Page 73 of Rogue Hope
But the voice in her head—the one that had kept her alive through years of fieldwork—whispered that something was very wrong with the case against Finn Novak.
Her secure phone chimed. Harrison again.
“I’ve sent the additional files,” he said without greeting. “Review them immediately. They contain time-sensitive information about Cipher’s next targets.”
“That’ll be helpful. Thank you.”
As she ended the call, Zara stared at the incoming data package. Her instincts screamed caution. What if Reynolds himself had fabricated the evidence? What if Finn had been telling the truth?
A wave of dizziness hit as she stood. Her symptoms were escalating, her body demanding rest she couldn’t afford. Not now. Not when everything she thought she knew might be built on lies.
39
Pain clawedthrough Zara’s body. Head to toe. She pressed a cold compress to her forehead. Three days since Malaysia, and her lupus flare showed no signs of retreating. This was the longest flare up ever. The Knight Tactical medical bay was quiet at 0500, the harsh fluorescent lights dimmed to accommodate her light sensitivity.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Izzy: Heard about Novak. Need me to cut my vacation short? I can be back in 12 hrs.
Zara smiled despite the pain. Izzy would drop everything in a heartbeat.
Zara: Stay put. I’ve got this.
Izzy: Not what I hear. Kenji says you look like death warmed over. Don’t make me fly back there and knock sense into you.
Zara couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped.
Zara: I promise to rest. How’s the beach?
Izzy: Gorgeous. Coconut smoothies are amazing. Men are dull. I’ll bring you back a seashell.
Zara: Deal.
The door whooshed open as Kenji entered, medical bag in hand. “You’re up early.”
“Never really went to sleep.” Zara tucked her phone away, wincing as she shifted on the exam table.
Kenji studied her face. “Dark circles. Pallor. Tremor in your left hand.”
“Thorough as always.”
“Someone has to be.” He checked her pulse, his expression professional but concerned. “Temperature’s elevated. Pain level?”
“Four.”
His eyebrow raised skeptically.
“Six,” she amended, then sighed at his continued stare. “Fine. Eight.”
“That’s what I thought.” Kenji’s gentle fingers examined her wrists, elbows, and knees. “Significant inflammation. This flare is particularly aggressive.”
“I don’t have time for this.” She pulled her arm back. “Not with Finn in custody and evidence still coming in.”
“Your body doesn’t care about your schedule.” Kenji opened his medical bag, withdrawing a pre-filled syringe. “This will help with the inflammation, but what you really need is rest.”
Zara held out her arm, her lips pressing into a thin line as the needle pierced her skin. The medication stung as it entered her bloodstream. “The team’s counting on me.”
“The team needs you functional.” Kenji disposed of the syringe carefully. “Have you spoken with Finn since processing?”
