Page 9 of The Ranger (Black Hawke Security #5)

COLE

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T he next day, I immerse myself further into the members of Project Helix, as the top-secret project is called, instead of wondering why Scarlett put an oral only rule in place.

I tell myself she’s probably right.

In quantum technology, “helix” apparently refers to the complex, intertwined quantum states or superconducting circuits in the chip, symbolizing cutting-edge innovation.

All of that is way over my head.

Back at the BHS offices, Thomas and his team are focusing on breaking down the data from the breach to see if they can locate which IP address, aka the laptop, it came from.

These things can either be impossible or take time, so while it happens in the background, I’ll remain inside the organization.

QuantumCore has multiple projects they’re working on, and as the Senior Product Engineering Manager, I need to be across all of them.

Technically.

I spent some of the weekend familiarizing myself with industry lingo and what’s happening in the industry. This morning I’ve attended a couple of irrelevant meetings, playing the newbie card, then return my focus on Project Helix.

To date, I’ve met all the team members except one, and at this point no one is jumping out as a suspect.

As expected.

A mole of this caliber isn’t going to be wearing a SPIES ARE US T-shirt.

Scarlett could make them one, I’m sure.

“Here it is,” Todd, one of the engineers, says as head toward the production facilities. “Chen is meeting us here.”

He points out the clothing we need to put on when we step into the authorized only area. PPE, also known as personal protective equipment, includes a white coat, hairnet, glasses and shoe covers.

Looking more like a scientist than a Ranger, I walk into the plant and take in one of the world’s leading production lines of quantum chips.

It’s impressive.

And large.

Each line has a team of workers who stand on rubber mats, wear their own protective gear and follow the clearly painted yellow lines as they move around.

Everything is pristine.

I glance at the fire extinguishers and first aid kits around the immediate area before a man I briefly saw yesterday, but wasn’t introduced to, approaches.

“Hey, Cole Reynolds, right?” He shakes my hand. “Chen Lee. Senior Production Manager.”

The man we are all waiting on regarding the final component. Nathan told me to follow up with him...so.

This is a key date in the timeline for delivery to the military—their customers, as they refer to them—and the prototype being completed. Simply put, the risk of our mole disappearing with it is very high.

I’m eager to speak to him and get clarity about the date.

“Thanks for showing us around.” I plant my hands on my hips, glancing around with a smile and looking impressed, which isn’t hard to fake. I am. “Definitely an upgrade from GreenTech.”

Now that part is a lie.

GreenTech is an organization based in Hong Kong where I’ve never worked, but if anyone looks me—or rather my alias, Cole Reynolds—up, they’ll find a profile showcasing my success at the data tech company.

GreenTech has a good reputation, but it’s not large enough to raise suspicion. Plus, it’s human nature to be competitive, so I’m expecting QuantumCore employees to show off.

“You’re playing with the big boys now, Cole.” Chen laughs.

Bingo.

“Come on through. I’ll show you around.”

“Thanks!”

Chen leads Todd and I through the plant, raving about how all their machines and processes are world-class and better than everyone and everything, blah, blah.

“Do we have a prototype run booked in yet?” Todd asks, doing my job for me.

Nice.

It’s much better than coming from the new guy. Even if my newbie questions can look innocent. Or not. If one of these guys is the mole, they’ll be hyperaware of everything.

Chen slows, picks up a damaged chip and tosses it into a reject bin, taking his time answering.

“I will check the schedule. I think there was a delay.”

Think?

He knows very well there is. We’re waiting on the Erbium component.

“Still? I thought the final materials had all arrived.” Todd frowns.

Interesting.

For such an important product, there sure is a lot of confusion.

“Where’s it coming from?” I inquire calmly.

“China.” Chen picks up another chip, says something in Asian I don’t understand, then suddenly lifts his face and smiles. “Hey, Cole, do you play golf?”

Golf?

Ah...what just happened?

I feel like I skipped ten minutes of the conversation and was dropped back in it.

“More of a baseball guy, actually.” I glance around the room, taking in all the employees and studying their behavior.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Not that I have a baseline, but no one seems nervous.

“Shame, we play once a month.” Chen shrugs. “I bet you’d have some power in those arms.”

