The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Chloe followed Gavin out. “But you're the boss, aren't you? That doesn't apply to you.”
Gavin laughed. “Everyone answers to someone,” he replied. “And our security protocols apply to me, just like they do to everyone else.” He paused where Chloe would turn to head to her own desk. “I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the company,” he said. “This doesn’t have to be only a summer job. I want you to learn about the industry and decide if you think it might be a good career choice for yourself. Then, maybe down the road, I can hire you permanently.”
“That's great,” Chloe said.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked.
She wanted to press him about the basement, but could feel that it wasn't the right time.
“No, not that I can think of.”
“How's your first day going so far?” he asked. “Anne get you all set up?”
Chloe nodded. “Oh yeah.” She glanced purposefully up at the clock on the wall. “But my lunch hour is up, so I better get back to work.”
“Wouldn't want to get on the bad side of the boss.” He grinned.
“Right. I hear he's a real task master.”
Gavin laughed. “Well, you know where to find me,” he said. “And I'm serious. If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask.”
“Right.” She gave him a thumbs up. “Thanks, boss.”
He turned and headed toward his office and Chloe went the opposite direction. Her heart still pounded at the memory of the vision she'd had, the one that had hit her so intensely, she knew . . . she knew . . . that she was on the right track.
Ethan was here. And she had a feeling, a very strong feeling—so strong she knew it was more than an ordinary feeling—that he was somewhere in the basement.
She ached to rush down there. To break down the door—every door—until she found him. But she knew she couldn't.
She'd promised the others, after all. Not to do anything stupid.
And every fiber of Chloe's being was telling her going into that basement alone would be very, very stupid.
So, instead, she went back to her desk to check her to-do list for the day . . . and count the hours until she could talk to the others. Because Chloe had a plan. Well, the beginnings of a plan, anyway. And she'd need the others to work it out.
They were going to break in.
And they were going to bring Ethan home.
When Gavin got back to his office, he sat in his chair for several minutes, pondering his situation. Then he made a call.
“Yes?” a voice answered.
“We have a situation,” he replied. “I think it's time to bring Chloe Blake in.”
“That—that's not what we discussed.”
Gavin ran a hand through his hair and got to his feet, pacing the floor. “I realize that, but it may soon be out of our control. She got downstairs today—”
“What!”
“Don't worry, she didn't get off the elevator,” he said in a rush of reassurance. “But she definitely had a reaction. A rather strong reaction.”
The line was silent for a long moment. “And you think—”
“I think . . .” What did he think? Gavin was in uncharted territory now, but he had to do something. “I think we might need to tell her everything.”
“That could be a big mistake.”
“We may have no choice in the matter,” Gavin snapped. “She's obviously been led here. And, apparently, her gift is still calling the shots.”
“So you tell her, and then what?”
Gavin sat down and leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the desk. The leather creaked.
“Then . . .” he said. “The choice will be up to her.”
He held his breath, waiting for a response.
“I'll talk to the board.”
He exhaled, slow and steady. “Thank you,” he said.
“Don't thank me yet. This could all blow up in our faces.”
The line went dead and Gavin tossed his phone onto the desk.
He knew it was true. But he was also beginning to realize, when it came to Chloe Blake, he was quickly running out of options.
Chloe tried a few more times that week to access the basement at Warden Security, but with no luck. Her keycard didn't allow her access, and although she'd spent a few lunch hours riding up and down in the elevator, she didn't have a repeat of the episode with Gavin. Apparently, no one left the basement for lunch, or if they did, they had another way to do it.
After much discussion and more than a little shouting, the Order finally agreed that their only option was to break in to Warden. They decided Friday night—well, early Saturday, actually—would be the best option, since the building would most likely be empty, except for the security guard. And Maia would be their answer to him.
Invisibility had its advantages.
“I still think you should let me come with you,” Dylan muttered. They were all huddled in a bus stop shelter a block down from Warden Security, trying to avoid the driving rain of a summer storm. The drops were huge and warm, the air electric, and in the distance, a low rumble of thunder rattled the glass.
“We talked about this,” Chloe said. They'd decided that Chloe had to go in, since she was the one who knew her way around the building. Beck would come along for muscle, just in case, and Maia would keep them all invisible. Wren, Dylan, Miranda, and Tru would wait outside.
“The fewer of us, the better,” Dylan said, obviously repeating what he'd been told over and over. “I just don't get what we're supposed to do out here.”
Miranda tapped on her laptop from her seat on the bus stop bench. “We're keeping watch,” she said. “If they set off any alarms, we are the diversion.”
“Great,” Dylan grumbled. “And how are we supposed to divert anyone?”
Tru held up her hands, ribbons of light twisting around her fingers. “I can think of a few ways,” she said. The ribbons flew out and wrapped around a garbage dumpster in the alley behind them, dragging it forward about a foot. She grinned triumphantly.
“Between all of us, we'll figure it out,” Wren said. “Miranda's got her police scanner app going. I can slow things down if needed. And if all else fails, we have your shield.”
“So, I'm the last resort,” Dylan grumbled.
