“That was when he started planning his death,” I said.

“He realized his research had turned his own daughter into a lab rat,” Mara said.

We merged onto the dark lanes of the highway, heading south through the Jersey rain.

The headlights of the oncoming traffic cast long, distorted reflections on the wet road.

“He tried to stop it,” Mara said. “But your mother wouldn’t let him.”

“Why does she care so much about the program?” I asked. “She is my mother.”

“She is a partner in the firm first,” Mara said. “She believes the research will change the nature of modern warfare.”

The dashboard clock glowed a pale green.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my military-issue phone.

The screen was dark.

“Is your phone off?” Mara asked, looking over.

“Yes,” I said. “I took the battery out of the burner, too.”

“Good,” Mara said. “If they track us, it will be through the car’s transponder.”

“Can we disable it?” I asked.

“I pulled the fuse before we left the cabin,” Mara said.

I looked at the glove compartment, then back at my phone.