Page 62 of Bitter Arrangement

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“He’s got better defenses than I expected.”

“How much longer do you need?”

“Can’t say. Two minutes maybe.”

I check my watch. “I have five total left. That’s just enough time to get back out.”

“I can do this. Just hold on.” He’s grunting as he types even faster. I go back, and the screen’s changing wildly. “Almost there.”

Something flashes out in the hall. I sit very still, staring through the office window. It flashes again, and I realize with cold dread that it’s a light bobbing along the hall.

Like someone’s carrying it toward me.

“Alexan,” I hiss, grabbing the laptop and dropping down behind the desk. “Someone’s coming.”

There’s a pause. Then he curses. “I was focusing on breaking into the laptop.”

“How close?”

“Right down the hall. Don’t fucking move.”

I go very still. Sweat beads my back. I’m tempted to peek, but I stay where I am. His typing resumes, but slower this time.

A beam of light brushes the wall opposite me like someone’s looking in through the window.

“Alexan,” I whisper, moaning in fear. This is too close. Way too close. “He’s right there.”

“Almost in. Hold on.”

The beam doesn’t move. The guard’s not going anywhere.What the hell are you doing? Go away!But he’s still at the window, and I’m freaking out.

“Alexan,” I hiss, trembling with nerves. I’ve almost been caught before, but never with the stakes so high. “Do something.”

The knob to the office clicks like someone just opened the lock.

“Gotit,” Alexan says, sounding victorious. “Fuck yes. Contents downloading.”

“He’s coming in,” I hiss under my breath as the door creaks open. I move deeper beneath the desk. I hear the guard’s footsteps as he comes into the room. I tilt the front of the laptop lid forward to keep the flickering screen from showing on the floor and try to think quiet thoughts.Rock. Mushroom. Scream. No, no scream. The void between stars. The empty moon. Running and panicking.

Oh god, he’s going to catch me, and then what?

Then I’m fucked.

The guard stops near the desk. He’s a foot away from me at most. I’m hidden underneath, but if he comes to the other side, he’ll see me. I’m lucky Fong likes big, obnoxious executive desks; otherwise, I’d already be in cuffs.

“Ten seconds,” Alexan whispers in my ear. “Just hold on. Six seconds. Five, four?—”

The guard sighs. “Fucking Fong. Stupid prick.” Then he turns away and heads to the door.

I nearly moan with relief. The feeling is visceral.

“Got it,” Alexan says. “Get the fuck out of there.”

I yank the USB drive from the laptop and shut the lid. I shove it back into the drawer, make sure it’s right where it should be, and sneak back to the door. All’s quiet on the other side. I grab the knob?—

“Wait!” Alexan says. “He’s coming?—”

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