Page 15 of Cole

"Wants a security system for his new house. Massive place, from the photos Sadie pulled." Cole closed the tablet and tucked it into his flight bag. "Probably overkill for what he's asking, but it's his money to spend."

Sadie emerged from the equipment room, carrying a hard-shell case containing the camera gear and measuring equipment he'd need. "I pulled the property specs. Twelve thousand square feet. Sits on forty acres backing up to protected wilderness. He wants full perimeter coverage, interior monitoring, panic rooms, the works."

"Panic rooms?" Cole raised an eyebrow. "What's he afraid of?"

"Bears?" Sadie's grin was quick. "Or maybe just paranoid rich guy syndrome. Either way, he's paying premium rates for LSIMT's expertise."

Logan handed Cole a folder. "Contract's inside. Standard assessment terms. You do the walkthrough, take photos, document what they want and what's feasible. Bring it back here, and we'll design the system."

"Then we contract the installation to a local company?" Cole flipped through the paperwork, scanning the details.

"Already vetted them. Apex Security out of Fairbanks. They do good work, and they're discreet." Logan’s lips tightened. “Penson wanted us for the whole installation. He’s been informed that’s not what we do.”

"Right." Cole had heard this speech before. LSIMT designed security systems for high-end clients who wanted the best, but they didn't handle the physical installation. Too time-consuming, too much liability, and it pulled the Keepers away from their primary mission. "Assess, design, supervise installation. That's the deal."

"Exactly. Penson tried to push for more, but Mary held the line on contract terms." Logan's lips twitched in what might have been amusement. "She's very good at that."

Cole grinned. If Mary negotiated the contract, it would be airtight. "Weather window's closing. I need to get moving."

Cole grabbed his gear and headed for the Cessna. The preflight check went smoothly, and twenty minutes later he was airborne, banking northwest toward Alaska. Below him, Montana's mountains gave way to forests, then to the vast Canadian wilderness. The storm system stayed visible to his right, a dark mass rolling across the interior, but his flight path kept him well ahead of it.

Hours later, he touched down in Fairbanks under clear skies. The temperature had dropped twenty degrees from Montana.

He picked up his rental SUV at the airport and plugged the address into his GPS. Charles Penson's property sat thirty miles outside town, accessible by a private road that branched off the main highway. The drive took him through country that reminded him of home, all rolling hills and dense forest, except bigger somehow. More vast. More empty.

The house appeared suddenly around a curve, and Cole had to give Penson credit for one thing… the man had taste. The structure sprawled across a cleared hilltop, all natural wood and stone, and glass that reflected the surrounding wilderness. Modern architecture blending with traditional Alaskan building techniques. It was impressive, even to someone who'd seen his share of expensive properties.

A man in his fifties waited on the front steps as Cole pulled up. Tall, fit, tan. His handshake was firm, his smile in place.

"Mr. Iverson. I’m Charles Penson. Thank you for coming all this way."

"Not a problem." Cole hefted his equipment case. "Beautiful property."

"We think so. My wife fell in love with Alaska on a cruise five years ago. When the mining operation took off, building here seemed like the natural choice." Penson led him inside, through a soaring entryway with timber beams and a chandelier made from antlers. "I want this place to be a sanctuary. Completely secure. No threats, no worries."

Cole set down his case and pulled out his tablet. "I understand you're looking for full perimeter coverage, interior monitoring, and panic rooms?"

"That's right. Money's no object. I want the best system available." Penson gestured expansively. "Motion sensors, cameras, the works. Maybe even drones for aerial surveillance."

"Drones are tricky in this terrain." Cole made notes on his tablet. "Weather conditions, wildlife, trees… these are all factors that limit their effectiveness. We can discuss options, but I'd recommend focusing on proven technology first."

"That's why I called you people. Lighthouse Security Investigations came highly recommended." Penson poured himself a drink from a bar cart, but didn't offer Cole one. "Though I'll be honest, I don't understand why you won't handle the installation yourselves."

Cole had given this speech before. "We're specialists in system design and security analysis. Our team has backgrounds in military special operations and intelligence work. We know how to assess threats and design comprehensive protection. But the actual installation work of running cables, mounting hardware, and programming systems is a different skill set. We contract with vetted local companies who specialize in that work."

"Then why are you so highly recommended if you're just going to farm out the actual work?"

The question had an edge to it, a challenge. Cole kept his expression neutral. "Because we're the best at what we do. System design isn't just about putting cameras in corners. It's about understanding how threats develop, how intruders think, and where vulnerabilities exist that most people never consider. Our designs have protected embassies, government facilities, and high-value targets in hostile environments. We bring that expertise to civilian security design."

Cole let that sink in for a moment, then added. "You either want that level of expertise, or you don't. Your choice."

Penson studied him over the rim of his glass, then smiled. "Of course I want you. That's why I'm paying your premium rates."

"Good. Then let's get started."

They spent the next two hours walking the property. Cole documented everything, including sight lines, approach routes, blind spots, and existing security measures. He took hundreds of photos, made detailed notes about the terrain and vegetation, and measured distances and angles. Penson trailed along, occasionally pointing out features he wanted covered or asking questions about capabilities.

The house itself presented interesting challenges. All the glass made for spectacular views but also created vulnerabilities. The panic rooms Penson wanted would need to be retrofitted into existing spaces, which would require structural work beyond a typical security installation. The perimeter stretched across forty acres of wilderness, much of it heavily forested, a terrain that would require careful sensor placement to avoid constant false alarms from wildlife.