Zack wasn’t sure if the bright track star with blue streaks in her blond hair was being serious or sarcastic, which was often the case. He knew from previous conversations that she wasn’t a fan of corporate America and distrusted the government, which seemed to be a common theme of her generation. But he didn’t think she’d gone full-blown social justice warrior. Sam was more complicated than that, and Zack was one of the few people that recognized it and treated her accordingly.

“He mentioned something about building a corporate office for five thousand people just outside our community. Sounded like a good idea,” Zack replied with a straight face.

Sam studied him for a moment. “Hope so. Maybe they’ll bring drones. I’m sure the residents here would love to have a drone army buzzing about all day and night.”

Such a perfect delivery. A world-class expert in reading people, Sam always eluded him. “You know I’m kidding, right?”

“And you know I already knew that, right?” Sam shot back. “You know, for a defense contractor, you’re pretty gullible.”

“Got me again, Sam,” Zack said. Changing the subject, he asked, “What kind of trouble are you getting up to this weekend?”

Sam smiled. “Parents went to the lodge for the three-day weekend,” she said, referring to the three-thousand-square-foot “lodge” in the Appalachian Mountains that her father, an executive with a major bank in Crystal City, had purchased right after moving to Hidden Refuge. “They gave me a choice—a quiet weekend trapped with them and nature, or stay home and survive on my own. Guess which one I picked?”

“You think you’ll make it to Monday? If not, text me, and I’ll send help.”

“Thanks. You’re a real stand-up guy, Mr. C. And I figure I’ll have a raging party with a lot of illegal narcotics and alcohol. But don’t worry—I’ll keep the guest list to under two hundred.”

“Sounds quaint,” Zack replied. “Have fun.” He turned toward his front steps and paused. “And Sam, I don’t work for the defense department. I run a company that develops new technology. The DOD is just a customer.”

Sam seemed to ponder the question, her mistrust of the behemoth Defense Department on her face. “Is there a difference?”

“Definitely.” If you only knew the half of it . . . “Have a good night, Sam. And seriously, call if you need anything. Steph and the kids are gone, and I’ll be working all weekend.”

“You got it, Mr. C. See you soon.”

Zack waved, climbed the steps, and put the key in the top lock, his mind already reviewing the steps he needed to take over the next several hours. Tomorrow had to go smoothly, or there’d be problems—lots of problems.

Chapter Three

ChapteR
THREE

falling rock elementary school

four miles from hidden refuge

5:46 p.m.