“I didn't say that—”
“Oh, for God's sake.” Chloe threw up her hands. “You guys will need to be flexible. Let us know if there are any problems out here and we'll do the same from in there.” She pointed toward Warden. “If we need your help, we'll call.”
Lightning flashed and Beck frowned up at the stormy skies. “We couldn't have picked a better night for this?”
Chloe sighed. “It sucks. But I think—I think tonight is our best opportunity. I can't explain why—”
“You don't have to,” Miranda said, still typing on her computer. “We all get it.” She looked up, enveloping the whole group in a significant glance. “Right?”
As one, they all nodded.
“Let's go get him,” Beck said.
Dylan stood and slapped him on the shoulder, but his eyes were on Chloe. “We've got your back.”
She nodded, suddenly choked up, but swallowed and fought the sting of tears. “Okay, let's do it.”
She and Beck joined hands with Maia, and Chloe could tell by the vacant look in the others' eyes that they had disappeared. It was strange. As long as they touched Maia, they could see each other, but nobody else could. Chloe wondered if it had always been that way, or if Maia’s gift had developed over time.
Before she could ask, Maia said, “Come on,” and led them away down the sidewalk.
It took no time at all for the rain to drench them. Chloe's hair dripped in her eyes, and she used her free hand to shove it back, her clothing wet and heavy and shoes sloshing as they tried to avoid puddles and failed. They climbed the steps toward the front door and even though she knew th
ey were invisible, it gave Chloe a little shock when she didn't see their reflections in the glass doors. With one last glance at the others down the street, she peered in at the security guard.
“He goes on rounds at the top of the hour,” she said, checking her phone for the time. “So it should be any minute.”
“And you're sure he starts on the fourth floor?” Maia asked.
Chloe nodded. “He did each night I worked late. It was only a few times, but I figure it must be his routine.
“I hope you're right,” Beck said quietly.
They waited as the seconds ticked by, and then, finally, the guard stood up, hitched up his pants, and walked down the hall.
“Give him a second to get on the elevator,” Chloe murmured, counting to herself. Then, she pulled out her keycard and pressed it to the pad.
“Aren't you worried they're going to know you were here?” Beck asked as he held the door open for them.
“We don't really have a choice. It's the only way I can think of to get into the building,” Chloe replied. “Besides, if this works, it won't matter.” She shot him a look. “And it's going to work.”
They walked down the hallway, past the elevators, and came to a stop at the security door at the end of the hall.
“And you're sure this is the way?” Maia asked.
“No,” Chloe admitted. “But it's the only thing that makes sense. We can't take the elevator. My keycard won't work. But there have to be stairs going down. I mean, what if there's a fire or something?”
“The stairway for the rest of the floors is at this end of the hall, but they end on this floor, over there.” She waved to the door a few feet away, clearly marked Stairs.
“There has to be a stairway leading to the basement, and this is the only place where it could be,” she said.
“So how do we get in?” Maia asked, examining the keypad. “Do you know the code?”
“Umm. No.” Chloe glanced at Beck. “I guess you're up.”
“You want me to break down this door?” He looked skeptical, but Chloe noticed his hand was already glowing.
“Nothing quite so violent,” she replied. “Just try the knob, maybe?”
Beck nodded and reached for the doorknob, his hand pulsing with bright, white light. He turned the knob, there was a loud pop, and the door opened. They waited, eyes darting around, waiting for an alarm to sound, but everything was quiet.
“Well, that was easy,” Beck said, pushing the door open slowly. He peered in and nodded back at the two of them. “Looks clear to me,” he said. “And you're right, there are stairs.”
They emerged onto the landing of a dimly-lit stairwell, one set of steps leading down to the right. Chloe felt a burst of excitement at the sight.
“This is it,” she said, unable to keep back a smile.
The stairway was empty, but they both held on to Maia, just in case. Chloe was certain the halls were probably monitored by cameras, and they didn't dare risk being seen. Quietly, they made their way down the stairs, only to come face to face, with another security door, and another keypad.
“Crap,” Chloe muttered. “These guys really take their security seriously.”
“Well, it is a security company,” Maia said. A little needlessly, in Chloe's opinion.
“Should I—” Beck gestured to the door.
Chloe shrugged. “By all means,” she said. “Unless anyone has another idea?”
Nobody did, so Beck once again grabbed the door and wrenched it open.
“It's weird there's no alarm,” Maia said, her whisper echoing through the concrete stairwell. “Do you think they have one that's silent?”
“Could be,” Chloe admitted. She checked her phone, just to make sure there was no message from Miranda saying the police had the place surrounded. “Guess we'll have to be quick.”
“This is soooo stupid,” Beck said as they walked into the darkened room. “So stupid.”
Chloe had to agree, but since they had no alternate plan of action, she didn't comment. Dim blue lights flickered as they walked into the room, a large laboratory of some kind, with computers scattered on tables along two walls and pieces of machinery in various degrees of completion in the center of the room. A large, yellow robotic arm stood poised in one corner, and there was a rack of electronic components tucked into an alcove on the opposite wall.
