I closed the door on their banter and stepped under the shower, letting it run for a very long time over my skin in an effort to wash away all the terror, fury, and helplessness of the last few days.

By the time I’d finished and had gotten dressed, a good half hour had passed.

“I was beginning to think you’d fallen down the plughole,” Jackson commented.

“Part of me wished I could.” I glanced at Rory. He was looking a whole lot stronger, even if tiredness was still evident in the way he was holding himself. “Did Jackson update you on last night’s events?”

“He did. I can’t say I’m all that happy about the two of you venturing into Brooklyn alone.”

“We won’t be alone,” Jackson said before I could. “You can bet PIT operatives will be along for the ride.”

He rose and walked across to the microwave, hitting the REHEAT button before moving across to the kettle. A few minutes later, he placed a plate of pizza and a large mug of green tea in front of me and then sat back down.

“I think I love you.” I picked up the nearest slice of pizza and bit into it. And almost groaned in delight. Damn, it was good.

“Which would be a shameful waste of your emotions,” Jackson said, amusement dancing about his lips.

I waved a hand. “Consider yourself appreciated, then.”

“I’d appreciate your appreciation in a more . . . tactile form,” he replied, his amusement growing.

“Please,” Rory said, “flirt on your own time. We have a serious discussion happening here, remember?”

I wrinkled my nose at him and picked up another slice of pizza. “Considering we have no idea what the cloaks might be doing in Brooklyn, do you really think PIT will risk sending people in with us?”

Especially when they were already stretched to the breaking point?

“I don’t think the inspector will have any other option,” Jackson said. “The government will want answers after the events there, and they’ll probably force military expertise on her.”

“But PIT, not the military, has governance over matters that deal with nonhumans.”

“Yes, but we’re dealing with a virus that has the potential to become a plague if not contained,” Jackson said. “The government will undoubtedly want to ensure it doesn’t move beyond Brooklyn.”

“And yet by sending in the military, they’re risking the exact opposite.”

“You’d have to presume they’ll be given orders to shoot the shit out of anything that moves.”

If that was the case, then it was just as well most of the criminal element as well as the homeless who had once called that place home had abandoned it long ago—or those who weren’t already infected had, anyway.

“The inspector didn’t mention the military when I spoke to her.”

“Why would she?” Jackson asked. “We’re only associates.”