Becca hurried to the labs, Chief and Ethan close behind her. Although having them along irked her on one level, another part of her was grateful. More and more wasn’t adding up. She’d been genuinely surprised to see Malchek on the comms link. She’d never even spoken to him directly before, only seen him passing with a gaggle of admirers as he swept through the Welsh research labs where she was based on dry land.

Ethan caught her elbow, forcing her to slow. “Becca, I need a quick word.”

She shook him off, not bothering to keep the irritation from her voice. “Not now, Ethan.” She turned her attention to Chief. “These are our main research labs. Redd’s lab is at the end. On our left you see the Bio labs belonging to Dr. Soh and Dr. Preacher. They’re working on extremophiles and what we can learn from them about colonizing new environments.”

Chief grunted. “In English?”

“Organisms adapted to extreme conditions. Particularly bacteria and algae. Geo labs are on our right. Neodymium is our primary reason for being down here. Shaw and Redd have been completing a geological survey of Rosemary Bank and collecting core samples. Preliminary investigations indicated there was a rich seam of Neo-d. I am sure you’re more than aware of how important that mineral is for a company like Triton Core?”

“I know they lead in the development of magnetic cars powered by Neodymium,” Ethan said.

Still smart as ever. She quashed a smile of acknowledgment.

Becca stopped at the door for the main lab. The lock glowed green as she palmed the door lock. “A substantial seam of Neo-d is worth billions to Triton but our sampling failed to identify any significant Neo-d deposits. I think that’s what pushed Redd to extend his sampling area to the volcanic moat.”

Chief interrupted. “Volcanic what?”

Becca entered the lab and indicated for them to follow. Lights blinked on as she walked across the room.

“The Ceto habitat is situated near an extinct volcano—Rosemary Bank Seamount. Around the base of the volcano is a layer of fossilized lava, a moat so to speak. Radiological scans indicated magnetic traces beneath the lava, possibly Neodymium. Redd was insistent we sample this new area even though it was beyond our remit.”

She gestured at the sparsely furnished room. A computer desk sat at one side, notepads and samples arranged in obsessive rows beside the keyboard. Redd was a particular man as well as a difficult boss at times. “This is our main geological lab, where Redd is based.”

Ethan paced the room and stopped at a closed door on the far side. He peered through the glass porthole. His face was emotionless when he turned back. “Another moon pool and hard suits?”

“Research suits are stored through there for smaller investigations closer to home.” She touched a sleeping computer monitor to distract herself from the flip of her belly whenever his gaze landed on her. “This is Dr. Redd’s workstation.”

She hit a key and the screen woke. The text Welcome Dr. Redd appeared. Becca swallowed against the tightness in her throat. Despite her concerns about Ethan’s team’s arrival and her natural assumption of seniority given Redd’s injuries, guilt still tugged at her as she accessed his work without his permission. But she was becoming increasingly convinced Redd was hiding something, and she needed to know what it was.

She typed her password into the command box. “I’ve worked with Redd once before. If I’m honest, he’s become increasingly desperate during this rotation. Obsessed with making a ‘big’ discovery. His university tenure is up for renewal and he needs something substantive to save his career.” She released a long, slow breath. “You want everything?”

“Everything.”

Becca narrowed her eyes but remained tight-lipped as Chief hooked the chair next to her, spun it around, and sat down.

“It’s going to take time to collate all his work.”

“Fair enough,” Chief said. “We have time to kill.”

There was no third chair. Ethan pulled a stool from the far side of the room.

Becca eyed him as she typed in access codes. “Make yourself comfortable.”

He fired her a tight smile. “I am.”

Becca hit the return key. When nothing happened, she hit it a second time.

Aimee’s cultured voice broke Becca’s concentration. “Hello, Dr. Johnson. What can I help you with?”

Becca hesitated. There was no reason for Aimee to be involved. “I don’t need you, Aimee. I’m accessing Dr. Redd’s files. Thank you.”

Ethan leaned forward, studying her face. He’d always been able to read her like a book. She glanced away, pretty sure time hadn’t blunted his abilities.

The computer beeped at her. Access denied.

Becca frowned and retyped her override password.

Access denied. Shit.

“Aimee, why is the computer not opening Dr. Redd’s files?”

