While I waited for their feeds to reach my Q1 screen, I tapped some keys to let the supercomputer’s intrusion software hack into the central security systems. That took about eleven seconds, and then I owned the place. I set all the hallway cameras to record video loops that were keyed to sensors in my clothing. As soon as I approached the operational range of the cameras, the prerecorded loop would kick in, which meant I’d never appear on the monitors in the security office. Stealthy is my middle name.

The same sensors were on Ghost’s harness in case I had to send him wandering off without me.

I knelt and gave Ghost a few short commands. One of which was Pax, Latin for “Peace.” It meant that for the duration of the mission, and unless told otherwise, he was not to kill anyone. The staff here were not our enemies. If any of them got hurt during this invasion, then it was on me. I was okay with breaking and entering, but I wasn’t looking to spill innocent blood. Ghost was a very smart and very well-trained combat dog, and he would follow my orders.

While I waited, I deployed the other kind of drones, the Killer Bees. These were a bit larger and fitted with tiny dart shooters filled with Sandman. I’d have gone with Murder Hornets as the name for them, but I don’t hold the patent.

The feed from the Busy-Bee drones came in and told me that there were nine security personnel actively walking the halls, three on duty in the monitoring office, five more in a lounge watching a DVD of the latest Marvel movie, and ten sleeping in a pair of bunkhouses. It was a large staff. The bees also confirmed that there were thirty-nine inmates in the various cells scattered throughout the building. None of the prisoners were named in the computer records. That was fine.

My informant said that Casanova was in cell number 13. I thought that was funny. Unlucky 13.

I clicked through the various feeds to put eyes onto the facility staff and get a sense of them. Then I froze when I saw a group of people standing in one of the remotest hallways. There was an older man—tall, blond, square-jawed, wearing an excellent suit. Beside him was a slightly shorter man with darker hair who held the hand of a very pretty woman. Two kids stood in front of them, and the woman had a small but noticeable baby bump. A big puppy with a goofy grin sat between the kids. They looked directly up at the swarm of drones. As if they could somehow look through the bees to see me.