The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

Hot Water

Liam collapsed on his bunk. "We are dead, guys! Dead!"

"Not necessarily." Cam's mind was whirling. "That CP tried to kill you. We had to get away."

"Right," Tober agreed, nodding emphatically. "It was him, not us."

A sharp cough forced its way out of Liam's throat. "'Cause that's how they're going to see it."

"Do we need to get you to a doctor?" Cam asked.

"Yeah, Drexler," Liam answered, his voice ripe with sarcasm. "Let's go back to the infirmary."

An urgent pounding froze everyone in place. "Cadets!" Captain Carver roared from the hallway. "Open this door! Now!"

Cam jerked his head toward the door. "You better do it," he whispered to Liam.

"Why me?" Liam whispered back.

"'Cause it's your room."

Liam bounced off of the bunk and turned the knob just far enough to release the lock. As soon as it clicked, the floor captain shoved his way inside, and the cadets all snapped to attention.

Carver looked at the room's occupants in dismay, as if trying to force a confession with his eyes. "I hear you're our new fire marshal, Sunderland."

"Yes, sir," Tober squeaked. "Ah, I mean no, sir. Sir."

The floor captain's condemning gaze drifted to Liam then Cam. "Can one of you cadets please explain what the hell just happened in the infirmary?"

"Cadet Burke was attacked, sir," Cam said, breaking a long silence.

Carver's eyebrows shot upward. "Cadet Burke was attacked?"

"Yes, sir," Cam answered stiffly. "Cadet Sunderland wasn't feeling well, so we took him to the infirmary."

"Uh, huh. And?"

"Cadet Burke and I were in the waiting room and needed to go find the bathroom."

"Did you need to take a bath?" the floor captain asked.

It took all of Cam's self-control not to sigh. "Sorry, sir. I meant latrine, sir."

"Ah. Because you ladies always pee together?"

"No, sir. We just had to go, sir."

Carver folded his arms across his chest. "Continue. Please."

"Well, we went down this one hall and ran into a nurse. She started screaming at us that we weren't supposed to be there, so we went back to the lobby."

"Go on, Drexler," the captain said, eying Liam suspiciously. "I'm dying to hear what happened next."

Cam's voice began to shake. "The CP at the front door must have heard the nurse yelling because he comes running in, knocks Burke down, and pins him."

"And what were you doing while all that was happening?"

"Nothing!"

"You're good at that, Drexler." Carver motioned Cam on with his fingers. "Keep talking."

"The Red wouldn't let Cadet Burke up," Cam continued. "He was choking him."

"Hmpf," the floor captain scoffed, clearly doubting every word.

"It's true, sir," Liam confirmed. "I couldn't breathe, and the guy wouldn't get off me."

"And that's when Sunderland shot him with the fire extinguisher?"