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Jack stared at him. He couldn’t say he was shocked, or surprised. He’d expected it, unfortunately. He nodded slowly. “We knew when Crossfield made his move that it would be soon.”
“Which means the AI will be powered and the Chameleon nanotech, if it exists, functioning,” Lucas pointed out. “Taking it apart will be impossible if it escapes.”
Jack’s gaze narrowed on Ian.
“We have someone that will be able to keep it stationary and deactivate it if we can reach it before it reaches full power,” Kira said as she stepped forward, her expression firm, determined. “We have to find that AI before that happens.”
“According to Crossfield, I meet the employer just before daybreak in the morning. I’ll be bringing Poppy here this evening. You’ll have to make sure she stays,” he told Ian. “If anything happens to her…”
“Don’t,” Ian warned, his voice low. “I know what losing her would mean for you, Jack…”
At that moment, a strident notice of a text came through on Ian’s smartphone. Frowning, he pulled it from his pocket, his face hardening as fury flickered over his expression.
Jack looked at the screen and felt that presence of danger he’d been feeling for days wash over him.
You’re out of time, Mr. Richards. The unit is in place. All parts are assembled. Power capacitors will be operational soon.
Ian stared at the text message in shock, his gaze jerking to Jack’s. Turning his attention to the phone, Ian typed in his reply.
Your time line said at least two weeks further! Ian typed quickly.
And unfortunately, I was wrong. Assembly has been completed. Power is attached.
Where? Where can I find it?
Ian pushed his fingers through his hair as Jack stared at the message, barely holding back the need to take the phone from Ian and throw it at the wall.
Location unknown at this time… Warehouse facility… Civilian in danger… Find the warehouse. You should hurry, Mr. Richards.
Who is the civilian?
Her name is Porter. Poppy Octavia Porter. You should hurry… Before she dies.
His head jerked up, his gaze connecting with Jack’s. For one second, two.
Jack’s gaze went from merely calm—not unemotional, but not exactly readable, either—to pure, stone-cold killer. His eyes became icy blue, his expression hardened to granite.
“You have a tracker on her phone?” he asked Jack.
As he spoke, Jack was pulling his phone free of his vest.
“I have her last location. The exit I was directed to meet Caine at tomorrow.” He turned, gesturing to Lucas before striding quickly away.
“Why would she be there?” Ian questioned quickly.
Jack thought desperately. His mind going over everything she’d said that morning and the night before.
“She brought a briefcase home with her. She would only be there if it was business-related,” he told Ian. “We’ll ride to the exit. Get one of your men to the house to go through those papers. See if they’ll give us a clue about where she was heading.”
He didn’t have time to wait.
“Jack, wait.” Ian jumped in front of him, blocking his exit from the room. “I need that fucking location…”
As Ian spoke, his phone buzzed with a message. Looking down, he saw the message box and location attached. When he looked back up, Jack was racing through the door with three other former SEALs on his ass. And Ian knew that if he didn’t hurry, this was going to be bad. Very, very fucking bad.
She was groggy.
Poppy felt awareness slowly awakening inside her, and with it the knowledge that she was in serious trouble.
