Page 32 of In The Trenches (Owens Protective Services)

A car pulled in and three men got out, unloading some cargo. “Need a hand?” I asked them.

“No, we’re good. Sensitive instrumentation,” one of them said. “Are you Cash Owens?” I nodded. “Elliott Grady.”

“Good to meet you,” I shook his hand. A second vehicle pulled up with two more men. “Are they with you?”

“That’s my pilot and co-pilot.”

“One of my men will be going up as well.”

“That’s really not necessary,” he said quickly.

“If you want our services, it’s the only option,” I clarified.

“Fine, but he stays out of the way.”

I nodded in agreement, but Scottie wouldn’t be staying out of the way. Grady didn’t need to know that, though. “We’ve checked out the airport. Everything’s clear. The tower mentioned you hadn’t filed a flight plan.”

I wasn’t sure why, but that made me uneasy. Whether or not they were required to file, it seemed that on a job like this, they would want a flight plan filed.

“Honestly, to test this, it has to be on the fly. We need the targeting system to do its thing and allow the computer to work in conjunction with it. If we plan a specific route, the data will be skewed. We need to know that the equipment can work on its own.”

I nodded, glancing over at Lock. It made sense, but something still seemed off. Maybe it was all that time in the military that made me suspicious of anyone that didn’t follow every last procedure to the letter.

“Scottie Dog, go make sure the plane passes all inspections and…shit.”

He gave me a sardonic smile before saluting and heading off to the plane. I didn’t know shit about planes, but I knew they had to be cleared before takeoff.

“Mr. Grady,” I said, turning to the man beside me, “How long until testing begins?”

His brows furrowed as he pulled out his laptop. “I need to get set up. Calculations have to be very precise to get an accurate reading and ensure everything goes according to plan.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I watched him warily. “And where are you planning on flying?”

“Over the general vicinity.”

Lock and I exchanged looks, not liking this guy’s idea of a plan. “Sir, in order to ensure your safety, and that of your equipment, we have to have some idea of what you’re doing.”

“Mr. Owens, I think we have our wires crossed when it comes to what exactly your job is. I hired you for protection of the equipment. It’s not the plane I’m worried about as much as the programming. I can rebuild the equipment on the plane, but the software is something that can’t fall into the wrong hands.”

I knew this was a delicate situation, but he was making this sound like some kind of terrorist threat.

“Mr. Grady, if you want my people involved, you’re going to have to be a little clearer about what’s going on here. You made it sound like you were testing equipment. Why do I get the feeling that this is armageddon-style programming.”

He looked at me, his eyes hardening slightly. “Because it is.”

He glanced around and placed his hand on my shoulder, guiding me further from prying ears. “Mr. Owens, there are things I’m not at liberty to say without my employer’s permission. However, let me paint you a picture. You have a phone with facial recognition, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s supposed to be private to you, but the technology in your phone makes it possible for others to use that data to find you anywhere, anytime, and use that information against you. It’s your ID, but only so long as you control how it’s being used. Now imagine that technology like that was used on other things, more dangerous things…weapons. And in the right hands, that’s a powerful tool, but in the wrong hands, it means war. Believe me when I tell you, this is only the tip of what this technology is capable of.Thatis why I need you here, to protect the software which, if in the wrong hands, has the potential to start World War III, and tilt the odds against all of us.”

I gave him a stiff nod as he walked back to his laptop and got to work. I motioned Lock over, not trusting this guy one bit. “Something about this feels very wrong,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked out at the plane where Scottie was checking things over. “He’s testing something more dangerous than what he first implied. I want all eyes on him and his crew at all times.”

“You want to go through with the job?” he asked, not accusing, but curious.

“I’m not sure what his angle is yet. If he’s truly just testing this for the technology of using it in war, why isn’t he working with the military on this?”

“Because he knows damn well that the military would take over and seize all his prototypes and software. This is the government we’re talking about.”

---