“What if the bots get into the robotics? They’re a type of robot themselves, right? Why couldn’t they infect the robotics handling the samples.”
“They could,” Embray admitted. “We’re hoping they won’t, as they haven’t done this yet during Faith’s experiments.”
Hope wasn’t a winning strategy.
Did the dude have any other tactics in mind? Cosky and Wolf had expressed faith in Embray’s intelligence and strategic thinking. The world could use some of those characteristics now.
“It would help,” Embray said absently, still staring at Lurch, “if we knew who created these things and could get a look at their programing.”
Now that was something Aiden could get on board with. And he knew a potential suspect to investigate. “What do you know of Nantz Technologies?”
“You mean Clark Nantz?” Embray turned his attention to Aiden. “I’ve met him, several times. The guy’s savvy. Why do you ask.”
“There’s a possibility he may have been behind the testing in Karaveht and on my team.” Aiden explained about the cameras and the orders for continuous video footage.
Embray’s forehead wrinkled, his chrome dome shining beneath the lights. “Clark doesn’t have the knowledge or training to develop something so revolutionary.” He paused, before adding slowly, “Although he could have hired someone who does. Nantz has a knack for identifying and recruiting top tier brain talent. That’s how he built his empire.” Another pause, a longer one. Embray’s eyes narrowed. “The guy’s cold. Like dead cold. Money, power, and status appear to be the only things thatmotivate him. I could see him behind something like this. That weapon would be a gold mine if the programming had stuck.”
Aiden thought that over. Nantz seemed like a good place to start searching for answers. “Can you get me in to see him?”
He could tell a lot while questioning a suspect.
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Embray said. “When do you want the meeting?”
Chapter forty-one
Day 41
Washington, D.C.
After six weeks of searching for Aiden Winchester, the sole survivor of his NNB26 Karaveht prototype testing, Clark had never envisioned that the SEAL would walk into his office on the heels of Leonard Embray.
Two other men in off-the-rack suits, with the telltale bulge of holstered sidearms beneath the lazy fit of their jackets, followed Embray into the room. Both men assumed watchful positions on either side of the door. Embray’s bodyguards.
He’d heard that the billionaire founder of Dynamic Solutions didn’t go anywhere without them.
“We appreciate you meeting with us on such short notice.” Embray crossed the luxurious carpet to where Clark awaited him in front of a pair of deluxe armchairs.
Clark forced his eyes away from Winchester’s poker face to shake the hand Embray offered him. Winchester didn’t offer anything, other than icy eyes and a hard face.
“Please, have a seat.” Clark gestured toward the armchair to his left. He glanced at Winchester, and the three bodyguards. “My apologies. I didn’t realize this meeting would need to accommodate so many. There is a conference room down the hall. We can adjourn to there if the lack of seating is an issue.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Embray declined the offer with a pleasant smile. “We won’t be taking up much of your time.” He turned to look out the window behind the chairs. “This view of the Potomac River is quite lovely. But I’ve heard the views from your office in the Nantz Building are nothing short of spectacular. I was hoping to see it for myself. It was a surprise to find you’d moved Nantz Technologies to a different office complex.” He turned back to Clark with an inquiring tilt to his head. “Are you selling the property? If so, I may be interested in making an offer.”
Clark forced out a breezy laugh. “No, no, the building isn’t for sale. I’m simply converting it to condominiums. The view is spectacular, too spectacular to be available only during office hours.” He snuck another peak at Winchester’s flat face. “Let’s jump right to it, shall we? What can I do for you?”
He’d almost refused the meeting when Embray’s request had come in. Between the runaway bots, his infected computer system, and thecreaturestrying to escape the basement, his life was just too chaotic to focus on networking.
But eventually his business sense kicked in. One did not refuse a meeting with the owner of Dynamic Solutions. Not if they wanted to prosper. Meetings with Embray could leadto collaborations, and alliances with Dynamic Solutions always led to money. Lots and lots of money. His bank accounts had declined rapidly, thanks to TermX. Embray’s connections could help fill them back up again.
So, he’d accepted the meeting request, only to watch Winchester’s menacing presence follow Embray through the door. What a shock. A momentous one. There was only one reason Winchester would show up at his office.
He knew.
Or at least suspected that Clark had been behind the testing in Karaveht. He obviously didn’t have proof to support his suspicions though, otherwise he’d have brought the police.
Surreptitiously, Clark studied the SEAL. Winchester didn’t look infected. He didn’t have that vacant-eyed, stand-and-stare vibe that Comfrey and her assistants shared. Nor did he exhibit the frenzied violence of the Karaveht subjects.
Good lord, the man looked the picture of health.
