Chapter 178
The hum of the overhead lights buzzed like static in Winter’s skull. The antiseptic sting of the medbay still clung to his jacket, clashing with the reek of blood and smoke embedded in the fabric.
He sat on the edge of the cot, elbows on his knees, fingers laced tight enough to blanch his knuckles. He hadn’t spoken since the debrief. The red light on the recorder had gone dark twenty minutes ago, but he hadn’t moved.
His rifle lay in pieces on the floor beside him, uncleaned. The chamber smelled of oil and blood.
Harlow was asleep two beds over — or sedated. Ima also hadn’t spoken in thirty minutes.
She’d been pacing, a jagged, clockwork rhythm across the tile that was starting to wear into Winter’s nerves. Her hands kept flexing open and closed at her sides. She hadn’t changed out of her soaked gear either.
The door hissed open.
Winter didn’t lift his head. Only one person had access to them here.
"Bale," he muttered.
The man stepped in, tablet under one arm, the other hand in his coat pocket.
"I thought you said it would be bad if you were seen with us," Winter said flatly.
"It still is," Bale replied. His voice was tired, but alert. Always alert. "I came to tell you what we found."