demeanor melted. Panic emanated off Woody so thick she could almost taste it.
Ellyssa understood how he felt, her own heart pattered against her ribcage. Not from nerves, though, but from worrying that she wouldn’t find Rein in time.
She wished they didn’t have to go through the formalities of reporting, but if they didn’t, an alarm would sound. Any deviation from routine would end badly.
“Everything is fine,” Ellyssa mumbled from the side of her mouth to calm him.
Closing his eyelids, Woody inhaled deeply, and transformed right before her eyes. Calm Woody placed his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. His ability to hide his emotions almost matched hers. She shook her head in amazement.
The doors opened to an empty hallway with bare walls. Ellyssa stepped out and turned left. Woody followed. The hallway was long and narrow, with a big red door at the end and an
A few doors from the exit was Maintenance.
She knocked.
“Come in,” said a female, her tone pleasant.
Ellyssa opened the door to find a woman in her early thirties, standing behind a dented metal desk, her hand extended in greeting. The plaque on her desk said, “
“Miss Keller and,” she looked at a paper on her desk, “Mr. Mueller. I’ve been expecting you.”
Ellyssa shook her hand and stepped aside so Woody could do the same.
“Please, have a seat.” Mary indicated to the only two chairs. “There are only a couple of transfer papers to fill out, then I’ll send you to your shift managers to report for duty.”
Ellyssa smiled. “Thank you.” She took the seat next to Woody.
Mary eyed Woody’s backpack. “After you report to the crew leader, you can diposit your bag in the staff break room. He’ll show you where it is.”
Woody’s hand tightened on the strap, but he offered a genuine smile. “Thank you.”
“I’m afraid there won’t be time for introductions or a tour today. Inspections are being conducted in the morning, and it rests upon us evening workers to make sure everything is spic and span and running tightly.”
“That is fine. I prefer just to get started,” Ellyssa said.
“An eager beaver. I like that.”
Ellyssa and Woody wrote down the memorized information Leland had provided them without faltering. When they were done, Mary handed them their assignments. Ellyssa was to report to Mr. Baker on the second floor, Woody to Mr. Smith on L2, one level below them.
Leland was a genius.
“I do apologize that I’m unable to accompany you. But, as I stated, busy, busy, busy.”
“Maybe tomorrow, then,” said Woody, his tone suggestive.
The supervisor’s smile widened. “Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
Less than five minutes later, they walked back toward the elevators.
“Nice touch,” whispered Ellyssa. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Ellyssa pushed the up arrow and the doors slid open. She moved to enter the compartment, but Woody grabbed her wrist. When she faced him, he moved his hand to cup her cheek, his thumb smoothing away the worry. She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. Soothing.
“Please, be careful,” Woody said.
Lifting on her toes, Ellyssa placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “You be careful.”
“One hour.”
“One hour,” she promised, stepping into the elevator.
The doors snicked shut.
42
Ellyssa picked up a cleaning cart and strolled down the walkway, between partitions that separated six offices. It was an easy one-person task, but her assigned supervisor, Mr. Baker, kept following her, with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I understand your directions,” Ellyssa said, hoping her voice didn’t carry the irritated tension she felt. She pushed the cart over to a desk. “My previous employment was also cleaning.” She picked up a wastebasket and dumped the contents into the larger bin fastened to the end of her cart.
Mr. Baker smiled, flashing white teeth. “I have no doubt of your abilities,” he stated, but made no move to leave. His eyes followed her as she moved from desk to desk. He grinned, and his tongue kept darting out, wetting his lips.
Without further hesitation, she read his intentions as clearly as if he’d said them. He found her attractive and was trying to get up the nerve for small talk.
The supervisor’s choices were limited. He’d have to pick up on her hint, or she’d have to dispose of him.
Ellyssa hoped he’d make the right decision. She straightened and faced him. “I have a boyfriend,” she announced.
The smile disappeared. “Oh?”
It wasn’t really a question, and she didn’t bother answering.
Glancing at his watch, Mr. Baker said, “Well…I need to go upstairs. I’ll be back down in a few, and I’ll check on your progress then.”
“As you wish.”
Much to her relief, he left.
Ellyssa checked her watch. Ten minutes wasted. Time was ticking away. She left the cart next to the restroom and headed for the stairwell.
Stairs would only get her so far. The research labs and experiment rooms where she needed to go were below her and completely self-contained, like a separate entity from the main building, accessible by only one elevator, and that connected to Dr. Hirch’s office and to her old living quarters on the top floors. No ordinary personnel were ever allowed, Top Secret security clearance only.
She descended, slowly at first; but as she took step after step, her pace increased. The tap, tap, tap of her rubber soles meeting linoleum echoed through the enclosed well. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough to make her uneasy and create a desire to look over her shoulder.
She stepped onto the platform of the main floor and rounded the corner to the basement.
“Excuse me,” said a deep voice.
Her heart leapt.
Breathing in, she turned to face a tall, muscular man wearing a grey uniform. Static from the handheld radio secured to his utility belt squawked. Relief swept through her as she realized he was just a security guard, and not a trained
“May I help you?” she asked, her voice higher than usual.
“I’ve never seen you before.”
“I am new.”
“May I see your identification?”
“Of course.” She handed him her fake credentials.
“The stairwell is off-limits during evening hours,” he stated, eyes flicking from her to the card, “Miss Keller.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t informed.”
