Page 80 of Longing for Liberty
“More than okay.” He kissed me hard, and I moved the hand I was leaning on down the side of the laptop, desperate to get the thumb drive out before he saw it. I let out a moan as I tugged the device out, covering the possible sound, and then pushed it under my purse. With one last tug of my bottom lip between his teeth, he pulled back and gave me another once over before heading back to his room to dress.
I moved quickly, putting the drive into my purse and zipping it shut, then going to the back room to get dressed again. My mind buzzed, wondering if there would be any message when he opened his computer again, any signs of a download. I needed to get rid of the thumb drive as soon as possible, but if I left right now, it might seem suspicious. I went to the utility closet in the hall and began feeling the bottles of detergents and sprays.
Yes!
As Amos came out, rolling up his shirt sleeves, I shook the bleach and looked at him.
“I need to run down for a new bottle. I’ll be right back.”
“I can call someone to do that,” he told me, but I shook my head and smiled, going up on my toes to kiss him before I grabbed an old rag from the shelf and closed the utility door.
“You’re such a gentleman, but I need to stay active.”
He patted my bottom, and I went to the table, taking my purse and exiting the penthouse.
It was too soon to feel relief or elation, even though the hardest part was over. There was still a chance I’d be caught. I held the bottle of bleach with the rag and let myself focus on eachthrum-thrum-thrumof my heart in my ears.
The maid’s room was practically empty, and to Kathy’s credit, her face did not change from its usual grumpy expression when she saw me. She glanced down at my hand.
“Bleach?”
“Yes,” I said, setting it on the counter along with my purse, which I unzipped to pull out my lipstick for a reapplication. I casually tossed the rag on top of my purse. “And two newer rags if you have them. Mine are threadbare.”
“You know you can just call down, Libby,” she told me as she went to a side shelf and took a new bottle of bleach. “I’ll send up whatever you need.”
“Mr. Secretary graciously offered the same thing, but I need to stay active and agile.”
“Hmph.” She set the bleach heavily on the counter with two white cloths.
I reached down for the old rag, and as I did, I pinched the thumb drive inside of it, setting it on the counter like nothing but trash.
“God bless,” I said, putting my purse back on my shoulder and turning to leave with my items.
“God bless,” she responded to my back in a bored tone.
That part was done. I could only hope she moved quickly to get it to someone else in case Amos was realizing at this very moment that he’d been hacked. I didn’t think he’d immediately suspect me, but the blame would eventually make its way to me.
I moved with leaden feet back to the building to meet my fate, knowing if it were my time to go, I’d be thankful I’d at least done something.
THIRTY-SEVEN
STATE NEWS: HIGH TERRORIST WARNING! ALERT STATE FORCE IF YOU SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY!
When I walkedinto the penthouse, Amos was on the phone, pacing in front of his computer. I froze. I told myself to move, to do something, get to work making dinner, but all I could do was stare at his pinched face as he rubbed his forehead.
He knew.
His eyes met mine, and something dire and dark hit me. He gave a small shake of his head, and I knew something had definitely happened. It didn’t seem like his current emotion was directed at me though. Not yet, at least.
“There needs to be an investigation,” Amos said, and I wasn’t sure how much more stress my nervous system could take before I just died. “Yes, I understand the need for confidentiality, but—” He grunted, apparently cut off.
Finally, my feet moved to the hall closet, where I placed the items before quietly removing my shoes and going into the kitchen.
“Fine,” Amos said, his voice curt. “I’ll stand down.”
What was I supposed to be doing? I turned, my eyes wide but unseeing. Oh, yes…dinner. I opened the fridge and stared into it for a stupidly long moment before taking out the ingredients from today’s basket.
Amos came in and leaned against the island, staring at me with his arms crossed. Again, I froze, this time with a package of beef in my hands. No words came to my mind, though I knew I should speak. All I could do was stare back.
