She stiffened. “You think?”

“Did he take you somewhere to replace your protein shake as an apology, then strike up a conversation and leave after having secured a date?”

Ari’s eyes went big. “Yeah. That’s exactly what he did.”

I finally said what I’d been thinking. “Textbook. If I’d been in his shoes and trying to infiltrate your life, that’s exactly what I would’ve done.”

“Infiltrate? That sounds so deliberate. You think it was planned from the beginning?”

I threaded my fingers through hers. “You were a target. He followed a set MO that worked the way it was supposed to. None of that is something you could have foreseen.” I paused, something else occurring to me. “Did your nanotechnology friend know about the facial-rec software project?”

Ari bit her lip as she considered. “Yeah, he did. We’d talked about applications and how to create an interface that could be used for public safety.” She turned toward me. “How did I not see this? He must have told someone, and Carlos swooped in and played me like a complete idiot.”

I plucked her laptop off her lap and pulled her into my side. “It’s not your fault. This isn’t something you should’ve or would’ve seen coming. There’s too much good in you to recognize motives like that in people who come across as straightforward.”

She craned her neck to look at me. “Says the former cop to the hacker. Don’t you think I should’ve suspected?”

“No. Why would you?”

“Because I didn’t have a lot of guys coming around trying to take me out on dates. After the first one, he got a little more aggressive, making sure he could fit into my schedule.” She shook her head. “I thought it was just the cultural difference, but now I realize it was all motivated by something completely different. And then he’d disappear for a while and pop back in, checking on my progress by casually bringing it up on another date. Gah, it makes me feel so stupid.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “There’s no reason to feel stupid. None.”

She stiffened. “I wonder if he’s behind the hacking attempts? It would be logical. Shit. What if he was trying to get his hands on the software before I figured it out?”

“Were the attempts successful?”

Ari shook her head. “No, but they were aggressive, smart, and targeted. God, it makes total sense now.” She grabbed her laptop and resettled into her position, her fingers flying. “Now I’m even more determined to figure out what this asshole is up to. He’s not going to take my technology and turn it against the people I created it to help. No way in hell.”

For Ari’s sake, I hoped he didn’t have the chance, but there was no telling what the cartel could accomplish in that short time.

With her lost down the rabbit hole of cyberspace, I thought back to when everything happened with my brother Robin. He was killed in the line of duty, and when the department said he was dirty, my father retired from the force rather than fight to find out what really happened.

Then I went digging, even though they wanted me gone. That’s when I found out, just over a year ago, that my father had let Robin take the fall for his actions.

Or so I’d thought. Could Robin have been dirty too?

It seemed like a twisted and knotted mess that was impossible to untangle. What was the truth? Why did they do it? With both Robin and Dad gone, I couldn’t ask them.

When I pushed off the bed, Ari glanced up. “What are you doing?”

“Going to call my mom on the secure line in the panic room. See how she’s doing.”

She smiled. “Tell her I said hi.”

I smiled back, but it didn’t remove the rock from the pit of my stomach. What does Mom know?

I left the bedroom and headed for the closet where the panic room door remained open. I picked up the landline and dialed my mom’s cell number, kicking myself for not thinking ahead and giving her a burner phone.

She answered on the third ring.

“Hey, Ma.”

“While I live and breathe, it’s my son calling.”

“How’s Vail treating you?”

“Oh, you know, just staring at the mountains and contemplating the meaning of life while I drink coffee and wish I had some answers.”

I huffed out a forced chuckle. “Sounds a little like what I’m doing.”

“Any news? What should I do with the house?”

“I’ve already got a line on a cleanup crew to remove the rubble soon. There wasn’t much that could be salvaged.”

“I figured as much.” Her tone was quiet and resigned.

“I know, but at least insurance is taking care of that part of things so you don’t have to worry about the cost.”

“That’s a relief at least.” She paused. “How are you doing, Rhett? I know being back there can’t be easy after . . .”

Some things moms just know. “It’s not bad. I’m . . . dealing with things.”

“You know, when you left, part of me was happy that you were getting out. Breaking the mold. I didn’t want to take the chance that I’d lose another son.”

It surprised me to hear her say it, especially when I didn’t just leave, I cut my family out of my life for a solid year.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have turned my back on you and Dad. I couldn’t—”

“You don’t have to say it. I understand. Your father had to know that by going down that path, it would cost him, even if he didn’t see it when he started.”

My mother’s words made me wonder again if she knew more than what she was saying. “What happened? Do you know? Did he tell you?”

Her end of the line went quiet for several moments. “I don’t know much. He shielded me, or at least he tried. But there were things that didn’t make sense. Money that would magically show up and I was expected not to ask questions, so I didn’t. Rhett, as much as I wish you could uncover evidence showing this was all a setup, I think the further you dig into this, the more you’re going to find that isn’t true.”

I attempted to swallow over the lump in my throat. My father’s image had already been tarnished by the evidence, but hearing it come from my mother was a sucker punch to the gut. “What money?”