Page 62 of The ARC Unit: Breach

“Public rooms only.”

“If Bellandi invites me somewhere else?”

“Decline.”

“Subtly.”

“I don’t care if you use interpretive dance. Decline.”

Wolf’s finger moved to the service side of the estate. “Extraction phrase is ‘I left my charger.’ You say it naturally in any language Raven can understand and we start moving. If you cannot speak openly, touch the transmitter twice in quick succession.”

Raven lifted the device from the table. “I’ll feel it.”

“You’ll feel it?”

“The system will register the taps. Please don’t make this weird.”

Jackal sat forward. “Too late.”

“Why are you still here?” Raven asked.

“Because nobody has formally removed me.”

Wolf did not even look at him. “Jackal.”

“Leaving.”

He stood, made it four steps, then turned toward me.

“Morgan. Rich finance woman. Pool. Just checking, is the cover wardrobe tax deductible?”

“Get out,” Wolf said.

“That sounded like a yes.”

Bear caught him by the back of his shirt as he passed and redirected him toward the garage.

The door shut behind them and Raven watched it for a second. “I sometimes envy people who work alone.”

“No, you don’t,” Viper said from the other workstation.

Raven considered it.

“No. I don’t.”

Wolf looked at me again. “If comms drop, you move back toward open space immediately.”

“Even if I’m talking to Kade?”

“Especially then.”

“If we finally have him in front of us, I’m not walking away because Raven’s Bluetooth gets moody.”

Raven looked appalled. “Bluetooth?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I absolutely do not.”