She slowly exhaled her relief, but it was short-lived. Anxiety prickled her skin. Physically breaking into this restricted area was pushing the danger and risk to the next level.

“I’m in this with you to the end, Mackenzie. How about we spin this tale another way. How about I’m a hero who helps you save the day.”

She laughed. Actually laughed. “I like the sound of that, but is that realistic?”

“Let’s not worry about it yet. Besides, how are you going to get into that system?”

She gave him a look, but he was focused on the road. “Really?”

“You need to think about this. What about your career? This could tarnish your reputation, and this time, it won’t go into a sealed vault or be expunged.”

“I’ve been thinking about it since I left Michigan. Why do I care about that when we’re not safe? Nora is being held hostage by an invisible force, and I’m going to free her.” And myself. “This is about cybersecurity, Alex. No one with security clearance—the cybersecurity group—has caught the threat. I’m the person to do this, and there isn’t time to wait for permission.”

He didn’t respond, and she wondered what he was thinking, but she let him focus on the curvy mountain road until he approached the drive into Hanstech.

He slowed to a stop near the entrance and sighed. “What about the game? Let’s check the game before we do this.”

“We’re here. Think about it, Alex. It’s almost as if this door has been opened for us. But if you don’t want to go . . .” To sneak into a sensitive area. A small thrill coursed through her. The same thrill she’d gotten as a kid when she held power over others through criminal hacking. She banished that thrill into the recesses of her mind.

Lord, help me. I don’t want to be that person. I’m not that person.

Guilt and shame from her past invaded her thoughts and heart.

No, no, no . . .

But she needed to forgive herself.

Alex drove into the parking lot and headed for the front of the building. “If anyone is going to see what’s down there, it’s going to be me.”

“And you can’t get down there without my help, so I guess we’re good to go, then.”

He parked and turned off the car. “I want to see what Hanstech is actually doing—you know, the stuff they don’t publish in their brochures or put online for the public.”