The north side is dark. Nothing visible. Could be a deer. Could be wind. Could be nothing.
I pull up the group chat.
Motion alert. North perimeter, 217. Don’t see anything.
Mason responds in seconds. He's always awake.
Ace
On it. Pulling up the recording now.
I wait, watching the dark tree line through the window. My hand instinctively moves to the Glock I’d set on the dresser. Old habits.
Ace
Deer. Big one. Came through about thirty seconds before the sensor triggered.
It's moving east now, away from the property.
Relief floods through me, but I don't let it show. Not even to myself.
Confirm it's clear.
Ace
Clear. No other movement. Just the deer and some wind in the trees.
Sensor's sensitive. Might need to adjust the north side threshold.
Riot
Or maybe you could just relax for five seconds and enjoy the fact that you're literally in bed with the woman you've been obsessed with for eighteen years instead of jumping at every shadow.
I ignore Luke's comment.
Adjust the threshold tomorrow. For now, keep monitoring.
Ace
Already on it.
You good?
Yeah. All clear.
Riot
Speaking of all clear…
Got a call today.
Hendricks. Remember him? Ran ops with us in Kandahar.
I remember. Good operator. Better at reading people than most.
What'd he want?
Riot
