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The following day's staff meeting was a tense one. Fillmore Graves had been attacked; soldiers had been killed. But no one knew who was behind the van bombing, and no one knew why it had happened. And everyone wanted answers, right now.

Major just wanted to find these people, whoever they were, and lock them down. Running Fillmore Graves, being in charge of the well-being of all the zombies in New Seattle, was hard enough, without now having to start looking over his shoulder watching for a van bomber … or whatever the next attack was going to look like. Because there would be a next attack. That he was sure of.

The worst of it was that the investigation seemed to have no leads whatsoever. Even the day after, they ought to know something, and there was just … nothing.

"Have we found the VIN on that vehicle?" he asked impatiently. At least if they could track down where the van came from, that would be a start.

Hobbs looked at him, distressed. "We're still sifting through the wreckage."

Both of them looked up as the door opened and Justin came in. The look on his face made it clear that he was not bearing any kind of good tidings. As he met Major's glance, Justin tipped his head to the side, indicating that his news wasn't for the ears of the entire staff meeting. Well, that definitely wasn't going to be good.

He got up and joined Justin away from the conference table.

"Just heard. Four border agents in Tacoma back on the job, the brain plant's back at capacity."

That was good news. So why was Justin looking like someone had just kicked his dog? Oh, crap. "There were five border agents."

Justin nodded, following Major's train of thought accurately. They had set Blaine loose on the border agents, and Blaine had done what Blaine did. Whatever had happened to that last border agent was, arguably, Major's fault. Damn it.

"You did what you had to do," Justin told him.

More than a single person would have died if the brain plant hadn't gone back to full operation. They couldn't afford a town full of starving zombies, and choices had to be made. And the morals behind those choices had to be compromised. That was the way things were. Didn't mean Major had to like it.

"We can't prove he did anything."

"No."

"So we can't stop him from doing it again."

"No," Justin agreed.

That was the worst of this calculus, Major reflected. That every time a morally questionable decision was made, it encouraged Blaine. And Blaine, encouraged, was never a good thing. It only made him think he could get away with something else. And he did! Every time. The man led a truly charmed life.

"So we ignore it."

Justin nodded. "We do."

"But we don't thank him for getting the brain plant back to full operation. We don't have to go that far."

"That we don't." Justin smiled.

"Excuse me. Commander?" Hobbs was looking impatient.

Major had completely forgotten about the staff meeting. "All right, meeting adjourned. You all know what's top priority around here: Find out who was behind that bombing. Get me someone in here I can question. And do it quickly before they decide they got away with it and do it again. Is that clear?"

There were hasty murmurs of "Crystal, Commander" and "Of course" and "Right on it" as everyone gratefully packed up their papers and left his office.

Once they were alone, Major walked to the windows, looking out over the city. "Do you think there are people out there who think this is a glamorous and fun job?"

Justin laughed, joining him. "No one with half a clue."

"Lot of people out there with less than that. Maybe one of them could take over for a while."

"Only if you want the city to burn down in the process."

Major started to joke that it wouldn't be the worst thing, but he stopped himself. Because it would be the worst thing, and he couldn't afford to get comfortable making jokes that the wrong person might hear and misinterpret. "I guess I'm stuck with it."

"Could be worse," Justin offered.

"Yeah? How?"

"You could be doing all this without me." He reached out his hand and Major clasped it. "You and me, brother. We're in this together."

"Yes, we are. Thank you. I don't know how I could do this without you."

"Well, you never have to find out."

He was grateful for Justin's friendship and support. It didn't extend outside of the office, not anymore, and they never spoke of Liv. But inside Fillmore Graves, there was no one Major trusted more, no one he would rather have at his side.