But then again, Dufor had found the courage to seek Division out and ask for help despite his fear. If I gave up, it would be letting him down all over again. He risked his life to stop something terrible and I wasn’t about to let that go to waste.
My team talked, but I didn’t hear. They wrote plans on the whiteboard, but I was lost in thought. I curled my fists and set my jaw. Yes. I’d messed up, but I was not going to let this mission fail. I couldn’t. Someone had been willing to kill to keep this information secret. There was no way I was going to let them win. But what could be done? A solution presented itself and I didn’t like it one bit. I had to at least suggest it. If there was a problem with the plan, my team would find it. I stood up straight, took a deep breath, and thought to myself, I can’t change what happened, but I can influence the future.
I cleared my throat, then said, “I think I know how we can do this.”
Rosabella shifted in her seat. Ace leaned his head to the side, and Halluis stared at me, lips pressed tight.
“The only sure way in is through the vents. I know we very briefly talked about it before we started this mission, but just hear me out.” I pointed to the schematics on the screen. I could see the questions forming in their minds. “Halluis will need to shut down the laser security running through them, and Ace will need to create something to disrupt the cameras that will hide me—er—whoever goes in. And whoever it is will have to be fast. We can’t have the alarm systems down for long, or it will be noticed.” They were all staring at me. I hoped they were analyzing what I’d said and realizing it was the only way.
“It is the only way we could circumvent the tricky alarm system,” Halluis spoke up. “With the guards, the optical scanners, coded entry, and all that, there is no way through the main doors. This solves all those problems. Lasers I can take care of.” There was renewed hope in his eyes.
“I have just the right thing for redirecting the cameras and security,” Ace added. “And I know just the right little girl to get in that ductwork.” He gave me a sly smile.
Rosabella raised an eyebrow. “And you know I’m the best leader around, even if forced to direct a troublemaker like Christy.” A smile played at the corner of her lips. “It’s got to be you, Christy. I can’t think of anyone else at Paris Division small enough to fit into those vents, and it would take too long to get someone else here who would fit. Will you be able to control that claustrophobia of yours?”
They turned to each other and Ace continued, talking as if I wasn’t even there. “And Siron did say she wanted this done tonight.”
Their eyes found me again.
A grin spread across my face. Smiles filled the room, and Halluis even chuckled.
Tiny flutters filled my chest. They were taking a great risk on me, and right after I’d totally botched the mission. I looked at my feet. “I think I can. I have to. And thanks, guys. Seriously. I won’t let you down.” My eyes flicked back up, and they all moved to pat me on the back and give encouraging words.
“We all mess up some times.”
“No one’s perfect.”
“It wasn’t totally your fault.”
“I’d have probably done the same thing you did.”
I didn’t agree. It was my fault. And Siron had been right. Had I only stayed with Dufor, I could have protected him, and he could have made a new drive. It had been foolish to go after the drive and leave him unprotected. A terrible thought entered my mind. What if I had stayed with Dufor and hadn’t been able to stop the murder? Which outcome would have been worse?
The mission plans made it to Siron’s desk in under forty-five minutes.
Chapter 3
Recorded satellite imaging of the building over the last week showed the guards doing somewhat random walkthroughs at quarter-hour intervals. Unfortunately, start times varied and they began their rounds at one of three times: a quarter past, half past, or a quarter to. It was smart to have such quasi-random security sweeps. I’d just have to be aware of the times the guards could come and get out fast. The real restraint was the laser security in the ducting. Halluis had been unable to find a way to override the system for longer than twenty minutes.
I donned a black cat suit compliments of Ace, enjoying the soft, elastic feel of the fabric on my skin and especially on my feet. The grip on the footies would help me climb down the two vertical portions of ducting I needed to get through.
“The suit will act as the jammer we need to hijack the cameras and put in our looped feed,” Ace explained. I could tell by the slightly higher pitch to his voice that the excitement of me using the suit for the first time was making Ace a bit giddy.
“Can’t wait to see your baby in action, eh, Ace? If this works, I’ll have to take you to a café, and we can drink eight-euro sodas together.”
“I’m going to have to take you up on that. Maybe then the mystery of it will dissipate, and you won’t feel the need to mock the cafés of Paris.”
“It’s highway robbery, seriously.”
“It’s the ambience you’re paying for, my dear. Not a meager soda.” Halluis spoke in his native French language, and it sounded beautiful.
I crouched on the roof just to the side of the vent I was supposed to enter, waiting for word
