Camp Hayden was relatively small, which was one reason it was designated as a camp and not a fort. It was less than half a mile from east to west, and about a quarter of a mile between the main entrance on the south side and the north edge of the camp that ran along the foot of the low hills.
Beyond the western gate Brodie spotted tread marks and other signs of vehicle activity cutting across the sand, along with a large cluster of cinderblock structures and a couple of earthen mounds topped with walls of sandbags. That must be the camp’s training grounds. It appeared deserted.
In fact, the whole place seemed devoid of activity, other than the gate guards and the few soldiers and vehicles on the parade grounds. As Dombroski had said, the camp was completely shut down. Brodie hoped that included the thing that had crushed Major Ames’s skull.
As the Black Hawk made its approach, Brodie noticed three figures standing next to a parked vehicle near the helipad. Must be the welcome party.
In a few minutes the chopper touched down, and the pilots kept the engine running. Brodie and Taylor thanked the pilots and the crew chief, grabbed their suitcases from the back of the helicopter, and disembarked along with Major Klasky. As soon as they cleared the chopper it lifted off again, the crew not even stopping to refuel or take a piss.What’s the hurry, guys?
He now felt the oppressive desert heat and questioned his decision to look professional in his dark suit. He should have packed a tank top and his Tommy Bahama shorts.
Brodie watched the Black Hawk lift into the blue desert sky, and he wondered how long he and Taylor were going to be stuck in this godforsaken place. The answer was, as long as it took to find the truth. And then he and Maggie Taylor were getting the hell out of here—and taking the truth with them.
CHAPTER 6
THREE FIGURES APPROACHED ACROSS THEtarmac, all wearing desert fatigues. In the lead was a tall woman, early forties, with short dirty-blond hair and the rank of colonel.
Major Klasky saluted her, and Brodie and Taylor did the same. The colonel returned the salute and stopped a few feet from them. She said, “Mr. Brodie. Ms. Taylor. I am Colonel Elizabeth Howe, deputy camp commander of Hayden. Welcome. We’re glad to have you here.”
Colonel Howe had a bit of a flat affect, and Brodie wasn’t sure she was glad to have them there. He also wasn’t sure she wasn’t one of the robots.
Brodie replied, “Thank you, Colonel. We are very sorry for the loss of Major Ames and look forward to getting to the bottom of what happened here.”
Howe nodded, then gestured to the man to her right, who was in his late twenties and stocky, with dusky skin and short black hair. He wore sergeant’s stripes and a Military Police band around his arm. “This is Sergeant Hector Mendez, NCOIC of the MP team.”
Mendez nodded and said, “Welcome, agents. My team conducted the initial analysis of Major Ames’s office after the discovery of his body, collected physical evidence, and transported the major’s body to the morgue. We are available to you for whatever you need.”
Taylor said, “Thank you, Sergeant. I am sure we will draw on your expertise and resources.”
Brodie noticed that Sergeant Mendez did not use the words “crimescene.” So he figured he’d try it out himself. “Did your team take crime scene photos before the removal of the body?”
Mendez nodded. “Yes, sir. Though to be clear, we are not referring to this as a crime yet. That is, of course, for you to determine.”
“Right.” Generally, if someone intentionally cracks a guy’s head open, that’s a crime. But this wasn’t someone, it was something.
Colonel Howe gestured to the man to her left, who was around the same age as Sergeant Mendez and wore the rank of captain. “This is Captain Ed Spencer of DEVCOM, Major Ames’s direct subordinate. He assisted Major Ames, alongside a team of military and civilian scientists and engineers, to develop the autonomous weapons we are testing here. He will be your resource for the more technical side of your investigation, and a liaison to our own science and engineering team, as well as the civilian contractor responsible for assembling and programming our weapons systems.”
Brodie and Taylor greeted Captain Spencer, who was tall and lanky with light-brown hair and blue eyes. He had a pasty complexion, as if he didn’t spend too much time out in the desert sun. Captain Spencer said, “I worked closely with Major Ames on the development and testing of the D-17s.”
Taylor asked, “Is that the name of the autonomous weapons?”
Before Spencer could answer, Colonel Howe said, “Better that we show you what we have been working with here at Camp Hayden.” She gestured to a white Chevy Suburban covered in a thick layer of desert dust. “But first we can take you to your quarters.”
Brodie said, “Thank you, Colonel. But Ms. Taylor and I are eager to get started on the investigation.”
Colonel Howe’s left eye twitched a little, like she was about to have a malfunction. Then she said, “Very well.” She turned to Sergeant Mendez. “Let’s go to the Vault first, then to the lab.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Colonel Howe clarified to Brodie and Taylor, “The Vault is the facility where we house our autonomous systems.”
That was good marketing. A place called the Vault had to be secure, right?
Mendez said, “But first, I am afraid I am going to need to hold on to your cell phones for the duration of your visit.” He added, “Camp regulation.”
Captain Spencer assured them, “You wouldn’t have service out here anyway.”
Brodie and Taylor fished out their phones, then Brodie double-checked that he in fact had no cell service. He and Taylor gave their phones to Sergeant Mendez.
