I’M CLICKING RANDOM FILES ON AVERY’S DESKTOP, when I hear footsteps outside the door. I leap out of the chair and dive behind a nearby leather couch. I gesture desperately at Poe to come down from his perch on a bookshelf. He sees me, but stays where he is. The door handle turns, and in walks one of the guards. I get just enough of a glimpse to recognize him as the guy who grabbed me in Salt Lake City—one of the guards accompanying Whit.
He walks to the desk, sits down in the chair, and dials a number on his cell phone. He waits. I wait. Poe stands still enough to pass as stuffed, if the guard can even see him in the darkened room.
“Yeah, it’s me,” he says. “I was with Avery, so I couldn’t call before. The girl’s here.” He pauses. “Got it. I’ll turn the airstrip lights on.” He hangs up.
What the hell was that about? I think. This guy—one of Avery’s own guards—must be working as a double agent.
He types something into the computer, and takes his time, clicking around for a couple of minutes. He’s on his feet in a second, though, when a shriek comes from the kitchen. At first, I’m afraid that Juneau’s hurt, but she keeps yelling and I know that tone. It’s her pissed-off voice, and I am very glad that, for once, I’m not the one she’s mad at.
The guy runs out, slamming the door behind him. I stay hidden behind the couch for what seems like five minutes, then ease my way back to standing. I walk to the desk and click the computer’s mouse to get out of the screen saver: a photo of Avery kneeling next to a dead lion. The guy’s obsessed with death, I think as the desktop comes up. The window that’s open reads at the top “AHR Security Client Center *** Operator: Administrator.” Running across the upper nav are dozens of icons, and down the left are lists of locations with links like “Lights,” “Fences,” and “Ranch House.” A window with a CCTV image takes up the rest of the screen.
The camera shows the airstrip I spotted earlier today from the road. It’s all lit up in the image, and the link that was last clicked is under “Lights/Airstrip.” So the guard had finished what he was trying to do when Juneau distracted him. Which, I hope, means he’s not coming back.
I click on the link at the top of the “Fences” list, and then down each one under it, watching the images of sections of fence flash by. All feature identical red lights blinking slowly atop the fence until I get to one section that has an orange exclamation mark next to its link. “Southeast corner” it reads, and the box perched atop this section of fence is dark. This must be the one that Juneau took out to reach her clan.
I wonder how many more of these security systems exist. There’s presumably one at the front gate, if not one in the barracks as well. More importantly, is anyone paying attention to them? And if they are, can any of them override this computer, since it’s got administrator access?
The double agent guy obviously didn’t think that anyone would notice the airstrip lights were turned on. I might as well take the same chance, I think, and one by one start clicking “disable” next to each of the fences.
I continue with the list under “Ranch House,” disabling all of the alarms and security locks. And then, with another click, I turn the airstrip lights back off.
I click the icon for “Perimeter Map” and get a scale model of the entire ranch, complete with roads, fences, and outbuildings. I zoom in to the eastern half of the ranch, and then even closer, studying the area around the ranch house, barracks, and something labeled “Guest Village,” which is in the area where Juneau’s clan must be located.
Finally, I pull back the window with the CCTV image of the airstrip in case the guard comes back. He’ll only see the screen he was on and, unless he clicks through, won’t be aware that anyone’s fooled with the fences.
I take a pen and piece of paper and write a note to Tallie. Folding it, I turn to see Poe still doing his stuffed-bird impression on the bookshelf. “Ready to play messenger raven again?” I whisper, and tuck the paper carefully into the pocket of his harness. I ease the window up, glad I disabled the alarms, and step out onto the porch, letting Poe hop out before me.
I close the window as quietly as I can, and then sit on the porch, holding the bird in my hands and closing my eyes. I connect to the Yara, think about the mountain woman with the wild red hair, and then throw Poe upward, as I’ve seen Juneau do.
He flaps his wings and flies off into the night.
43
JUNEAU