“Well, now that introductions are complete, shall we begin the tour?”
Nick cleared his throat and launched into the speech Josie had painstakingly coached him on during their drive to Fort Meade. “Absolutely. I’m most interested in the recent developments in free-electron—”
“How about you, Miss Byrne?” Richard said, crossing right in front of Nick without so much as acknowledging his presence. “What can I show you here at the Grid that might pique your interest?”
Josie wasn’t used to getting hit on, especially by grown men who could spend thirty to life in state prison for so much as laying a hand on her. The thought of playing up to Richard Katz, Director of Public Outreach, kind of turned her stomach, but if it could get them the information they wanted, she was all for it.
“Actually,” Josie said with a soft smile, “I’m most interested in the recent developments in free-electron lasers. Particularly in their applied usage for Project Raze.”
Richard’s eyes grew wide. “I’m not authorized to escort tour groups through the upper laboratories. Technically, they are government facilities, sponsored by the Grid but not directly controlled by us, and they’ve clamped down on access since . . . er, I mean . . .” His voice trailed off and his eyes shifted back and forth uncomfortably.
“You mean since the explosion that killed Nick’s brother and sent my mom into a mental hospital?” Josie tried to sound as innocent as possible while still pressing her advantage. Maybe if she made Richard feel like a big enough douche, he’d show them what they wanted to see.
“Um, yes.”
“Please?” Josie said, laying it on thick. “Just a quick look? It would mean a great deal to me.”
Nick was having a hard time controlling himself. Standing just out of Richard’s line of sight, he was going into convulsions as he tried to keep himself from laughing out loud.
“Well . . .” Richard checked the time on his watch. “I suppose we could do a quick walk-through of the fourth floor.” He glanced up at Josie. “But perhaps it would be best if you didn’t mention this to your father?”
Josie smiled. “I wouldn’t even think of it.”
Richard obligingly guided Nick and Josie up to the fourth floor. He prattled on about how the Grid isn’t just a power company, but a philanthropic research facility as well. He preened over the importance of the research they conducted, its lasting impact on humanity, his own crucial position within the organization. When the elevator opened on the fourth floor, he walked briskly down the halls, throwing out the occasional factoid about one or another ongoing project while his eyes scanned the hallway, anxious lest someone find them up there.
Josie was only half listening as they blew past closed door after closed door. She kind of wanted to ask him about the shelters Madison had mentioned where poor people who couldn’t afford extravagant power bills from the Grid were forced to relocate, but she didn’t want to antagonize him. Besides, she had more important things to think about. Security, for instance. While the main entrance of the building displayed a pointed lack of it, on the fourth floor, each and every door was barred by an access-card reader. Even the restrooms. Some had a doctor’s name stenciled onto the door; others just a department label. Josie had no idea what she was looking for; only in Saturday-morning cartoons did secret bad-guy headquarters have “Secret File Rooms” conveniently displayed for meddling kids.
They paused at one door, unmarked, and Richard dropped his voice. “This was, er, is Dr. Byrne’s office,” he said.
Josie perked up. “My mom’s office?” So it had been left untouched. That could be promising.
“Yes,” he said. “We’ve kept it pretty much intact if she—” He paused again, visibly flustered. “I mean when she returns.”
Dr. Byrne’s office. Like all the others, it had an access-card scanner to unlock the door. Which meant she needed to get her hands on a card.
Suddenly, Josie had an idea. “I need to use the ladies’ room,” she said.
“Now?” Richard asked.
Josie nodded.
“I can let you in with my access card,” Richard said with a touch of consternation. “All the doors on this floor require an access badge.”
So Josie had noticed.
Richard marched her down the hall and let her into the ladies’ room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Josie searched the stalls, making sure she was alone, then stashed her purse behind one of the garbage cans. After running the water as if washing her hands, Josie emerged from the ladies’ room with a sweet smile, and followed Richard and Nick downstairs.
Josie waited until Richard was halfway through his tour of the more innocuous second floor—which included his own semiprivate office—before she put phase two of the plan into motion.