Chapter 46

46

A blast of heat hit Cody as Mason opened the oven door. Cody sucked in a lungful of air, savoring the meaty aroma. Still, the promise of a five-star meal couldn't dampen the dread in his belly. "I wish we could have gotten our hands on that virus drive."

Mason pulled off his oven mitts and took a swig from his soda. "Roger that. I'm sure Paige would like to see the original code. And get a look at the security measures."

Bridger and Graham entered the kitchen, their expressions serious.

"Paige will have an antidote soon. It's not a priority now." Bridger's voice cut through the conversation. "They'll have copies," he insisted, his tone brooking no argument. "No way there's only one drive."

Cody straightened up, his mind already racing ahead to their next steps. "Bridger's right. We need to focus on defense rather than chasing every copy."

"Exactamundo," Tai agreed.

"For sure." Paige wouldn't be a top target now, at least. She didn't have the kind of insider intel that could take them down.

But he did.

Bridger swayed from foot to foot, tapping the pepper grinder on the countertop. Small, quick movements.

Tai arched an eyebrow at his friend. "What's up with you, man?"

For a second, Bridger looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Cody didn't think anybody else had noticed, but he wondered what Bridger could be hiding.

Bridger rubbed his face wearily. "Just tired, I guess." He checked his watch, then looked up at the group. "I need to check in with Jane. Be right back."

Tai couldn't resist the opportunity to tease their leader. "Aw, look at you, all domesticated. Next thing we know, you'll be sporting a Dad-bod and debating the merits of different lawn mowers. Should we start calling you ‘Captain Suburbia'?"

Bridger responded with a rueful chuckle. "You'd be lucky to have the kinds of family worries I do," he told Tai, a hint of a challenge in his tone. "You won't, if you don't get busy taking the next step."

With that parting shot, he left the room.

Before Tai could fashion a stinging comeback, Paige ambled in, her hair still damp from the shower. The floral scent of her shampoo wafted towards Cody, a reminder of sunshine and warmth. She'd changed back into her original tech gear, but somehow she looked so much fresher than he felt.

He caught her eye. "You okay?"

Paige pressed a hand to her shoulder, circling her arm slowly. "I'm good. You did a great job. Shooting me was the smart move."

Cody let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "So you're not gonna hold it against me?"

Her smile turned faint, a hint of sadness flickering across her features. "There are plenty of other things to hold against you."

Fair enough.

While Mason sautéed onions and checked on the slow-roasted prime rib in the oven, the rest of the team wandered in, the mouthwatering aromas drawing them like moths to a flame. Fenn and Kate entered hand-in-hand, with Kate absently fingering the delicate diamond ring adorning her finger.

"So, who do we think called in the cavalry?" Fenn asked, his gravelly voice cutting through the comfortable silence.

"Had to be someone with Consortium clearance," Jason suggested, his brow furrowed in thought. "They knew the location and the players involved."

"Could have been a mole," Graham countered, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. "Someone on the inside looking to shake things up."

Cody shook his head, acutely aware that all eyes were on him. As the resident expert on the Consortium, his insight carried weight. "They would have sent their own teams, not local law enforcement."

Kate chimed in, her voice laced with curiosity. "So, you're saying someone outside the Consortium tipped off the cops? But how would they have known the details?"

The team fell silent, contemplating the implications.

Finally, Jason spoke, voicing the thought they were all grappling with. "Maybe there's another player in the game."

Cody couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at the possibility. Another ally, even an unknown one, would be a welcome change after years of feeling like they were fighting an uphill battle alone.

But he quickly tempered his expectations. "It would be nice," he admitted, meeting Jason's gaze. "But I'm not counting on it."

The team exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. They would figure out the mystery of their unexpected rescue eventually. For now, they had more pressing concerns—neutralizing the virus, dismantling the Consortium, and staying one step ahead of the elusive Seven-Five group.

Too bad he wouldn't be a part of it.