Page 118 of Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage 3)

“Nothing shows up.”

“He has to be down there. Let me look at the cameras. Maybe he looped them so his movements couldn’t be tracked.”

“I don’t believe he’s involved, Mackenzie. I can’t.”

“I understand.” That didn’t mean that he wasn’t. Mackenzie skimmed all the security cameras and focused on those set on the lower level. “Wait...” Oh no! “I see something.”

At the corner of the server rack, two legs—someone was sprawled on the floor. That’s all the cameras could see.

Nora’s hand went to her mouth as she gasped. “Oh no! Carson!”

Her sister raced around the desk to the door.

“Wait!” Mackenzie pulled her back. “You can’t go down there.”

“You’re right. I’ll call Tilden to check it out first.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea either.” She couldn’t let Nora see her own fear rising. She had to stay strong and keep her sister strong. They would make it through this. “He could be involved. I mean, who else is here? Who could have harmed Carson?”

Nora nodded. “I’ll call 911 instead.” She lifted the handset to her ear, then pushed on the switch hook, searching for a dial tone. “The phones are down.”

Terror flashed in Nora’s gaze.

“Maci’s cell.” Mackenzie rushed to the secretary’s desk and used the cell to call 911. She requested an ambulance too. Dispatch informed her that a call had already been made. She ended the call and stared at the cell.

Who had made the call?

Things were unraveling fast. How was it that Alex wasn’t here with her when she needed him most?

Tilden suddenly appeared. Mackenzie moved in front of Nora as if to protect her. Just what did she think she would do? Her skills lay in the digital world.

“Ladies, we have a situation. I’m going to need you to step out of the building.”

“Carson is hurt. He’s down on the lower level,” Nora said. “What do you know about it?”

“I saw it on the camera and called 911 right before the lines went dead. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll get you to safety and then investigate the lower level. Danny isn’t answering his radio either.”

By the look on the man’s face, she knew he was there to protect them and do his job. But could she trust her own judgment?

“I’m not leaving,” Nora said. “I’m going down there to make sure Carson is okay.” Nora rushed around Tilden, leaving Mackenzie and the security guard to follow.

Trying to stop Nora would be a waste of time, but before Nora could step onto the elevator, Mackenzie pulled her back. “Let’s take the stairwell. Now isn’t the time to get stuck. I’m pretty sure Nebulous 2.0 was behind the elevator incident.”

“And my car.”

Tilden had already opened the door to the stairwell, and he led the charge. They took two flights of stairs, the sense of urgency unquestioned—Carson needed help. But concern squeezed Mackenzie’s chest.

Was Carson behind the threats against her family and Hanstech? Was he Nebulous 2.0? And if he wasn’t, who else was in the building?

At the glass-door entrance to the secured level, Tilden glanced at them before swiping his keycard. They rushed forward through the racks of servers, lights blinking with the silent alarm. Security cameras should have covered every area.

Tilden came to a halt. Nora rushed forward, but he held out his arm, stopping her. He took another step around the server rack. Nora and Mackenzie joined him to see Carson lying on the cold tile floor.

Tilden crouched and checked the man’s pulse and nodded. “He’s alive. I’ll stay here with him. You ladies should go back up and wait for the authorities and the ambulance.”

“I’m staying,” Nora said.

“Who did this?” Mackenzie asked the obvious.