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“Hey, Warren. What’s up?”

“The CO wants to see you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

He glanced to the left, then to the right. “Do you have a sat-phone with you?”

“No. It’s against the rules.”

“We intercepted the signal going out. You’re dealing with the U.S. army, not a bunch of idiots.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I insisted.

“Can I give you a tip?”

“Sure.”

“Tell the truth, okay? If you do, he won’t restrict you in your quarters.”

“He can’t do that to me. I’m a private U.S. citizen.”

“Look, Rose—I’m just trying to help you out. He has a lot of power out here.”

“Yeah? What kind of power? Anything going on I should know about? Like those samples?”

Warren’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said.

I pursed my lips together. “Yeah—just like I have no idea what you’re talking about with the sat-phone you said you saw me using. Right?”

“Come on,” he said, turning. “I have to bring you to him.”

I took a deep breath and stepped outside into the cool evening air. With dinner in an hour, Captain Jacoby wouldn’t yell at me long. Besides, making him upset might work to my advantage if he got heated enough to let something slip…

As I followed Warren across the central plaza in middle of the base, I planned out answers to the questions Jacoby would likely ask. No matter the situation, I liked to be prepared; it’s what had gotten me through college and made it possible for me to find freelance assignments around the world.

Warren slowed down as we approached the Captain Jacoby’s office. “Just be honest, okay? It’s for the best,” he advised.

“Like you’re being honest with me about the samples?”

He frowned. “Like I said—”

“Forget it,” I interrupted. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”

We stopped and turned to face each other. I stared into his blue eyes, betting many women had fallen prey to them over the years.

“Suit yourself.” He pointed to the door. “I’m off to enjoy my downtime.”

“Good for you,” I said, tired of the back-and-forth with him.

I walked up to the door and opened it without knocking. Negan looked up from his desk, terrified. He was an easy man to manipulate.

“The CO wanted to see me?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Hold on.”