Lila joined her, the cold seeping through her woolen trousers. She was reminded of her perch on the senate building’s ledge the month before, right after she’d downloaded the BIRD. Things had gotten so much more complicated since then. Her life had drifted so far off track.
A cold wind seeped through her scarf.
“Sergeant Davies contacted the security office early this morning,” Sutton said, her fingers thumping on the bench.
“Again? What did he want?”
“The same thing. I told Commander McKinley that I’d speak to you personally. I wanted to make sure you were awake and well before I told you.”
Lila crossed her legs against the cold and watched the trees bend in the wind. Knuckle-sized golden leaves fell in her hair, tangling amid the strands. “Did he have a warrant?”
“No. I tried to pump him for more information, but he was tight-lipped. He wanted to know if the Randolph security office had reconsidered cooperation with Bullstow, and he hoped that his messages were being passed along to those who would more carefully weigh the implications of refusal. The asshole is threatening the family.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. I’ll handle it.”
“No, it’s part of my duties. I’ll—”
“You can take the next one. You’ll take them all soon enough.”
Sutton handed over a piece of paper with Sergeant Davies’s contact information scribbled upon it. “I figured you’d say something like that.”
Lila retied her scarf around her neck more tightly. “Is that all?”
When Sutton nodded, Lila stood and gestured for the commander to follow. The pair walked toward the great house garage.
“So how are your ovaries?”
Lila cringed. “Oracle’s light! Never ask me that again.”
“When my daughter Chloe had her CUT reversed, she said it felt like a mule kicked her for days. It hurt to stand up, to sit, to pee, to eat. It hurt worse when she threw up what she ate. They never tell you that before you get them.”
“I’m fine.”
“You look it. I’ll tell Chloe. She’ll hate you for it.” Sutton clasped her hands behind her back. “You’re barred from the gym for a week, just so you know.”
“I’m barred from it forever. Members only.”
“You’ll always be part of the militia. You’ll always be welcome.”
“It’d be weird.”
Sutton nudged her shoulder. “Work out with me as my guest.”
“Because you do so love to work out?”
“I might develop a taste for it, given the right partner.”
Lila eyed her.
“I might.”
“And the chairwoman might turn into a pretty little fairy and frolic in the fountain,” Lila muttered.
Sutton let out a snort before composing herself.
“How’s being chief treating you so far?”
“It’ll go better when I can tell Commander McKinley to go jump in the—”