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Oregon,” she said, her tone sounding skeptical. “The second professor was shot superficially in the. . .buttocks.”
    â€œOuch. Been there. Let me guess, you don’t think this was your typical home invasion.”
    â€œNo, Jake, I don’t. Their lab was also trashed and their computers stolen.”
    Jake hated to think this, but if he had to bet, it sounded like some intelligence agency. “Who do you suspect?”
    â€œThat’s the problem, Jake. It could be anyone.”
    â€œIt sounds like you need to make sure the FBI investigates this,” he said.
    â€œThey’re not even looking at it,” she muttered, a lowering of her head as she shook it back and forth. “They consider it a local law enforcement problem. And, of course, the Agency doesn’t operate within our borders.”
    Not officially, he knew. But the lines between domestic and foreign intelligence seemed to be fading with each year.
    â€œWhat do you want me to do?” he asked her.
    â€œI want you to find this other professor, James Tramil.”
    â€œFind him?”
    â€œYeah, he went missing,” she said. “He’s a smart guy and came up with the same conclusion I did. Reported the link between his shooting and the lab destruction to the campus police and the Corvallis cops. Of course they didn’t see it his way. I think he’s on the run with his research.”
    Jake thought that over and had to admit this technology could be significant, assuming it worked as advertised. “You’ve read the patent application,” he said. “Do you know the significance?”
    â€œI think so,” she answered. “It sounds like they can take a small projectile, launched from anywhere in the U.S., and have it hit with GPS accuracy anywhere in the world.”
    It was even better than that. “Exactly. It’s a nanotech weapon sent at hypersonic speed. The actual warhead, if you want to call it that, could be the size of a bullet, but could take out a tank. . .or an individual, depending on needs. This would make our strategic Air Force obsolete, our nuclear arsenal a relic, our overseas basing unnecessary. Some Air Force captain sitting in a bunker could assassinate the leader of Zimbabwe with a push of the button.”
    She seemed to sink deeper into the Town Car leather seat. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    â€œWhy isn’t the military all over this?” he asked.
    â€œDARPA has been trying to recruit those two professors for years, but they were both staunchly independent.”
    Suddenly a muffled sound started coming from the back of the car, followed by more vehement pounding, startling the congresswoman.
    â€œIs that my driver?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, we should probably let him out.” But he ignored the pounding for a moment and continued. “What do you want me to do with this professor once I find him?”
    She looked puzzled. “He’ll have to be debriefed by our military intelligence and the Agency.”
    What she meant was detained for his safety and stashed away to do his research in seclusion. He would be no better than a prisoner punching out license plates, and lose all rights to profit from his patent. Well, that and his ability to kill one despot or millions of people with the press of a button. Jake guessed the guy had first started off by trying to eliminate the need for nukes. But in the end he would simply replace the unthinkable with the possible.
    â€œWhat are your current rates for consultation?” she asked him rather sheepishly.
    He hated this part of his consultation business. After the past few deals, he really didn’t need the money. But to keep things legit, he needed to be compensated in some way. “Let’s worry about that at a later date. You don’t want me to be linked to you in any way at this time.”
    â€œRight. Especially after that video from your