Page 43 of Ground Zero (Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation #3)

“ W hat’s going on here?” Hudson’s voice sounded calm, but Sheridan heard the edge beneath it.

His eyes tracked between her and William.

She carefully closed her laptop and slipped the USB drive in her pocket. “Just reviewing evidence. Following up on some leads.”

“What kind of leads?” Kyle moved farther into the room, effectively blocking the door. His hand still rested on his weapon.

“I know what you know.” Sheridan kept her voice steady despite the adrenaline flooding her system. “About Norfolk. About the attack that’s coming.”

Hudson and Kyle exchanged a quick glance—a loaded look that could mean anything. Conspiracy or concern, guilt or genuine surprise.

One of them was the traitor. She was increasingly certain of it.

But which one?

Hudson was older, more experienced, with the special forces background that would make him invaluable to Sigma. He had the skills, the access, the ability to move undetected. But his eyes held what looked like genuine worry.

Kyle was younger, hungrier, maybe more susceptible to recruitment. Plus, he’d been acting strangely, according to Jake. His hand on his weapon could be precaution or threat.

“Where’s Maverick?” Kyle’s tone turned sharper. “You’ve been hunting him. Did you find him?”

“I think you know the answer to that question.” She kept her response simple.

“But you know where he is.” Hudson stepped closer. “You’ve been in contact with him.”

It wasn’t a question.

They knew. Somehow, they knew.

“I’m conducting an investigation.” Sheridan kept her answers clipped, professional. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Is it?” Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Because from where we’re standing, it looks like you might be helping a terrorist escape.”

She raised her chin. “Maverick’s not a terrorist.”

“You seem pretty sure about that.” Hudson crossed his arms, his stance shifting subtly. “Sure enough to risk your career. Maybe even your life.”

Sweat trickled down her back, cold despite the warmth of the room.

William sat frozen beside her, and she could practically feel his fear.

He wasn’t a soldier, wasn’t trained for violence. If this turned physical, he’d be useless.

It would be her against two special operators in a closed room.

“Gentlemen,” she started, “we all want the same thing here. To stop the attack on Norfolk.”

“Do we?” Kyle asked. “Because someone in this building has been feeding information to Sigma. Someone’s been setting Maverick up. And right now, Agent Mendez, you’re looking like a pretty good candidate.”

The accusation hung in the air like a challenge. Hudson watched her reaction while Kyle’s fingers drummed against his holster.

One of them was lying. One of them had betrayed everything Blackout stood for.

But which one?

The room felt smaller, the air thicker.

Two trained operatives, one rogue FBI agent, one terrified IT specialist, and enough suspicion to ignite into violence with the smallest spark.

Sheridan’s hand drifted toward her own weapon, knowing that if this went bad, it would go bad fast.