Most of Jon’s day was filled with bringing Kelsey up to date on all of Sky Masters Inc.’s projects and programs, a chore that Jon actually found beneficial. Since very few engineers at the company could match Jon’s intelligence and innovation, Jon rarely talked to others about his projects— when he needed input or help, he usually had to spend more time explaining what he was trying to do. Not so with Kelsey. She listened intently, rarely took notes, could speed- read a page of engineering data in just a few seconds, and always asked intelligent, relevant questions—not just on the basic science, but on future applications or future directions to push the research. Jon found that explaining a project to Kelsey actually helped him rethink the problems and discover a new approach to solving a dilemma or impasse.

Today was the most exciting day for Kelsey—actually going out to the flight line to see some aircraft. Cheryl’s only reason for going along, other than the fact she wanted to be with her daughter as much as possible, was that she had spent so long getting her special Top Secret security clearance that she thought she’d better use it. Now she was regretting that decision. They had flown the company jet from Arkansas to Tonopah Municipal Airport, and then loaded up into a company Suburban for the drive out to the Tonopah Test Range, sixty miles to the southeast along narrow, winding, cracked roads.

“I thought we were going out to Groom Lake,” Cheryl said perturbedly.

“Not likely,” Jon said. “Heck, it took me a year to go out there—and I designed a lot of the stuff they were testing out there! Helen is one of the senior engineers at the company and has been for years, and she’s still never been there! As rough as you might think the security is here, it’s nothing compared to . . . well, out there.” It was obvious Jon was uncomfortable even saying the words “Groom Lake.”

“Security is not just a procedure out there, or part of the cost of doing business—it’s a way of life.”

“So how did that Soviet spy make it in there?” Cheryl asked. “How did—?”

Jon suddenly turned, stepped right in front of Cheryl until he was just inches from her, and held up a finger right in front of her face. “Cheryl,” he began, his voice quiet but deadly serious. His eyes were affixed directly on hers, and it shocked and surprised her. “You have got to learn something right here and right now: We don’t talk about stuff like that. No one does. Not here, not at the company, not anywhere, not anytime, to no one. No one”

“It’s no secret, Jon—”

“Cheryl, listen. . . .”

“Jon, I heard all about it at a bar in Nashville, Tennessee, during a space technology conference,” Cheryl Duffield said with a nervous smile. “Why, I even heard—”