"Elena." Jay's footsteps echoed soft on the concrete as he fell into step beside her. He wore the tired, careful look of a man who'd been sleeping with one eye open for weeks. "You made it."
She turned, smiled small, real. "Of course I did. I told you I'd come see Command K."
He swept an arm at the long, empty corridor. "You should see it now. Valerie's kept this place in top shape. You'd be proud." He sounded proud, too, which made her smile widen.
They moved toward the armory. The racks stood bare, casings empty. Elena paused, fingertips skimming the cold metal of an empty mount as if remembering what used to hang there.
"You moved them?" she asked without looking up.
Jay nodded. "Valerie ordered everything boxed and relocated. She said it was safer that way no targets if anyone tried something. She's been… she's been thorough."
