"Or something has caused them to deviate from their previous patrol patterns." The man's voice continued to be completely even and gave no hint of irritation. But he also didn't bother to rise to her baiting comment either.

Instead, Kurt slipped out of the alcove after Lapis on silent feet. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say, ma'am." Ouch, stonewalled by the tried and true classified route. Did he really just call her ma'am?