"Be careful, ma'am."

"Mac turned, frowning. "Bud, I'm only going to Norfolk."

"It's almost the end of May," Bud said gravely. "Bad things always happen right about now."

"Lieutenant, are you going superstitious on us?"

"It's not a joke, ma'am! Last year you were in trouble in South America. The year before that, there was the dirty nuke and -- well, this." He rapped on his prosthetic leg. "And the year before that, Commander Rabb's plane went down. Is the timing just coincidence?"

"Mac paused, realizing that he was right. Feeling unsettled, she walked into her partner's office without knocking.

"Is the end of May cursed?"

"Harm listened as she recounted the events Bud had listed.

"He left out the most terrifying May of all."

"Which one?"

"The return of Brumby."

"Jerk!" She threw her cover at him.

"Seriously, Mac, there is an explanation. It just isn't pretty."

"Well, I'm all ears."

"Harm sighed. "Cliffhangers."