Crockett tossed him an acknowledgement nod. Wilde Innovations’s bugs were half the size of the inch-and-a-half beetles. That alone could secure this lucrativedeal.
“The one that’s been perched on my head is designed after the Moth Fly.” Crockett activated the third insect, but it wouldn’t budge. With a steady hand on the tablet, he tried again. Still, no movement.Dammit. This had never happened with any of his surveillancedevices.
“I’ll be darned.” The Surveillance Program Manager craned to see. “Has that been in your hair the wholetime?”
He set the bug on the table in front of him and hoped no one would ask him why he hadn’t flown it there. “It’s mission critical that these devices mimic real insects. We’ve camouflaged them as much as possible. The challenge slowed down the prototype, but we worked out the kinks.”Or so I’dthought.
“Great job,” said the Contracting Officer between wheezybreaths.
Signaling an end to the demonstration, Crockett landed Black beside Horse in the center of the table. As casually as possible, he slipped Moth into his suit jacket pocket. If anyone asked him to fly that insect, the most important surveillance opportunity of his career would crash before it gotairborne.
“You’re welcome to handle them.” Crockett picked up Horse and passed it to the Deputy Director. “These UAVs—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles—are sturdier than they look, but if they get crushed underfoot or wheeled by a tire, we lose a $65,000bug.”
“No kidding.” She turned the drone over and examined his underside. “I would have guessed these cost sixfigures.”
“They did, but after several iterations, along with retooling the manufacturing, we reduced cost without sacrificing quality,” Crockett explained. “Everything we produce at Wilde is American made andassembled.”
The Program Manager placed Black in his palm, then removed his glasses to examine the insect up close. “Impressive.”
These bugs weren’t life-size replicas, but they were as close as Crockett and his innovators could manage, yet still design a powerhouse machine that would act as the undetected eyes and ears of surveillanceagents.
While the tiny equipment was passed around and examined against the current working models, Crockett redirected the discussion to better understand the agency’s needs. The conversation lasted all of ten minutes. Vague summed up that portion of themeeting.
Crockett rolled back his chair. While today’s attendees had shown keen interest, this was step one in a three-part process. And each round would be more grueling than the previous one. Though Crockett had secured a contract for his Spy Flies with another government entity and several law enforcement agencies, doing business with the FBI had always been his primarygoal.
Unfortunately, the agency’s vendor award could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The wheels of bureaucracy moved too slowly. He bit back the rising frustration and forced asmile.
After a round of handshakes, Crockett retrieved their cell phones from his safe, and delivered his guests to the elevator bank. Only Danny stayedbehind.
“Thanks for pulling this together.” Crockett patted his cousin on the back. “You know the players. What’s yourtake?”
“They were impressed and that carries weight. I know you’re pushing for these to hit the streets—like yesterday—but there’s a lot of moving parts.” Danny paused for several seconds, his expression growing somber. “I’ve heard back fromforensics.”
“About the girl’sremains?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s talk in myoffice.”
The two men, looking more like brothers than cousins with their dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, strode down the hall to Crockett’s corner office. After closing his door, Crockett leaned on the corner of his large, somewhat cluttered desk and crossed his arms. His pounding heart thundered in his ears.Please don’t beher.
With his back to his cousin, Danny stared out the window of the Crystal City building as the steady stream of planes landed at Reagan National Airport. After a moment, he said. “It’s notSophia.”
Hope, mixed with the familiar feeling of frustration, leapt from Crockett’s guts. “Confirmed?”
Danny turned to face him. “Dentalrecords.”
“This is goodnews.”
Danny’s phone rang and he silenced it. “I’msorry.”
“Don’t be.” Crockett pinned him with a hard stare. “That means she’salive.”
Danny’s brow knotted, but he stayed silent. Crockett knew all too well what his cousin wanted to say.“Just because we haven’t found her remains doesn’t mean she’s still with us.”But Crockett believed his sister was alive. That single hope kept him from going insane. His fingers ached from gripping the desk and he pushed off the sturdy furniture. “I’m relieved, but we’re no closer to findingher.”
“It’s a big world and a cold case. She was abducted a long time ago,Crockett.”
For thirteen years his pain and anger had festered. A sore that wouldn’t heal until Crockett found her. “How’s Allison?” Crockett purposefully changed the subject to Danny’swife.
