Free Fall

Eighty-One

Weld County, Colorado

Sirens from the ambulances rushing Seth and Veyda to the hospital faded in the distance.

At the scene, the two NTSB investigators began examining the laptops.

Chet Meyer had established an open line to NTSB headquarters in Washington while Jill LaRose studied the damaged computers with the aid of the FBI, who’d quickly taken video records of the aftermath. Both devices were blood-splattered, cracked and chipped from the takedown.

But both were still in contact with the satellite connection.

“They’re both functioning,” LaRose said.

“Is there anything you guys can do to undo what they’ve done?” Varner asked.

“Depends,” Meyer said, then, to LaRose, “Jill, can you read what’s running?”

“It’s- I don’t-” She began looking at the open files and online links, struggling to decipher the complexities of the content and codes. “It’s there, but it’s so complex, Chet, I think it’s beyond me.”