“You do? I’ve never been invited.” Todd laughs but seems a little rejected while I’m unsure how to react to his comment. “Who plays?”

“Ah, I’ll invite you next month.” Chen waves it off, giving me another glance. “Come, let me show you the new 5G chips.”

Those are for the telecom customers and not what I’m interested in. It’s more important that I focus on what I’m here for. I don’t actually work for QuantumCore.

Not that they know that.

“I need to prep for another meeting, but thanks, Chen.” I go to turn, then swivel back. “That prototype date, can you send me the updated timeline, please?”

He can’t say no.

Chen flinches, and Todd gives me a surprised look. Clearly, no one speaks to Chen in such a mildly authoritative tone.

As I suspected.

He’s a gaslighter and uses distraction to manipulate those around him. I’ve seen this before.

Most newbies wouldn’t go straight for the jugular, but I’m not here to get invited to golf or Sunday football games. I’m here to find out who is trying to steal US military secrets inside QuantumCore.

This is espionage, not just corporate theft.

After speaking to Nathan and fully understanding the situation, I recognize that this is now a national security threat...if the spy gets away with it.

We don’t intend to let that happen.

I brief Josh, sharing the weight on my shoulders.

“How does it work?” he asked.

“The quantum AI chip has the ability to disrupt enemy radar and networks with advanced processing—fast processing—faster than anything currently on Earth.”

“Fuck. That could mean the difference between an entire city being destroyed...or not.”

“Yup,” I replied. “Whoever holds this technology will have a huge advantage for potentially years. We want that to be America.”

“Yes, we fucking do. If it lands in enemy hands, it could mean millions of deaths and borders changing all over the world.”

Neither of us say it, but the implications of that are greater than most people understand. Physical border changes aside, it would impact global economies and the way we all live.

Depending on who the enemy is, it could throw the Western world into a recession not seen in generations.

“If this is used for nuclear weapons...game over,” Aidan says on speaker as we talk.

“Yeah.” I sighed, running a hand over my face this morning as I sat in the car.

The concern that we might end up speaking another language, like people used to say after WWII, would be the least of our worries.

No one survives a global nuclear war, especially if someone has technology like this, which gives them such an enormous advantage.

What originally appeared to be a corporate security job is much, much, more serious.

“I’ll add more resources to this project. Whatever you need, okay?” Josh tells me.

“Got it.”

Becoming a father has added another level to my desire to protect this country. I want my kids to live in a world where they’re safe and can thrive. To speak American and play baseball.

Or fucking golf.

“Relax, Cole.” Chen laughs and claps a hand on my shoulder, making me stiffen. “I have it under control. When the prototype is done, I’ll let you know.”

Interesting.

If I were one of his colleagues, his response would have pushed my buttons big time. It was such a narcissistic brush off that you’d think he was trying to take control.

Or he’s our mole.

Chen has gone to the top of my suspect list.

Putting his hands on me was a bad move on his part. I glance down at the barely five-foot-eight man and wonder just how big his balls are.

Figuratively speaking.

I don’t want to spook him until we get some solid proof, but sometimes you need to nudge them out into the open.

It’s time to let him know there’s a new alpha in town.

“Five o’clock Chen. I want it in my inbox.” I lower my brows, then walk away to the feel of his hand dropping from my shoulder.

I almost want him to attack so I can drop him on his ass and strangle him. There’s something about the guy that I really don’t like.

“Sure, sure. Whatever you want, Mr. Cole,” he calls out, but I don’t turn. “Hey, we should play baseball next weekend. You can teach me.”

Not happening.

Firstly, the guy doesn’t look like he has an athletic bone in his body. Secondly, if he’s the mole, he’ll be behind bars.

I push open the doors and step into the changing area we first came through.

“How long have you both worked together?” I ask Todd, tossing my PPE gear in the bin provided.

“A year. Maybe shorter.” Todd replies, running a hand through his brown hair, telling me he’s a little uncomfortable with the direct tone I took with Chen.

Good.

Rattling them all will show their true feelings.

We don’t have time to fuck around.

“I’m surprised he doesn’t have that data at his fingertips.” We walk down the hall. “Dr. Whitaker runs a tight ship around here from what I heard.”

