches that seemed stolen in the face of the crisis. When Tank helped me into my jacket, his fingers lingered on my shoulders.
“Whatever happens,” he said quietly, “remember that you don’t owe Flint anything. Not your guilt, not your protection, nothing.”
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach remained tight. “I know. It’s just…”
“Complicated. I get it.” He kissed my forehead. “But, Piper? You’re not the same woman who was abandoned after Prague. You’re stronger now. You know that.”
I nodded again. “I do know.”
Tank’s smile was warm. “Good.”
We walked toward the main path hand in hand, reluctant to separate. The gesture seemed natural, right, but the situation demanded discretion we couldn’t afford to abandon.
“I need to stop at Whisper Point first,” I said. “Shower, change clothes. Meet you up there?”
Tank nodded, kissing the top of my head. “Can’t wait,” he said with a wink.
Twenty minutes later,feeling more put together in fresh clothes, I arrived at the boathouse. Admiral stood near the main display screens, his bearing grim, while Alice sat nearby, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that I recognized as her ginger blend.
“Morning,” Atticus said, looking up from his tablet when I came in.
“Here’s what we know,” Admiral began once I was seated. “Pierce was last seen yesterday evening near the shoreline. He never returned to his quarters.”
“Any signs of struggle?” Tank asked.
“Not a struggle as much as maybe someone was looking for something. Before you ask, the security camerasmalfunctioned.”
His emphasis on the word told me they’d been tampered with.
“Dragon, I know the two of you have history. Did you see any signs of this coming?”
“Not really.” I thought back to yesterday when Flint stood on the shoreline, watching Tank and me kiss.
“He seemed off last night,” said Atticus. “Missed dinner.”
Tank’s hand found mine under the table, steadying me.
“Alice, what do the security systems show?”
I turned when I heard footsteps in the corridor, hoping it was Flint and this was all a misunderstanding. Instead, James walked in.
“Status report?” he asked, glancing at me with obvious concern before turning toward Admiral, who quickly briefed him.
“This troubles me,” Hartwell said when Admiral finished. His jaw was tight, and I caught him glancing toward the windows as if checking for threats. His features softened as he looked at me. “This must be unsettling.”
