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with her equipment again. “If you would see a copy of these new files sent to the office, I will adjust my investigation to the new facts. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to refocus my team.”
    She didn’t wait for permission, but left the room. Pulling her cell phone from her pocket, she put a call into Drum.
    “Hey, some new facts have come to light. They don’t jibe with the computer facts. I assume you have followed your regular filing process?”
    Drum answered in the affirmative.
    She smiled, wanting to dance a few steps. Drum had paper copies of everything as well as isolated electronic files at home, in his safe room. They had a new place to begin operations, find Monty and solve the mystery of that woman.
    As she walked, she considered what she’d learned. Hammer, the Pentagon’s golden boy, lied and planted false information. For the government or did he have his own program? A scheme that included sacrificing an honorable man and his career? She hoped her boss survived this plot.
    She shook her head, his given name was Samwise? And she thought her parents were insane to saddle her with the Harry Potter name. Sometimes, she thought fans were totally nuts. At least they hadn’t named him Frodo.
    *****
    It took days for them to get him a pair of pants. At first, they brought him a Hawaiian shirt with huge lime green surfboards and parrots in a pink so brilliant it nearly gave him a headache. Whoever had lost it must have been a very large person, but it was too short to provide him a sense of modesty. He looked at Ria and sighed. “They care if I modify this?”
    “I think I’d prefer you to.”
    “It’s pretty bad, but at least it’s better than hauling a pillow around.” He examined the shirt, which felt more like plastic than fabric. He didn’t like the texture, stiff and slightly oily. But it tore easily. Eventually, he had a strip of fabric long enough to tie around his waist and provide him coverage. Ria patently waited, saying nothing.
    She bent and picked up the bit of scraps that fell, setting them on the table near the doorway. He finally stopped her. “Am I covered, I can’t tell for certain.”
    She walked around him then reached out and tugged at a section near the back. “Now you are. I really didn’t care, nor do the Aleena.”
    “I care.”
    “Would you be more comfortable if I found something to wear?” she innocently asked.
    “I wouldn’t presume to…” He sighed. “Your hair, could you undo the braid, at least?”
    “My nudity bothers you.”
    “It distracts me. I am a man and having you nude isn’t something easy to ignore.”
    She seemed to consider his words, then glanced down at the colorful wrap and he swore she blushed. Then simply pulled her braid to the front and quickly set it free, spreading it across her torso. “I am sorry, I forget that men have reactions they can’t always control.”
    “Oh, I’m in control, just distracted.”
    “I will do my best to ignore your parrots. Are you ready for a tour?”
    He blinked, realizing she’d just cracked a joke. Though she didn’t seem aware of it. Upon reflection, it was the second in minutes. This woman had a sense of humor.
    “Yes, I’m ready. Are they really going to let me wander around with only you as escort?”
    “Why not? Agent…I’m sorry, Sam…where could you go? You’re welcome to explore. I can tell you what you won’t find. There are no escape hatches or doors to the surface. Scout ships are in areas impossible for either of us to enter, as are strategic areas like the command center. I can show you where food is harvested, a medical center, art gallery, library, viewing rooms and a gathering hall, for example. What would you like to see first?”
    He reached out and snagged the bowl of food cubes and gestured toward the exit. “Show me what you enjoy.”
    She tilted her head at him. “Are you certain your head is fine? You don’t need any further rest?”
    “I’m fine, Ria.” He