“Where is Alex?” Terra whispered. “Does he know she’s waiting?”

She didn’t hear the whispered reply. Was Alex avoiding her? She felt foolish for waiting here for him, but exhaustion overtook her before she had the presence of mind to leave.

Someone shook her, and she startled awake. Erin stood over her. Behind her, Nathan.

“Oh, wow. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep.”

“Someone is at the door for you,” Erin said softly.

“What? Who?”

Erin kept her eyes on Mackenzie as if to bolster her. “Someone official.”

“Oh, great. Probably more questions.” Or . . . someone to arrest her? She’d supposedly been cleared, at least for the moment. Light spilled through the windows. “What time is it?”

“It’s nine in the morning. You slept through the night on the sofa. We didn’t want to disturb you.”

And no Alex. Disappointment raked over her.

Erin brushed her bangs down a little, then smiled. “You look fine.”

If you say so.

Mackenzie plodded down the hallway to the door, leaving Erin and Nathan standing in the kitchen watching. Mackenzie opened the door, hoping that by some chance it was Alex who was standing on the other side.

But a man in a business suit stood on the porch. She didn’t recognize him.

“Can I help you?”

“Miss Hanson, my name is Mike Powers. I’m with the DSS, Diplomatic Security Services. I understand that we talked to you three years ago.”

Strange. “That’s right.”

“We’re interested in talking to you again about a position with our organization.”

“You must know about my background. That’s why you didn’t hire me before.”

“We now feel we could use you. We’re an elite organization, and we’re interested in hiring the best. I want to warn you that others will be knocking on your door as well—though maybe not literally, like I am right now. We’re in a time where we need the best cybersecurity experts we can get.” He handed her his business card. “I’m in cybersecurity investigations, as they pertain to international terrorism, and part of a joint terrorism task force operation investigating and searching for the cybercriminal you took down. I was called to the area yesterday as part of the task force—but things obviously escalated before we took action. While I was here, I wanted to meet you in person and give you my card. I just missed you at the county offices. I hope you’ll call me and we can schedule a time for you to come to DC for an interview.”

She stared at his card. “How did you find me?”