“Where to?” Maia asked.
And that was the question, wasn't it? Chloe closed her eyes, trying to focus on that inner voice. It was quiet, but she could feel it guiding her forward.
“This way,” she said, leading them through the lab and out the door on the other side of the room. They walked by the elevator, eyeing it nervously as they quickened their steps, and passed another, similar lab—the one that Chloe had seen on her first day. Her stomach swooped at the memory.
She led them through a maze of hallways, the feeling inside guiding her forward, until they came to another security door. This one was bigger, thicker, and instead of a standard keypad next to it, it had some kind of scanner about mid-way up the wall. Chloe pressed her keycard to it but, unsurprisingly, nothing happened.
“I don't think it's a keycard scanner,” Beck said. “I'm no expert, but I think maybe it's retinal?”
Chloe deflated. “Well, there's no way my eye's going to open that,” she said.
Beck reached for the doorknob, his hand glowing, but as soon as he touched it, the light went out.
“Huh, that's weird,” he muttered. He pulled his hand back, and the light returned, but as soon as he touched the door, it flickered out. He tried to twist the knob, but it wouldn't budge.
“I'm afraid your gift won't open that door,” a voice said from behind them. With a gasp, Chloe whirled around to find Gavin James standing behind them, flanked by three burly men dressed in black fatigues. Her eyes immediately went to the weapons holstered at their hips and she squeezed Maia's hand. They were trapped. There was no way to get around them.
“I suggest you show yourself,” Gavin said. “We have ways of disrupting your gifts, as you can see, but I have to tell you, they can be unpleasant.” He winced to emphasize the point as the men around him drew their weapons.
After a moment, Maia let out a heavy breath, and Chloe could tell by Gavin’s expression that they were visible once again.
“How—” Chloe’s voice cracked and she swallowed. “How did you find us?” Her mind immediately went to the others waiting outside. Why hadn't they warned them? Were they hurt?
Gavin shook his head. “Invisibility is great,” he said, gaze flicking to Maia. “But when soaking wet footprints show up on security cameras . . .”
Chloe felt like an idiot. She hadn't even thought of that. Gavin shrugged. “Actually, I've kind of been expecting you. After what happened on Monday . . .”
“What?” Chloe couldn't keep up. “You mean—”
“Your gift,” he explained. “Your gift led you here, right?”
“You know about that?” Maia asked.
“I know about everything,” Gavin replied. “I know about the Order. I know about your friends outside. As a matter of fact—”
As if on cue, the elevator dinged down the hall, and Chloe could hear the doors open, and Dylan's loudly protesting voice. Her heart sank as her friends were escorted into the room by more black-clad, mercenary looking men.
“Are you guys okay?” Beck asked.
Chloe was vaguely aware of Beck flexing his fingers, his hand glowing brightly. He was ready to fight. They all were, she was certain. But if they did, they might lose this chance to get to Ethan.
She reached out and touched Beck's elbow. He looked down at her and she shook her head slightly. With a heavy sigh, the light dimmed around his fingers.
“Yeah, we're fine,” Miranda replied, yanking her elbow out of one man's grip. “Sorry we couldn't warn you. They kind of appeared out of nowhere.”
“They do that,” Gavin said mildly.
“What—”
Chloe's voice cracked and she swallowed. “What are you going to do to us?”
“What am I—” Gavin shook his head and held out his arms in a placating gesture. “I'm not going to do anything to you, Chloe. Don't you get it? I'm on your side. I have been the whole time.
“You want to know what's behind that door,” he said. “And I'm going to tell you. I think it's long past time that I tell you everything.”
They met in a conference room around a large, oval table, shiny and black and surrounded by padded gray chairs. Gavin sat at one end, in front of a wall covered with a dozen TV screens—all off at the moment. His entourage remained outside the room, but Chloe was certain they could be back in a moment's notice.
The Order sat along one side of the table, a united front before Gavin James; equal parts curious, suspicious, and on edge. Chloe was nearest to him, but she edged toward Miranda on her other side, unwilling to get too close to the man until they really knew what he was up to.
And she was done waiting to find out.
“Where's Ethan?” she asked.
Gavin didn't look surprised. “I know you have a lot of questions,” he said. “And we'll get to them all.”
“So you do have him,” Beck pressed.
Gavin frowned. “No, we don't. Not the way you're thinking.”
“How then?” Chloe placed her palms on the table, pressing hard as she tried to keep her temper.
“It's difficult to explain,” Gavin replied. “Let me start at the beginning, and then maybe you'll understand.”
“But—” Chloe began, but Miranda touched her hand and leaned in to whisper to her.
“Let's hear what he has to say.”
Chloe wanted to argue, but Miranda was right. Gavin held all the cards at this point, and unless they wanted to fight—and God knew they'd had enough of that lately—they'd have to play by his rules.
There was always time for fighting later, if they had to.
So she changed tacks. “Who are you? Really?”
Gavin's lips twitched a little, and she was a bit irritated that she seemed to satisfy him with the question.
Super Heroes (The New Super Humans #4) Page 10
