Chapter 2

two

DYLAN

“Dylan Holmes?”

I looked up from my desk and smiled. “That’s me.”

The FBI special agent handed me a brown folder. “I have the data you requested on Operation Zeus. The information’s confidential and can’t leave this office.”

“I understand.” Sometimes I felt like banging my head against a brick wall. As Technical Development Manager at Bryant Security, I saw top-secret government documents all the time. A report describing the security system at a US embassy in Moscow wasn’t going to turn me into a Russian spy.

The special agent looked at my messy desk and frowned. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” he asked.

“No. I’m happy with the file. I’ll call once I’m ready to share my recommendations.”

He managed a half-smile before leaving my office.

I’d almost opened the folder when my cell phone rang. It was probably Mom. Missing my dad’s birthday because of a project I was working on hadn’t gone unnoticed. If I couldn’t make it to my brother’s wedding, I’d be disowned.

Thankfully, the call was from my boss, Ryan Bryant.

“Can you come and see me?” he asked.

“Sure. I’m on my way.” I was used to these unexpected meetings. Ryan owned one of the largest high-profile security companies in America. As well as personal protection, Bryant Security developed and sold some of the most advanced security options on the planet. And I was in charge of the team of technicians, physicists, mathematicians, and computer specialists who created the products no one had seen before.

Before closing my office door, I grabbed a couple of files I wanted to discuss with him.

On the way past my personal assistant’s desk, she gave me a piece of paper. “Your mom called. I told her you were in a meeting.”

I sighed. “Thanks. I owe you.”

Hailey smiled. “My thoughtfulness can be repaid with a double-strength cappuccino.”

“Done. If Mom calls again, tell her I’ll see her tonight. If you need me, I’ll be in Ryan’s office.”

“Okay. Do you want me to reschedule your two o’clock appointment?”

I glanced at my watch. Living in Boulder had definite advantages compared to larger cities—especially when you had to drive across town. “I should be all right. I’ll text you if it looks as though I’ll be late.”

“Sounds good.”

Without stopping to say hello to anyone else, I headed to Ryan’s office and knocked on his door.

He looked up from behind his desk and smiled. “Thanks for coming to see me, Dylan. Have a seat. ”

If I had to describe my boss in one word, it would be ‘kind.’ He genuinely cared about the people he employed and did his best to make sure everyone enjoyed their work.

I sat on a chair opposite his desk. “How can I help?”

“I have a new project I think you’ll be interested in.”

My heart sank. My team was already working at full capacity. If Ryan wanted us to take on another project, something else would have to be put on hold.

“Have you heard of Alex Quinn?” Ryan asked.

I shook my head. “What does he do?”

“He’s an IT consultant. Until a year ago, he was working in Washington, D.C. When his contract finished, he returned to Colorado. He has an issue with a program he’s developing.”

“And you want my team to look at what he’s done?”

“I want you to look at what he’s done. Do you have the time?”

The main project I was working on was at a critical stage. If I left it to help a new client, I wouldn’t meet my tight time frame. “Could another person in my team help him?”

“Alex is working on a project that involves electromagnetic disturbance. You’ve worked with the Department of Defense on the Alton satellite project.”

This time, my response was more cautious. No one except high-ranking military and government officials knew about my involvement. “That was before I started working here. The Alton project was classified.”

“I don’t know exactly what you were doing, but it sounds similar to Alex’s project. No one else in your team has the technical or practical experience to help him.”

Ryan didn’t often ask me to drop everything to assist another client. And when he did, you could guarantee there was a good reason.

Even so, I was still concerned. “EMP is a highly specialized field. Most IT consultants are more focused on general network and program issues.”

“Alex isn’t your run-of-the-mill IT consultant.” Ryan’s steady gaze told me more about his client than words could have.

I worked in an industry full of specialists who never talked about their work. Their area of expertise could be so focused it was hard to find anyone who could help them.

“I’ll ask someone on my team to work on Operation Zeus. Will Mr. Quinn come here, or will I meet him somewhere else?”

“At this stage, it’s better if you go to him. He’s living close to a town called Sunrise Bay. It’s on the shore of Willow Lake. I’ll email you his contact information.”

“When do you want me to start?”

“Monday morning.”

That left two and a half days to bring someone on my team up to speed with my other projects. It wasn’t impossible, but both of us would be working through the weekend.

“I’m assuming Mr. Quinn’s project takes precedence over the other work I’m involved with?”

Ryan nodded. “If there’s anything that can’t wait a week or two, let me know.”

“I should be able to reallocate most of my work.”

“Thanks, Dylan. I appreciate your help.”

I stood and shook Ryan’s hand. “You wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important.” As I left his office, I checked the time.

I only had fifteen minutes to drive across town and talk to a professor about cellular regeneration. If there was one thing I could say about my job—it was never boring.