Page 101 of Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage 3)

“Right. But after Dad died, Rowan garnered contracts for sophisticated artificial intelligence and GIS—geographic information systems—mapping integrated with our drones. Next-level stuff. He said the future is now, and we need to be part of that big push.”

That’s why working with DARPA made total sense. “This is nothing I couldn’t find out on my own or read in the news.”

“I don’t know what I should say. I don’t know what I can say.”

Frustration boiled. “With tonight’s attack, I think we’re past the point where you should hold anything back. Tell me what I need to know to fix this.”

“We were working on a prototype when someone started sabotaging our efforts.”

“A prototype that does what?”

“The list is long, but think Israel’s Iron Dome kind of stuff.” Nora covered her face.

Mackenzie thought her sister might hyperventilate. She rushed to her and knelt, grabbing her hands. “Nora, it’s okay. It’s going to be okay. Take steady breaths.”

Nora’s shoulders bobbed up and down as if she was dry sobbing. Mackenzie didn’t know how to comfort her. When Nora finally dropped her hands, the fear Mackenzie saw in her eyes knocked her back on her seat.

“It’s all about war. AI and cyberweapons. UAVs. Dad wanted to use drones for good to help people. I know he wouldn’t have gone in this direction. Of course we have to keep our military prepared for the future, but that was never the Hanstech mission.”

“Until Rowan.”

Nora nodded. “A few months ago, Rowan said he suspected espionage.”

Frowning, Mackenzie shook her head. “I’m confused. Sabotage and espionage are two very different things. Why would someone sabotage your efforts if what they really wanted was to steal your secrets?”

Distress lines grew in Nora’s face. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. Rowan kept so much from me, but I think he discovered someone had infiltrated our system first. Then the sabotage happened to show who had the upper hand and to coerce Rowan into participating in the intellectual theft.”

“At some point, he’d had enough and planned to report it,” Mackenzie added.

Nora squeezed her eyes. “He was warned that if he communicated with the authorities, he would die ... along with his company.”

Mackenzie sucked in a breath. “So you knew ... you suspected he was murdered to begin with, before I told you about the warning I received.”

“I was scared. Too scared to talk. We can’t even talk in our own home. I took a risk having an autopsy. But this cybercriminal, whoever he is, could probably change those results if he wanted, except he didn’t change them.”

“What ... what are you talking about?”

“I heard earlier today after connecting with the pathologist, Dr. Sylvan. The pacemaker lost power.” She stared at the floor and shook her head as if denying all of it had happened. “Now ... finally, we can make funeral arrangements.”

Seriously? That’s what Nora was thinking about at this moment?

But not Mackenzie. Instead, all she could think about was that Nebulous 2.0 had terrorized her family so much that they couldn’t even reach out to anyone to help them. She was one to talk, although she had reached out to Alex. Still, Mackenzie couldn’t imagine that a hacker could inflict as much terror as she saw in her sister’s eyes, even after causing Rowan’s death. And Julian’s. Mackenzie shivered. “What else, Nora? What aren’t you telling me?”

“He physically threatened me.”

“Wait ... you mean ... you’re not talking about the car tonight.”

“No.”

“You saw him?”

“I woke up in my bed, and a man’s hand was at my throat. I couldn’t breathe.” Nora’s nostrils flared to go with the angry tears welling in her eyes.

Mackenzie’s hand reflexively went to her own throat. Nora had been a prisoner in her own home.

“When was this? Did you get a good look at him?”

Nora closed her eyes. “Two nights ago. And no, it was dark. I couldn’t see anything.”