Upstairs, William found a desk set into a dormer across from a single bed. Pinned to the wall was a wallet-sized photograph, faded and wrinkled, like colored wax paper. A picture of his three children. Yes. This is the place.

At the cabin in Shetland, William had held back on what he knew about Aralsk-7. He’d had to—for Peyton’s sake. In truth, coming to this island had been a gamble. But now he was convinced: they’d find answers here.

Chapter 89

Chapter 89

When they’d finished searching the town, the four of them regrouped at the house on the outskirts that would be their command post. It was empty and cold, but Peyton noted that there was very little dust on the simple furniture.

“Someone was living here very recently,” Desmond said.

In the kitchen, Avery opened the refrigerator. “Within the last month.”

Peyton got a whiff of the horrid smell before Avery slammed the door.

“Let’s get set up,” William said.

He placed a laptop on a coffee table in the living room and pulled up the drone footage for Peyton to monitor. He had pre-programmed a flight plan into the drone, and he took a few moments to show her how to alter it if needed. She waved his hands away from the laptop. “I got it. Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

Peyton wanted to hug Desmond and her father before they left the small home, but figured it would be awkward with Avery left hanging. She settled for a nod, and the three departed.

Peyton watched them go from the window, then she sat on the cloth couch, pulled a thick cotton blanket over her, and watched the drone footage. Bathed in the green glow of night vision, Desmond, Avery, and William were now pushing past the complex’s heavy iron gate. She let out a sigh and coughed—something she had avoided doing with the others around. The virus was gaining on her immune system.

Desmond shivered as another gust of frigid wind hit him. He followed William, gun held at the ready, sweeping the man’s left flank. The gravel crunching under their boots was the only sound in the night. Snow drifted down, then began falling harder. The wind caught the white flakes, tossing them around like the inside of a snow globe. The scene would have been beautiful if Desmond had had time to stop and observe it, and if he hadn’t been so nervous.

William stopped at the complex’s nearest building. The door was solid steel, with a hefty handle.

He nodded to Avery, who formed up across from him, ready to sweep the room. All three pulled their night vision goggles down. Desmond stood behind William, who turned the handle, and then the three of them were rushing into the room, guns sweeping left and right, red laser pointers dancing over crates and plastic-wrapped pallets of supplies.