“I’m not that girl anymore.”
“You are tonight.” Without giving her a chance to respond, I slinked my way to the side of the building and jumped to the neighboring one. Summer followed.
We checked our watches and marked the time on them. In ten minutes flat, the fireworks would begin. I would be one of the revelers looking for a party and use the others as my cover to disappear behind the stairs and down to the dungeon to free my captive teammates. My stomach felt queasy, and I swallowed over and over again.
Summer would be the second wave, coming in full force with several weapons to clear our exit if needed. I was nervous about counting on her since we’d never worked together before, so I went forward thinking it was all up to me. If she happened to contribute something, all the better. I had to be ready and prepared for the worst. And the worst on this rescue mission was to be alone. Minute movements of the crowds caught my attention and for the first time that night, I smelled the sweet and savory smells associated with a festival.
I didn’t know if I could live with the loss of Jeremy and Ace. That’s when it hit me again that I hadn’t seen Halluis. They must have him in a separate room, interrogating him. I couldn’t stand the idea that he was being tortured as we spoke. Especially since he was there because of me.
I slipped into a store and grabbed some items to create a crazy outfit: feathers, a rainbow scarf, and a bright yellow, tight-fitting dress. I also picked up some knickknacks to give out as invitations to the “party”. Then I bought some sparkler-like fireworks from a street vendor, lit one, and went to work. I found the loudest, most outrageous group of party-goers and ran in front of them. “You all look like you would appreciate a private showing and party! What do you say?”
They all looked at each other and then said, “Yes! Yes!” I handed out ten purple Eiffel Tower key chains as invitations.
“Show up at that building with the white stoop in exactly five minutes.” I pointed to the building where my team had been chained up.” Don’t be early and don’t be late. The owner of the gallery is very picky. Don’t make me look ridiculous for inviting you.”
Their eyes widened.
Then I laughed and said, “He will totally love your outfits. I think they just might earn you the pass into the Dungeon. Only about fifteen people make it into the Dungeon each year. He never issues invites until a half hour before the event, and he sends me out to find the best and brightest. I choose you. Now I only need to find five others.” I consulted my watch. “Oh, shoot. Now I only have four minutes.” I hurried away and invited another five to the “event” and then put on my drunk persona and joined up with some awfully drunk people walking down the path on a collision course for the pickpocketing boss’s house. “You guys know anywhere I can take a pee?” They all shook their heads.
“Not around here. Just pee in an alley.” They laughed.
“No way! Oh man, there’s a good building. I think I went there last year. Really nice and really great, clean bathroom.” I had a lot of fun slurring my French words like a drunk would as I linked my arms through two other people’s and led them up the stairs of the white stoop just as the groups of gallery hopefuls showed up. Once they realized this place had no art gallery and no public bathroom, they’d be gone in a flash, so I’d have to be fast. “See, you guys, they love to open up their doors for the festival.” I pushed on the door and everyone flooded in. “Head upstairs, everyone,” I called out. Once they were all inside, I let myself be pushed to the back corner of the stairs, but there wasn’t a staircase going down, and I couldn’t see a door that led to one. I’d overheard those men when they’d been in this exact area, and stairways were typically stacked in these old houses. The entry had to be along one of these walls.
As the partygoers started to climb the stairs, I took the opportunity to push along the stair wall in hopes of finding a way to the hidden basement. I was sure security would be at the top of the stairs and stop their progress, so I didn’t have a lot of time. In the far back corner, I pressed on the wall, searching for a hidden switch. It finally paid off as I pressed on a particular spot in the faux wood paneling, and a false wall opened. The door swung inward. I watched as the last of the visitors headed up the stairs before I went through the doorway. Surely the guards wouldn’t hurt the party-goers. They’d simply escort them out.
I made sure no one was on the steps then disappeared down the stairs to the basement. Just as I reached the bottom, I heard a huge boom, and the ground shook a little. Summer did not go small, that was for sure. At least I hoped the boom came from her fire. The two guards in the guardroom had to have been lured out by now if they hadn’t already. That meant no one would be watching me go to the basement.
I sprinted across the cold cement floor to where the agents hung on the opposite wall and immediately set to freeing Jeremy.
“You made it,” he said, his voice weak.
“Nice outfit,” Ace croaked. “Sorry. I didn’t bring any sweets with me.”
I grinned, then cried out in dismay as Ace’s eyes rolled back in his head and his whole body went limp.
“I’m going to get you guys out of here. Where is Halluis?” I
