Page 147 of Aviatrix

I take a breath. “Walker—Calvin Shoemaker—had a daughter who died eighteen years ago, right around the time the Legion was formed and when VAL was last flown. There’s no record of her death. No medical history. Nothing. She’s a ghost.”

Lark leans back in his chair, brows drawing together as he studies me. “What does that have to do with—”

“What was her name?” Eli interrupts, eyes sharp.

“Maude,” I answer.

Something flickers across Eli’s face, a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Small. Subtle. But I see it. He knows something. I know he does.

I don’t press. I let the silence stretch, a question left deliberately unasked.

“Maude Shoemaker?” Lark finally says, thoughtful. “I think I’ve seen that name before.”

“There’s a plaque,” Eli says after a beat. “At the San Diego base. Tiny thing, barely noticeable. Her name’s on it.”

“What kind of plaque?” I ask, leaning forward.

“Just a room dedication,” Lark replies, nodding slowly. “I’ve seen it. I just never connected the dots.”

“Wait.” I snap my fingers. “Her name is on a small office, right?”

“I think so,” Lark answers.

“We need to go back to San Diego,” Eli suggests, firmer now. “We need to talk to Walker.”

“We can’t fly right now,” Lark sighs. “Not until we know what we’re walking into.”

“I could go,” Eli offers.

“No,” Lark and I say at the same time.

Eli chuckles, raising both hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll stay.”

“And one more thing,” I exhale. “We found where the Legion meets once a month. An address Fox managed to track down.”

“Really?” Eli sounds equal parts surprised and intrigued.

Lark frowns. “Where?”

“A warehouse in D.C.”

“Do you—” Eli starts but I cut in.

“Fox already has eyes on the building.”

“Anything of interest?” Lark asks.

I shake my head. “Not yet, but I’ll let you know if we do.”

There’s a sharp knock at the door, interrupting our conversation. Lark stands immediately and crosses the room.

“Colonel, there’s been a sighting,” I hear the person on the other side of the door say.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Lark replies.

He shuts the door, then turns to face us. “That’s enough for one night. We reconvene tomorrow. Rest while you can.” He flinches as he says it, but then he’s gone and Eli and I are left sitting in the room alone.

“That was…” I trail off.