Trex finally arrived with Kitsch. “Gibbs,” Trex said. We need confirmation about a man who might be in Deep Echo.”

“Fuck off, Trexler.”

Trex’s jaw ticked under the skin. “Just a yes or no will suffice.”

“We’re not at liberty to give any information on the employees in this restricted area,” Gibbs said.

I scanned the room, hoping Trex could buy me enough time to see the person Kitsch had.

“There!” Kitsch said, pointing to the hall.

Zeke was walking with two other men, looking down at papers in his hand.

“Zeke!” I screamed, pounding on the glass.

Zeke looked up, even though he couldn’t hear me. He knew I was there.

“Three seconds,” Gibbs said.

Zeke jogged over, placing his palm against the glass with a small smile.

I did the same, shaking my head. “What did you do?”

Zeke looked confused, but then pointed at the glass and looked up at Gibbs, speaking words I couldn’t hear. Whatever response Gibbs gave him made Zeke turn to me, an unsettled expression on his face. He pointed away from the door as Gibbs counted down.

Go, he mouthed.

Trex yanked me away, pulling me down Echo corridor, but I fought his grip, struggling to see Zeke watching me forced away with a desperate expression until we rounded the corner.

I yanked my arm away from Trex. “Why in the fuck is he in there?” I asked, pointing down the corridor. “Since when does Deep Echo have their own fire team?”

“Maybe they always did. Looked to me like Zeke just came out of training.”

I put my hands on my hip, so angry I wanted to fight someone. “Peter said they were doing something new with the fire system because of the higher risk this year…” I trailed off, my eyes wide. “Peter.”

“Naomi,” Trex warned.

I ran to Peter’s office, glaring at the guards in front of his door. “Don’t touch me.”

They stepped aside. “Senator Bennett said you’re welcome to come and go.”

I pushed through the doors, pausing in front of Bianca. “Is he here?”

“Yes, but…”

I stomped past her into Peter’s office.

“Abrams, I have to announce you fir—”

I slammed the door in her face.

Peter smiled at first when he saw me, but it vanished once he recognized the expression on my face.

I pointed at him, walking toward him. “You knew. You probably orchestrated the whole goddamn thing. You put him back there and didn’t tell me. You watched me fall apart and pretended to console me. You sorry son-of-a-bitch!”

He held up his hands. “There is an explanation. He was lost, Naomi. He was unemployed. He wanted his old job back. This is what he wanted.”

“And you were all for it, I’m sure. Couldn’t separate us fast enough. Did you tell him, Peter? Did you even hint that he can’t leave?”

“Of course.”