Biker's Claim The Broken Angel is Mine (Cora and Jake) novel Chapter 63

Chatper 63

Cora POV

Oddball surprised me, but by asking me to join him in the meeting, then later at lunch, when he put me in charge of the information correlating, along with Hacker, I felt useful, giving meaningful information, and ideas that could be used, not just a nod that they had half listened to me, but actually heard and expanded on, never in my personal life had that happened before.

It was euphoric, like a dream come true.

To be heard.

To be seen.

To be allowed to contribute.

To be part of a team.

f

If you asked me what I ate for lunch, or what it tasted like, I would have trouble telling you. My mind was busy talking with Hacker, and the act of eating and swallowing was more of a habit, an unconscious act of satisfying my hunger in the stomach, while Hacker filled the hunger in my mind.

Gunner was a little bit off, as much as I was invested in the investigation, giving me what I needed to keep my mind off my own personal troubles, and to get some justice for all those hurt or killed. I noticed a

shadow of sadness in Gunner’s eyes. If I hadn’t spent so much time with him, I might have missed that

flicker of sadness, the past through his eyes, sporadically, like a memory coming to the surface and being

pushed back, something that disturbed him deeply, but hiding it well. I wonder if it’s a club secret or something he could talk about and ease the horrible memory that he carries with him.

Gunner and Oddball returned to Oddball’s office, while I tagged along with them just long enough to collect my laptop, snag a quick kiss from Gunner and return to Hacker’s office. My mind is still on that ghost of sadness that sits in his eyes. I wanted to hold him and chase that ghost away.

“Cora, look at this. These are drones I have been tinkering with. I have not had many opportunities to take them out and test them, but they have a longer range than the ones you can buy in stores or online. I have added the thermal imaging and other little added surprises.” I was watching some footage Hacker had from one of his trials using the drones and trying out the thermal imaging and distance. One was going straight up till he started to get blurred images, then brought it back down, never losing contact.

“How many have you made?” I asked, looking at different images on screen at the same time.

“That’s what I have been working on. One can talk to the other, and I can send a drone far beyond its manufacturer’s distance. By piggybacking on the next drone’s signal, I can send out six drones, each relaying the lead drone’s image back to keep it clear. I can send the drones out from here, miles away to the next town and beyond, using this piggyback system. I don’t need to send men out to hide nearby and concentrate on the drone. I can send the drones out and manage them right there in my office, and the

Chatper 63

*25 Points

men can stay close, like at the nearest truck fuehstop, enjoying a coffee and a chat, but ready to move in when we spot someone in the trees who shouldn’t be there, and looking suspicious.” Hacker continued his commentary as he sent out drones to demonstrate what he was trying to convey. On screen, they were marked 1-6, each with its own small image at first. Somehow, as the first drone ran out of image, the second drone showed both images: one of it hovering in the sky and the one the first drone was seeing, relaying both back.

“You don’t need to go further. I get what you are saying, and it’s good, scary, but good. The drones‘ batteries are beyond average, too. I guess, for you, sending them out so far, and for a long time.” My eyes are still glued to the huge screen, and the images on it, how clear they are, and the one he put on thermal was amazing. As I watched what I assumed were rabbits moving about and birds in the trees, it all seemed clear. I never thought that the thermals would pick up small animals. Hacker must have improved that, too.

“It started a few years ago. We had some guys on the side of the road, broken down, and I sent out the drone to see how they were, but the drone couldn’t go that far. It spurred me to build a better, stronger one that wouldn’t fall out of the sky in the wind. That was hard to make happen because of the drones and the wind. Wind was the hardest to overcome, but I think we can safely say the drones can handle some wind and rain.”

“Are they waterproof?” I asked in shock, my mouth dropping open.

“Yes, and no. They don’t like being submerged in water, but a small shower or light rain won’t harm them.”

Hacker continued to concentrate on returning the drone’s; it didn’t take long, and they entered the open

window and landed on the empty table.

I moved to pick one up for a closer look. The drone/was heavier than I expected, but I guess that’s part of why it can take some wind. I had a friend who loved flying drones, and I could tell just by looking at them that these were very different in aerodynamic shape and size from the ones I had seen before. They had a

mini solar panel on the back of them.

“You are a genius. They recharge themselves?” I complimented him as he plugged in his drones.

“A little, they will run out eventually. They chew the power faster than the solar panel can recharge them, but enough to extend the flying time, and I am working on improving that.”

“How about a small dynamo that can recharge on the rotation of the propellers?” I suggested, noting that each had six propellers capable of generating a charge.

“Interesting thought, will give it a try. I need to build two just for that experiment, one with no solar panel and one with both, and see how that goes. Thank you. I knew you would have ideas to share.” Compliments from Hacker were a huge reward, someone so brainy, I’m in awe of his talents.

Hacker worked on his analysis and returned to the spreadsheet as new information came in, narrowing down the days and times when shooters were most active.

An sss came in, flashing across the screen.

Chatper 63

$25 Ports

Ms Saunders, we would like you to attend a forum we are organising called ‘Make our park friendly!‘ Your suggested changes have been well–received, and we would like you to serve as a guest speaker, answering any questions from the board and the public regarding the proposed changes. The forum will be on Monday, at seven o’clock, at the town hall. Please RSVP by return email!

I forwarded the sss to Oddball and Gunner. They both needed to know what was going on.

“Hacker, read this.” I turned on my laptop so he could read the sss.

Hacker whistled, his face lit up.

“Is that the response to your complaint?”

“Yes, I have mixed feelings about this, like it’s worded complimentary, but could they be luring me out, so they can publicly roast me?” I didn’t trust them; I guess trust in anything was lost, to me.

“I hear you, and we shall be there with you if you decide to go. You know you don’t have to.”

“Right, like they can use my refusal against me. No, I need to attend and be ready for backlash. Hopefully, Gunner can be there with me.”

“Try and keep him away. No way will we let you go alone. Did you send this to Oddball?”

“Yes, and Gunner.”

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