Chapter 2 - The Observer
Olivia stood before Pike could answer.
"Colonel, lock the room down. Nobody leaves."
The cafeteria erupted in confused murmurs.
Hale did not hesitate. "You heard her. Doors. Now."
Two military police officers moved to the exits.
Pike backed away from Olivia. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then why did you look upstairs?"
"I didn't."
"You did."
Olivia's voice stayed calm, which frightened him more than shouting would have.
Hale looked toward the observation window. The room beyond it appeared empty.
Olivia turned to the recruits. "Who was up there?"
Nobody answered.
A young private near the beverage station finally lifted one hand. "I saw Major Ward go up about ten minutes ago."
Hale's jaw tightened.
Major Felix Ward ran internal security at Fort Redstone.
He was also one of only seven people on the base who knew Olivia's real reason for being there.
Pike shook his head fast. "Major Ward didn't tell me anything."
"I didn't say he did," Olivia replied.
That shut him up.
Military police searched Pike and found nothing in his pockets except a wallet, a key card, and a folded note containing three words: MAKE HER REACT.
Olivia studied the paper.
No signature.
No fingerprints visible.
Hale leaned closer. "That enough for you?"
"No."
"He assaulted you in front of two hundred witnesses."
"That's obvious. I'm interested in what isn't obvious."
Pike's bravado cracked. "I thought it was a prank. Somebody said she'd fold if anyone challenged her."
Olivia stepped closer.
"Who?"
"I never saw him. Messages came through a dead drop in my locker."
"How many?"
Pike hesitated.
"Six."
Hale swore under his breath.
Olivia's eyes narrowed. "And what did the first five ask you to do?"
Pike stared at the floor.
"Watch where you went. Who you ate with. What buildings you entered."
The cafeteria suddenly felt colder.
Olivia had been on base eleven days.
Someone had been tracking her for at least ten.
Then one of the MPs called from Pike's backpack.
"Commander, you need to see this."
He held up a tiny black storage token no larger than a thumbnail.
May you like
Olivia recognized the marking etched into its edge.
It belonged to a shipment that had vanished six months earlier.
