“Don’t worry. You and I are exempt. Ryke and his boys will be working straight through as well to finish the boxes and make sure they haven’t been tampered with in any other way.”

“I should go help them,” Cole said. He made to get up from the cot, but Mortimor stepped forward and pushed him back.

“Actually, you need to get your rest.”

“But those are my boxes.”

“And you’ll be happy to hear you’re getting your wish. You’ve proven yourself in combat, and frankly, we need every able soldier we’ve got. So heal up in a hurry. If Arthur clears you, you’ll be a part of this wild-ass plan of yours.”

“I am?” Cole looked to Arthur for confirmation. “I will be?”

Arthur shrugged.

“Get some sleep,” Mortimor said. He picked up his towel and walked away, slapping Arthur on the back as he went. Arthur startled out of whatever he’d been thinking. He shot Cole a brief glance before turning to Penny.

“Better tape up that bandage on his other arm a little tighter, then.” He pulled out his computer, gave Cole one more serious look, then turned and hurried after Mortimor.

Penny and Cole were left alone in the small operating room. A machine in the corner whirred softly, its presence revealed by the new silence. Penny pulled her blue gloves off and crossed from the sanitizing machine to a low counter. She fumbled in a drawer, her actions tense and hurried.

“Is everything okay?” Cole asked.

Penny pulled out a roll of tape and slapped it to the counter. Cole cringed as the sharp noise rang out in the small room. He sat quietly while Penny stared down at the back of her hand, which covered the roll of tape.

“If I hadn’t noticed the wiring, none of this would’ve happened.”

“What?” Cole leaned forward; Penny turned to face him.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. She looked at Cole’s repaired arm and rubbed the side of her own.

“Are you kidding? Think about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t noticed something was wrong. The raid would’ve gone as planned, and everyone would’ve jumped to their death.”

“I shouldn’t have left the room, then. I should’ve been there to—”

“Don’t.” Cole shook his head. “Besides, everything worked out fine, right?”

Penny picked up the tape and walked around to the other side of his cot. “I don’t know.” She untied his surgical gown and folded it down over his shoulder, revealing the pad of gauze that had been lightly taped over his stitches. “They’ve put a lot of work into this place to be told to abandon it.”

“Is this about what the Seer said?”

Penny shrugged. She worked the end of the tape loose and began shoring up the bandage over his deep cut. “It’s weird to even be talking about her without going up on the roof.” She adhered a piece of tape to the pad and scratched at the roll to tease up the torn end. “Everything’s changing.”