“We have to. As the leaders in the field, any fuck ups hit the bottom line hard. As a publicly traded company, nothing is invisible, so yeah...” Todd’s voice trails off, and my instinct is that he’s generally someone who likes to stay out of anything messy.

We keep walking, and I let the conversation flow as if I was an employee. I need them all to trust me while I ruffle feathers.

“Have there been any fuck ups?”

Todds shoots me a curious glance, and I realize my mistake.

“Aside from the obvious,” I laugh, winging it.

“I guess it could get worse, but yeah, that public autocar mess was big enough. But the tech industry has a pretty short memory so our big wins since have fortunately gained us back the top spot.”

“Hey, Todd.” Someone high-fives him as they race past on a skateboard.

Those and scooters are popular in the office.

“That’s Jeremy.” Todd thumbs over his shoulder. “Works in the creative department. You should meet him. Big picture thinker, comes up with crazy ideas that we end up having to scratch our heads and work out how to turn into reality.”

Jesus.

While I love technology, I have no idea how they actually create it. That’s way outside my wheelhouse. Give me a rifle any day.

I stop at my office door. “Thanks for the tour.”

“No problem. See you at the research and development meeting later today.”

I walk in and sit behind my desk and stare at the door, thinking. Chen raised a few red flags, but at the same time, Todd seems too chill for my liking.

I need to get a timeline for this prototype and when things could escalate. I’m not relaxed at all. For all we know, that material could already be here.

I need to find out if it has arrived into our warehouse. We can’t trust anyone from this point onwards.

An hour later, I am ninety-nine percent certain it hasn’t, but I call Josh and discuss it.

“I’m putting security in the plant. Nathan knows it's happening. They will be there within the hour.”

Thank fuck.

Having eyes across everything on my own is getting way too much given the stakes here.

“The shipment is heading to Arlington, Virginia, to the Department of Defense,” I tell Josh. “It’s six weeks from delivery. Until they create that prototype and test it, it won’t go into full production.”

“No, but they only need one to copy it,” Josh reminds me.

Shit.

Just as I end the call, my phone beeps.

Scar: Appointment changed on Thursday to one p.m. It’s okay if you can’t make it.

She says that every time.

I’ve never missed one in four months, and it irritates me that she thinks I don’t take it as seriously as her. Just because the baby isn’t growing inside me, it doesn’t make it any less mine.

Or important.

Cole: I’ll make it.

Scar: It’s fine.

Cole: I know. I’ll be there.

The phone rings.

God give me strength.

“H—”

“You don’t have to come to all of them, Cole. No one is waiting at the end of this with a trophy for you for dad of the year.”

I grind my teeth.

“Well, that ship has already passed, even if there was, so I think we both know I’m not striving for it. I’m quite happy with my silver star.”

“You have a silver star? I thought you had a purple star.”

“Do you even know what that is?” I roll my eyes.

Silence.

“Don’t Google it.”

“Huh, who’d you kill?” she asks, and I run a hand over my face, cringing and wonder if she realizes just how inappropriate that question is.

Probably.

This is Scarlett, after all. It’s why she asked. I know she’s trying to push me away after we’ve been intimate recently.

I’m not sure whether I should let her or call her on it. I decide to let it go.

“Baddies. That’s who. So that you can go to the mall every day and buy your handbags or whatever. Look, I have to get back to work.” I go quiet and frown. “Are you at work?”

“Ah...” she wavers.

“Scar?” I push.

“Scar. Lett. My name is Scarlett. And no, I took the day off.”

My back straightens as I go on alert. We’re less than a month away from her giving birth, and at this point anything can happen. If she isn’t feeling well, I need her to tell me.

“Why?”

She sighs. “Because. No reason. Can I go to the appointment on my own, please.”

No.

“Tell me what’s wrong?”

I can send my mom or sister over if she needs something. Or I could call one of the girls. I know she hates asking for help.

“Nothing is wrong. I’m pregnant. I’m going to be a single mother. I need to start doing this on my own. You trailing along like father-of-the-year is great, but once our alien is born, you and her are going to disappear and I’ll have to...just forget it.”

What?

My gaze flicks around my fake office, trying to translate that big Scarlett dump. She’s the most complicated woman I’ve ever met.

“You, hang on. You...”

“Ugh!”

The phone goes dead.

“Good talk.” I mutter, dropping the phone on the desk.