“That information is restricted, Dr. Johnson,” Aimee replied.

Becca hesitated, her hands suspended over the keyboard.

“Your Dr. Redd is becoming increasingly enigmatic,” Chief observed.

Becca ignored him. “Aimee, as Chief Medical Officer, I’m overriding Dr. Redd’s command with directive 5.1. The commanding officer’s health has put the safety of the habitat and inhabitants’ lives at risk.”

Aimee’s measured voice remained unperturbed. “I’m sorry, Dr. Johnson, I am unable to comply with your request.”

What? Becca threw her pen down but it skittered off the desk and onto the polished white floor. “Damn.” She stood abruptly, knocking her chair sideways as she bent over the screen, her knuckles white on the edges of the table.

“Aimee, bring up Dr. Redd’s most recent excavation samples,” Becca commanded, waiting as the computer screen blinked instantly through several security logins.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Johnson, I am unable to comply with your request.”

“Why, Aimee? Why can’t you comply with my request?”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Johnson. That information is classified.”

“Shit.” Becca straightened, hands on her hips. Heat coursed through her. She took a breath. Getting cross with Aimee wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

Think, Becca. Why would Redd have locked down his research?

She turned to the two men, holding her hands up. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s going on here.”

Chief grunted as he stood and made to leave the room. “Can’t trust the tech these days. I’ll get my men to remove the hard drives.”

The door closed behind him.

Ethan stood up. “Becca.” He pushed a slip of paper across the desk at her.

What was this? Primary school? She glared at him, but he remained in front of her, a solid wall of man, waiting for her to read the note.

She sighed loudly and read his scribble. The AI might be blocking the research not Redd.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. What was that supposed to mean? Aimee served the habitat; she didn’t make decisions on her own. Her tone was sharp. “It’s not possible. Is that the only useful thing you have to say?”

Ethan picked her pen off the floor and handed it to her. His eyes flashed, wild with challenge. He’d never been one to back down; nothing had changed.

Becca shook her head. Turning her back to him, she stabbed at the keyboard as if retrying the access codes would make a difference.

Access denied. Access denied.

Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder. His fingers were gentle on her wire-taut muscles. “You’re going to break that.”

She spun to face him, her eyes stinging with anger and hurt. “You must be loving this. Turn up with all your hot-shit buddies to find me here, everything falling apart.”

Ethan fisted his hands at his side but his voice was calm when he answered. “That’s not what I think at all.” He stepped away from her, giving her some space.

She inhaled a shaky breath.

“What changed, Becca?”

She rounded on him. “What changed?”

“This?” He gestured at the sleek metal walls of the lab. “It’s not what I ever envisioned for you.”

“No. It’s not quite what I envisioned either.” Her gaze dropped, found the floor, lingered there, unwilling and unable to meet his scrutiny. She steeled herself, looked back up at him. “But this is my work now. It is what it is.”

“I never figured you for practicing medicine at the bottom of the ocean floor. I always imagined you working in some sunny ward, maybe with children. Fixing broken bones. Handing out lollipops. What you said you always wanted. Not hiding in the darkness.”

Becca bit her lip, unable to tell him that after the accident, the thought of working with children, families, it had been too much. The backs of her eyes stung with repressed tears.

Triton had offered a safe alternative. Just adults. Isolated from the world. Hidden at the bottom of the ocean. She shrugged, avoiding the burning search of his gaze. She wasn’t going to tell him that this work was her salvation, allowing her to function. “The money’s good,” she replied abruptly.

Ethan snorted softly. “You’re many things, Becca, but financially driven isn’t one of them.”

She bit her tongue. “Well, that just goes to show how well you really know me, doesn’t it?”

He winced at the bite of her reply.

“I’m sorry. That was unnecessary.” She rubbed her cheeks as if she could remove the flush that burned there. She chose what she wanted to say to him but her physical reactions were another matter.

Hurt etched the corners of his eyes. “Becca…”

“Not now, Ethan.” She turned her back on him but the sound of his sigh cut right through her

He shifted, his boots scraping on the polished floor. “There’s no room for me anymore, is there?”

“Ethan—”

“Dr. Johnson,” Aimee interrupted. “We have a situation in the infirmary.”