“She has the physical drives, too,” he muttered, his hands shaking.

“The proprietary codes for the structural sensors.”

“Everything we built for the north-side corridor.”

Julian stepped beside me, his presence tall and imposing.

“We know,” Julian said.

“That’s why we’re here.”

Adrian looked at Julian, a flicker of resentment crossing his face before the panic returned.

“You have to help me,” Adrian pleaded, looking at me.

“If she leaves with those, Bennett Urban Systems is bankrupt by Monday.”

“I have nothing left.”

A security officer began walking toward our group, his hand resting near his belt.

“Is there a problem here, folks?” he asked.

Julian stepped forward, pulling a gold card from his wallet.

“Julian Vance,” he said, his voice smooth and authoritative.

“We are here to meet a passenger before her departure on flight 208.”

“There is a matter of corporate theft currently being processed.”

The officer looked at the card, then at Julian’s face.

He recognized the name.

“Follow me,” the officer said, turning toward the fast-track security lane.

We walked past the long lines of waiting passengers.