Considering the Genesis drone had been deemed smart enough to break itself out of the hangar by itself, Darwin wasn’t so sure he believed that.But Chapman was still here, so maybe Jameson was right.
“If only a half dozen people in the program know about this anti-tamper code, how did Chapman learn about it?”Katrina asked.“I mean, is there a flashing countdown timer on the drone, telling you the system is about to self-destruct, like in the movies?”
Seth exchanged glances with Jameson and Rhett before answering.“Giles Chambers, the lead engineer, was involved in the development of the anti-tamper subroutine.We believe he’s working with Chapman.”
“Does anyone else besides you have the anti-tamper code?”Katrina asked.
“Of course,” Seth said in confusion.“It would be stupid to have a code like that in the hands of only one person.The CEO of the Genesis Corporation has it, along with his lead software engineer, who created the AI processor.Their chief of corporate security likely has access to it as well.None of them are in the local area, though.They’re either back at the corporate headquarters in Boston or overseas somewhere.”
“So, you’re the only person with the code within a few thousand miles, a fact Chapman also knows, thanks to Chambers.”Darwin cursed, out loud this time.“When was the last time you talked to Chapman about the drone?And did he give any indication where he was?”
“I spoke to him about twenty minutes ago,” Jameson admitted.“He got angry at our refusal to meet in person to discuss his offer for the weapon, saying he could be here in a few minutes, so I assume he’s somewhere close.”
Darwin exchanged glances with Katrina before looking at Jameson again.“So, he knows exactly where you are?More importantly, he knows where Seth is, the one person who has the anti-tamper code?”
“I suppose I can see your point,” Jameson answered, glancing at his son before looking out the window at the gathering darkness outside.“Perhaps we should all go to the resort where there are more people around.”
“I agree,” Darwin said, pulling out his cell phone and sending a group text to Simon, Lennox, and the other guys, letting them know what was going on.“But if we find Chapman, we’ll need to keep him occupied until my Teammates arrive.If we time it right, we might be able to take him down ourselves.”
Jameson didn’t seem too happy with that plan, but nodded.
Darwin took Katrina’s hand, leading her toward the door of the conference room, when he heard a soft cracking sound.Instinct took over, and he pushed her to the floor, shielding her with his body.
“Everyone down!”he yelled, even as glass rained onto the hardwood floor around them.
Pushing himself up just enough to get a grip on the edge of the table, Darwin shoved it over onto its side, then urged Katrina behind it before popping his head up to see what the hell was happening.
Every window along the far wall had been shattered, and outside, he caught a blur of movement in the darkness.Well, it appeared that the drone was here.He guessed that meant Chapman had decided to end negotiations.
Silas lay on the floor, a bullet hole in his head.
Jameson was scrambling for cover, splattered with the man’s blood.
More bullets slammed into the floor and the top of the table, clearly aimed at Jameson and Rhett, while completely ignoring Asher and Upton, who were both scrambling for cover.
The edge of the table suddenly blew apart, peppering Darwin with splinters, and he ducked for cover with a curse.He’d assumed the drone had been ordered to kill Silas, Jameson, and Rhett since Chapman had known they were in the conference room with Seth.But clearly, the drone still had a hard-on for Darwin from when it targeted him on San Nicolas Island.
That was going to make things even more dicey.
Shit.
“Jameson!Rhett!”Darwin shouted as more bullets slammed into the table.“The drone is targeting the three of us.We need to draw its attention away from everyone else, so they don’t get hit in the crossfire.”
“Can’t we all stay hidden in here until the drone runs out of bullets or the batteries die?”Upton asked from where he was huddled on the floor behind the table.“Or call the cops, at least.”
“The drone carries three-hundred-fifty rounds of ammo,” Seth called out over the sound of bullets impacting the table.“And the batteries will last far longer than we will.As far as the cops, if Genesis deems they’re in the way, it will kill them before they even know it’s there.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when more bullets smacked into what was left of the window frames, knocking chunks of metal everywhere.The barely perceptible hum from the drone’s rotors was louder now.
Genesis was getting closer.
“That drone is going to be in this room with us in a few minutes, and then this table isn’t going to protect us anymore,” Darwin said.“We need to go!”
With help from Asher, Rhett, and Upton, Darwin pushed the conference table across the room, using it as cover until they reached the doorway.Then they all slipped out and headed downstairs.
“I don’t think we should split up!”Katrina said vehemently as Darwin hurried her toward the front door of the pressing shed.“There has to be a better way.”
“There isn’t.”Stopping, Darwin pulled her close for a quick kiss.“Besides me, that drone is locked on your father and brother.Chapman probably wanted them out of the way so he could get his hands on Seth.I need you, Asher, and Upton to get Seth out of here.Not only to keep those anti-tamper codes away from Chapman, but to keep the three of you from being used as bait to draw me out.”
