Page 111 of Misdirection

There were too many unknowns right now for Olive’s comfort.

She used her badge to unlock the computer and then began to slowly work her way through the files. Duncan had said all the information on this smart dust wasn’t there. That fact brought her some comfort.

“Why are you doing this?” She clicked through several screens to get to the right one.

“I’ll never have the chance to make this kind of money again ever. I’ve worked hard for my entire life with nothing to show for it. Now I can give my wife the retirement she deserves.”

“But people have died.”

“And I regret that. I really do.”

“I didn’t see you as the type to chase money. I thought being a good person was more important to you.” She clicked on another page as she tried to buy more time.

A snarl entered his voice. “I see these rich executives come and go every day, barely giving me a glance. You were probably the only one who even knew my name. You don’t think I work just as hard as they do? But I only get paid a fraction of their salary. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”

“I understand your frustration.” She hit another key on the keyboard. “But are you really willing to sacrifice the safety of the world for your own comfort and pleasure? How long do you think that comfort will last? Sure, maybe you can take your wife to an island to retire. But when the world begins to implode around you, you’ll find yourself wishing you were just working a simple job with a simple retirement.”

He paused, and Olive wondered if her words had gotten to him.

Then he muttered, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do. I guess the people you’re working with didn’t explain to you what they wanted and what this technology is capable of. How dangerous it is. Why else would they want it?”

“It’s just some silly technology.”

Olive turned toward him, realizing she had his attention now. “It’s not some silly technology. This smart dust has the ability to carry pathogens that could make a lot of people very sick very quickly.”

Doubt flashed in his eyes. “You’re bluffing.”

“Why would I bluff about something as dangerous as this?”

He paused before asking, “Why would someone even create something like that in the first place?”

“If you ask the team at Conglomerate, they’ll tell you it’s because they want the ability to take out villages where enemies are hiding. But, of course, when this smart dust was originally created, they planned to use it to record data like weather so they could help with crops. But all good things can be used for bad in the wrong hands.”

“The US government will figure it out,” Sonny finally snapped. “They always do.”

“Every great nation will eventually fall. You really want to be part of that narrative?” Olive glanced back at him.

Another moment of doubt raced through his gaze. Then his eyes hardened.

“We’re running out of time. I know you’re trying to get into my head.” He stepped closer and pressed the gun into her back. “Do what I told you to do. You’re not going to change my mind.”

Olive paused on the screen where she needed to enter her code. She wouldn’t go any further than this. “I’ll never do what you want me to do.”

Then she braced herself, waiting to see if he’d pull the trigger again.

Olive kept her eyes on Sonny. Just beyond him, she saw movement.

Her breath caught.

Was that Jason?

It was.

He was here! Whatever had happened with Adriana, he was here now. And he was okay.

Relief swept through her, but she didn’t let it show.

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