Nicky had the radio turned on low, and both agents were quiet. She tried not to let her eyes stray to Ken, but she was being serious before about learning about him. Nicky didnt have friends outside of work, but the truth was that somewhere inside of her, she was still a social butterfly, remnants of who she used to be before she left West Virginia. Maybe it was the trauma of what happened, but she had a much easier time talking to people at work outside of it, because having people actually in her personal life made her feel too vulnerable. But at work, things felt different.

Ken was quiet, though, and Nicky figured a guy like him would be hard to get to know.

"This is some place," she said finally, gazing out at the Florida landscape surrounding the highway. Palm trees reached into the cerulean sky. With the window down, the air was humid, the constant wind carrying smells of the sea and rich, tropical earth.

"Yeah, it's not bad," Ken agreed.

Taking the moment to learn more about him, Nicky asked, "Where are you from, Agent Walker? We've been in the same office for at least a month, but I barely know anything about you."

Ken glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "You know everything you need to know about me, Agent Lyons," he said.

I know you were transferred from Portland, but thats about it, Nicky said.

What about you? Ken asked, deflecting. Nicky sighed. Of course hed turn this around on her, but Nicky was more comfortable being open about her past.

I knew I wanted to join the FBI in high school, she said, so I went into the academy as soon as I moved away from West Virginia. I became the youngest field agent in my class.

Impressive, Ken muttered. West Virginia. Thats pretty different from Florida. Why the switch?

Nicky looked out at the sunny scenery that surrounded them. Things are just… brighter here, she said.

From then, they traveled on in silence. Nicky's grip was tight on the wheel. Ken sat staring out of the window, his arms crossed, still a stone wall. But if he didnt want to chat, it made no differenceshe wasn't on this case to become best friends with Ken Walker. She was on it to save girls' lives. She just hoped shed be able to keep it togetherand keep Ken on her side as the leader of this team.

***

The prison finally came into view. Beyond the fence, the imposing building rose up out of the ground like an enemy bunker. The prison was made of white concrete, three stories high and solid. The razor wire atop the fence was electric, the current strong enough to light up the skies if touched. Guards patrolled the fence, their rifles at the ready, just in case.