Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“Good point.” Walter’s eyes narrowed. “Swelter’s too dumb to be from a planet smart enough to create a warp drive that would get here.”
Laurel’s eyebrows lifted. “Warp drive, huh?”
“Well, sure. Isn’t that how they’d get here?”
“Actually,” Laurel said, leaning forward, “if they did come here, it’s more likely they’d have found a way to manipulate space itself by using quantum drive, or something along those lines. It wouldn’t be about speed. It would be about bending space, making two points touch for just a moment. Like folding paper so the ends meet. It would require incredible amounts of negative energy or something even more advanced—possibly by manipulating dark matter. Theoretically, it’s possible.”
Walter grunted. “That’s not warp drive.”
“Exactly.” Laurel’s focus remained on the screen.
Walter moved to the next podcast. Tyler’s voice continued with its erratic rhythm, but his topic had shifted.
“This one’s all about the conspiracy,” Tyler said, his tone dropping into something almost gleeful. “Big oil, folks. Gas prices are just one piece of it. They control the supply, they control the demand, and they control the narrative. And nobody is asking the right questions.”
Walter shook his head. “He’s losing it.”
“Maybe, but he’s trying to make connections,” Laurel said. “Even if they’re the wrong ones.”
Walter clicked to another clip, his jaw tight. Tyler’s voice filled the room again, but the pacing was different. Slower, as he interviewed somebody.
“Is it that Tim Kohnex?” Laurel asked, her hand frozen midway to her mouth, popcorn forgotten.
“It is,” Walter said, turning the volume up.
Tyler sounded oddly restrained, his curiosity tempered by something that almost resembled respect.
“So, I am psychic, and I can prove it,” Kohnex said, his voice smooth and confident.
“How so?” Tyler asked, his tone carrying both skepticism and excitement.
“You have a brother.” Kohnex’s voice was calm. Unnervingly so. “He’s in the FBI. Correct?”
Tyler’s jaw dropped, his eyes wide. “How did you know that?”
“You’re all but broadcasting it,” Kohnex said, his smile faint but sharp.
Walter’s head snapped toward Laurel. “How did he know that? You didn’t even know that.”
“My guess is he researched all of us.” Laurel’s voice was tight, her gaze fixed on the screen. “His interest in our little team is much deeper than I suspected.”
“Our team? You mean you?” Walter’s tone had a sharper edge now.
Laurel didn’t argue.
Walter clicked to the next podcast, where a pale Tyler said he’d found the biggest story of his life. It was one that could involve a lot of people and danger. He leaned in close to the camera and said that an attack was coming and he’d have proof soon.
The screen went black.
Walter groaned. “That’s it? The kid didn’t have any more information?”
“Hey, you two.” Nester’s voice cut through the quiet. He jogged down the hallway and burst into the conference room, his phone clutched tightly in one hand. “I just got a camera hit on the black truck that rammed into you. The front end is all warped, and I can see bullet holes on the hood from where you returned fire.”
Laurel’s attention snapped to him. “Where?”
Nester sucked in a breath. “The footage is from the traffic cam at the base of Stony Mountain. It’s only about a half hour away from here. I’ve notified Agent Norrs in Seattle, but he’s a good two hours away.”
Walter’s gaze sharpened. “Then we can’t wait for him. I’ll go and report back in to you.”
“No.” Laurel stood. “This is my case, too. They shot at both of us.”
“They shot at you.” Walter’s eyes narrowed, his tone dropping. “Wear a vest.”
She didn’t have time for this. “You wear a vest, too.” She spun on her heel and rushed into the back room, her steps rapid and precise. Her fingers trembled slightly as she yanked open the cabinet, grabbing two Kevlar vests. She shrugged one on over her sweater, the cold, heavy weight pressing against her chest. The fabric was stiff, resistant, but she forced it into place and zipped her jacket over it.
Walter took the other vest without a word, yanking it over his broad shoulders and fastening the straps with the efficiency of someone who’d done it a thousand times before.
Laurel clipped her weapon into a leg harness, her fingers moving quickly and surely. She double-checked the fit before strapping a backup pistol to her ankle. The weight of the weapons sharpened her focus.
“You good?” Walter asked, his eyes already darting toward the exit.
“I’m good.”
Nester hustled up, his arms full of printouts. “I’ll let Norrs know you’re both en route and you’ll probably beat him there. I’m sending these to your phones, but I thought you’d want to see.” He slapped the pages on the table and pointed to a highlighted map. “This mountain only goes up so far and then winds around toward Genesis Valley, going down the other side. He could head into Canada, but right now, he’s closer rather than farther away.”