“Is the building safe to enter” is a past time of the Commonwealth. It’s also a past time for Piper. She had found herself falling through more than one floor when staking out a story in her time. She tried not to think about that as she heard the floorboards beneath her creak.

  The Brotherhood of Steel was set up and guarding their new home. Piper wasn’t surprised that one group decided to move into the exact same place they were in two years ago. This was the group that was easiest to spy on. Unfortunately, it was also the group that seemed to have the least information to provide.

  It was long past dark, the guard changed an hour ago, and it was the commander’s turn to post guard duty. It was no secret that the different companies were being commanded by different members of the same family. The Monroe family.

  The very name sent a shiver up Piper’s spine. It couldn’t be a coincidence that a few short weeks after Marian Halcombe moved into Diamond City, the Brotherhood of Steel moved into the Commonwealth. This was the family that Nate gave Piper a picture of. Marian carried around a set of holotags with the name Monroe on them. It was too much, but it still wasn’t enough for a story.

  Piper thought about how things changed between her and Nick so fast when he decided to let himself be taken in by a Brotherhood spy. Piper wouldn’t visit him even if she was allowed. Not with Marian around. But Piper saw Nick around the city more. Normally he was taking Marian out to eat. It was obvious he bought her that red dress she was always wearing. Piper had to stop herself from snapping her pen at the thought of how happy he looked as that tramp prattled on about mindless stuff.

  She didn’t know what Marian did to lure him in. And the thought that the bitch was sharpening a knife to stick in his back while he smiled down at her made Piper’s blood boil. She wanted to shake that stubborn synth until he woke up and saw that he was sleeping with a radscorpion. She wanted to slap Ellie for not waking her boss and friend up. She wanted to save Nick from himself and Marian.

  It was late, and it looked like nothing was happening other than one loan soldier was staring into the darkness. Piper decided she needed to stop thinking about Nick and Marian and get some rest. She could probably get an hour or two in without missing anything.

  “William,” a voice carried through the darkness. A familiar voice.

  “Dizzy?” The young commander responded.

  Piper turned her attention back to the Brotherhood member. He was moving towards her. Piper felt a flush of panic, until she saw a shape next to the police station. She stood in the darkness. Piper wished she was that good at hiding.

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  “Stay there,” the figure said. “If you don’t look at me, you won’t be lying when you tell mom and dad you didn’t see me.”

  Monroe stopped moving. He adjusted himself so he was leaning against the wall, but the barrier stood between the two.

  “What are you doing here, Dizzy? You know what will happen if anyone catches you?” He asked.

  “You mean like the things that happened in the Capital Wasteland?” Dizzy responded. Her tone was angry. Piper wondered what could have happened in the Capital Wasteland that made her so mad.

  “I tried to help you, but they out rank me,” he responded.

  “I know, and they always will. Why do you keep listening to them? You can do better by cutting them loose.”

  “It’s not so bad,” Peter said. “Dad was able to protect me when the war broke out. Remember, we’re supposed to look out and promote each other. That’s what family does.”

  “Dad was part of why the war was started. You know he doesn’t have a chance to become the next Elder. Our family is too small.”

  “We can do it,” William insisted. “Now that we have this territory, dad can do what Elder Maxson couldn’t. Then people will beg to join our army. Dad has this all planned out. You’ll see.”

  There was silence in the air for a moment. Finally, Dizzy spoke. “Where are the missing steps?” she finally asked.

  “What?”

  “I heard the plan is move to the Commonwealth, hope a miracle happens, and have people magically join the family. Arthur may have talked bigger than he was, but he knew how to make people like him. Dad knows how to make people like him for a little bit, until they are no longer useful to him. He can’t help himself; he likes stepping on people, and he doesn’t care who he’s walking on.”

  “No, dad has a strategy. He told us right after we got here.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “You know I can’t tell you, Diz. It’s classified, and you chose not to have that status long ago. You know you can come back.”

  “You know I can’t,” she insisted.

  “You’ll be able to be the strategist you were trained to be. You’re too good at that to keep sneaking around the shadows.”

  “I like the shadows, they are safe.”

  “Until they aren’t, then you’re dead.”

  “One can…” she was silent for a moment.

  “Dizzy? You went quiet.”

  “It’s okay…just…I wanted to see if you wanted out.”

  “Is this a trick?”

  “No, why would I be doing that? Look, the offer is still open.”

  “I’m not like you,” William said. “I don’t want to be alone in the Wasteland. I want to be surrounded by my brothers and sisters.”

  “Everyone has their own goals,” Dizzy said. “I’m familiar with being surrounded by people who are loyal to you, until they aren’t.”

  “You see betrayal everywhere. That’s why you’re always in the shadows. The perfect spy.”

  “Better a spy than a toady,” she spat. “I’m loyal, you know that. If you change your mind, I’ll watch your back.”

  “I’ll remember that. Hey, Isabel?”

  “What?”

  “Is there anything you want me to tell dad?”

  “I’ve already told him everything that needs to be said.”

  There was silence for a bit. Piper watched while “Dizzy” walked away. She had to strain to hear her footsteps. William’s footsteps were much louder as he moved back to where he was watching the darkness.

  Piper scribbled as fast as she could in her notes. It was dark, she hoped she could read them when she got home. She didn’t bother to sleep. After an hour, she slipped away. She had everything she needed. She finally had the last piece to connect Marian Halcombe to the Brotherhood of Steel.