Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
She straightened, brushing down the front of her skirt, and continued forward into the underbelly of the General Assembly building.
The plan was simple on her end: give the security the risk they expected.
The fact that her clearance hadn’t been revoked meant that Amberdash wanted her to do the heist. He thought that he set a trap for her that she wouldn’t see coming. The ego of monsters wasn’t a monolith, but it was useful.
“All right, Gregory. Let’s play,” Kierse whispered as she took the stairs that led to the underground tunnel network.
She’d memorized the route weeks ago. It was one of her simpler setups, but she’d specifically chosen it based on Walter’s look inside the network for least-trafficked areas. Schwartz’s knowledge of the security and Laz’s uncanny access to the staff schedule gave her free rein to jog down the empty basement corridor.
She veered out of the next hallway and down another flight of stairs, which led out of the General Assembly building. Through the next door and she was into the Secretariat. Here was where things got tricky.
The office building was never empty. Even with all the delegates in the assembly and the meeting officially commenced, there was staff. There was always staff.
So Kierse pulled out a pair of glasses from her bag and switched out her ID clearance for another that Ethan had stolen from one of the staff members. She’d been pretty proud of him for that one.
With a quick flick of her wrist, she scanned the new ID on the track pad, and it greeted her with a quick: Welcome back, Alicia.
“Bless you, Ethan,” she muttered as she joined a pair of staff members with their heads buried in tablets in the elevator.
Kierse selected the button for the penultimate floor.
“Oh, are you working for the vampire syndicate?” the woman said, glancing up at her with a smile.
Kierse smiled back. “I just moved over there. I was in the library only a few weeks ago.”
True. Walter had moved Alicia’s stolen identification card to say that she was now working for the Syndicate in case anyone looked. So far…no one had.
“The new vampire leader is so cute,” she said. “If we’re…allowed to say that.”
“Roland?” one of the women asked in a hush.
“No, the son! Alexander,” she said, looking up at her over the edge of her tablet.
“You noticed, too?”
“I heard he’s seeing someone,” Kierse lied to keep the conversation moving.
“Well, I’m not going to date a vampire. That’s a recipe for disaster,” the first woman said. The elevator dinged, and she shrugged. “This is me. Good luck with the Syndicate.”
“Enjoy the convocation,” Kierse told her warmly.
What must it be like to work in this organization and still be so happy? The other woman didn’t look up again after the first was gone, and she disappeared two floors later, leaving Kierse alone in the elevator.
She was anticipating security on the Syndicate floor, but her badge should pass.
“Welcome back,” the gruff security guard said.
“Just have to pick up some paperwork for Mr. Batiste,” Kierse said, waving her ID card over the pad and hurrying toward Quint’s office. His secretary was absent, courtesy of the convocation, and Kierse slipped in without a word.
It would have been foolish indeed to walk right to the top floor and meet Amberdash’s waiting security detail. But not foolish enough to climb up through the vent system in Quint’s office.
Lyra had managed to test the ceiling access for her and confirm that the square drop tile came away easily. Kierse had not asked how she had accomplished that. Lyra hadn’t volunteered the information, either.
“We’re through opening remarks,” Graves said into her earpiece. “How’s it going over there?”
“In Quint’s office. Time?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Anyone notice I’m gone?”
“Gen made it in just fine.”
“How does she look as a brunette?” Kierse asked, glad that Gen’s impersonation of her was going to plan.
She jumped onto the top of Quint’s desk, pushed against the tile, and felt it give easily under her fingers. Thanks, Lyra.
“She hates it, but she is a convincing you at a cursory glance.”
Kierse hoisted herself up into the ventilation system. She wiggled the tile back into place under her and crawled forward a few feet. The way the system had been built allowed just enough space for her to maneuver. She was going to get dust all over her jacket. Oh well.
She followed her mental map of the penthouse office space above her and stopped before a hatch that led to the next floor into the computer server room. She listened with her ear against the hatch and then pushed it upward with a screech. She winced at the noise, but the room was empty.
The security team was likely waiting for her at the front of the office. If she had really been here to get the stone, then she would have been in a good place. Instead, she needed to get a lot louder and force the guards to recognize a threat in their midst.