Page 26 of Ground Zero (Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation #3)

M averick watched through the window as the agents moved through the house.

Lights came on in different rooms as they worked—bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room. They were being thorough, professional.

What were they looking for? Evidence that Sheridan had been there? Proof that she’d been in contact with him?

Or were they planting something, just like someone had planted the tracker on her?

His blood ran cold at the thought.

Maverick checked his phone, considering whether to warn her. But he wasn’t sure that would do any good. Not right now, at least.

All he could do was watch and wait and hope Sheridan’s instincts were as sharp as he thought.

Because if these FBI agents were now going after her, then she was potentially walking into a trap at Blackout—and he couldn’t be there to help her.

Silence stretched between Sheridan, Ty, and Colton until she began to wonder if either man would answer her question. Any idea who?

It was a simple inquiry—but so much was on the line with their answer.

She saw the internal debate playing out on their faces—the careful consideration of how much to reveal to an FBI agent they barely knew.

Finally, Ty cleared his throat. “There have been some . . . concerns about certain team members lately.”

Sheridan leaned forward slightly, her pulse spiking. “What kind of concerns?”

The two men exchanged another look, and then Colton shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Whatever they were thinking, they’d decided to keep it to themselves.

“Nothing concrete.” Ty’s voice sounded carefully neutral. “Just the usual stress of high-security operations.”

Disappointment hit Sheridan like a wave, but she wasn’t ready to give up.

“Mr. Chambers, I understand your loyalty to your team. But if there are concerns, even minor ones, about specific individuals, it could be crucial to this investigation.” She leaned forward slightly.

“Maverick’s life may depend on us understanding the full picture here. ”

Ty and Colton exchanged another glance, and she could see them wavering.

“Look, I’m not asking you to throw anyone under the bus.

” She kept her tone professional but urgent.

“However, if someone’s been acting differently, showing signs of stress beyond the normal operational pressure, or if there have been any security concerns—no matter how small—I need to know.

The people who tried to kill us had inside information.

That means someone with access betrayed not just Maverick, but potentially all of you. ”

The silence stretched longer this time, heavy with unspoken possibilities.

“Agent Mendez,” Colton said finally, his voice careful, “there have been some . . . irregularities. But nothing we can prove.”

Her breath caught. “What kind of irregularities?”

But Ty held up a hand, cutting off whatever Colton was about to say. “I think it would be better if you saw Maverick’s workspace first. Then we can discuss our concerns in context.”

Sheridan recognized a tactical retreat when she saw one, but she’d made progress. They were considering sharing information—she just needed to earn more of their trust first.

“All right,” she agreed. “Let’s start there.”

“Of course.” Ty stood, gesturing toward the door. “His office is on the second floor.”

They led her down a hallway lined with frosted glass offices, past a break room where several employees looked up curiously as they passed.

Sheridan felt their stares, sensed the tension permeating the building.

Everyone knew one of their own was suspected of treason.

And right now, they were thinking of her as an enemy.

Maverick’s office was larger than Sheridan expected, with windows overlooking the water and a meticulously organized desk.

But the personal touches made her chest tighten.

A framed photo of five people in tactical gear—his Blackout team—sat prominently on his desk. In the picture, Maverick had his arms around two of his teammates, grinning at the camera with the easy camaraderie of people who trusted each other with their lives.

On the bookshelf, mixed with technical manuals and cybersecurity texts, was a small collection of marine biology books. A reminder of the dream he’d abandoned after deciding to go into the military instead.

His service medals were displayed in a shadow box on the wall—Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge. The decorations of a man who’d served his country with distinction.

A surfboard leaned against the corner, well-used and obviously cared for. She remembered him talking about finding peace on the waves, about how the ocean helped him think. She remembered him saying how the surfboard he’d had when they first met had been his father’s.

Everything in this room spoke of a man who loved his country, his job, and his team. A man who’d dedicated his life to protecting others.

Sheridan found herself desperately wanting to trust Maverick, wanting to believe that everything he’d told her was the truth.

“He’s a good man,” Colton said behind her, seeming to read her thoughts. “Whatever evidence you think you have, I’d stake my life on Maverick’s loyalty.”

“Someone wants us to think he’s guilty,” Ty added. “The question is who and why.”

These guys were completely loyal to Maverick, Sheridan realized. That was a good thing. They were only trying to protect him.

But how could she find answers if they kept secrets?

However, she was an outsider. These men didn’t know that she was working with Maverick. That the two of them had teamed up.

And she couldn’t let them know either.

Instead, Sheridan nodded and moved to examine his computer setup.

Maverick had multiple monitors on his desk, no doubt loaded with high-end encryption software and other security protocols that would make it nearly impossible for someone to hack his system remotely.

Unless they had physical access to his office.

Her throat tightened.

She ran her hands along the desk drawers, checking for anything that might have been planted.

In the bottom drawer, tucked behind a stack of old reports, her fingers found something that made her breath catch.

A USB drive, small and unmarked, hidden somewhere clever—but not that clever.

Ty stepped closer, his eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

Sheridan held up the drive, her heart sinking. “Possibly more evidence against your friend.”

Or possibly the smoking gun that would prove someone had been setting Maverick Adams up for months.