“We have a problem,” I say softly, putting the cell on my bed. She starts typing again and I take a step toward her. “We have to run. They know what you’re doing.”
She stops typing and slowly—too slowly—pivots to face me. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Her eyes narrow. “You told them.”
“I wouldn’t. I’m getting the hell out of here, Alex. Come with me.”
She jumps to her feet, stands next to me as I grope under my bed for my bag. “How?”
My fingers snag the nylon strap. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Oh, that’s brilliant. What are we going to do, genius?” Alex backs up a step as I drag my bag onto the bed. “Just let ourselves out? Even if you could, they’ll see you in the cameras.”
I look at Alex. “I don’t think so.”
Her dark eyes gleam. “What are you talking about?”
I grab the cell, hold it up. “Milo gave it to me. He says he sourced me to Looking Glass and I’m in danger—that you’re in danger too. I don’t know what’s on here, but I’m pretty sure it’ll get us out.”
“You trust him?”
“On this . . . yeah, I do.”
“And why should I believe you?”
“Because I didn’t have to tell you, I could’ve just left and I didn’t. Alex, you didn’t have to be so nice when I arrived, but you were. We get each other. We know what it’s like on the other side of those walls, remember?”
She doesn’t answer. She stares at me, saying nothing.
“I won’t leave you here,” I add.
Alex exhales hard. “What do you need?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Milo’s phone is already unlocked and connected to the Looking Glass private network. I check his apps . . . his browser history . . .
The most recent hit? Milo’s private server. I recognize the IP address. I click on the page and my stomach sinks. I need a username and password.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asks.
“I don’t know the—” I type “m” into the field. Nothing. I type “w” and a dropdown box suggests wick. I select it and a password autofills. “Nothing,” I say. “It’s fine.”
It’s fine because Milo planned this all along. He’s making it stupid easy.
I scroll through his project list and find a folder labeled “Looking Glass.” Inside, there’s information on the networks, on the users, and on the security cameras. I open the first spreadsheet and find columns of camera locations, their corresponding IP addresses, and DUBS.
DUBS being duplicates.
I click the first dupe and it shows the hallway just outside our door.
“Hey.” I look at Alex. “Can you open our door?”
“You’re weird, you know that?”
“Just do it.”
Alex drags herself to our bedroom door and opens it as I watch the feed. Nothing. My heart double thumps. Milo’s given me camouflage. All these dupe links? They’re recorded loops of Looking Glass’s various hallways—and they’re all empty, no customers, no staff, and especially no hackers. Now I just have to tell the security cameras’ DVR to look at the duplicate IP address and not the live feed. We could do cartwheels down the hall and no one would ever be the wiser.
I lift my eyes to Alex. “If I can get us out undetected, can you override the elevator?”
One corner of her mouth walks up. “I can’t believe you even have to ask.”
Turns out, Alex has more than contraband cell phones. She also has an elevator override key—the kind firefighters use.
“The building owners have to keep a copy in the maintenance office,” Alex says as she watches me access the security cameras’ DVR settings. “I kind of helped myself. I knew I’d need it when I finally ran.”
“Won’t that set off an alarm?”
“I don’t think so. The elevator repair people would have to use the same key and they check the elevators monthly.”
“Let’s hope you’re right because we’re going to have to move fast.” Milo’s list covered every hallway in Looking Glass, but he didn’t cover the parking garage or the main lobby, which means as soon as we step off the elevator, they’ll see us.
And we’ll have to run for it.
“How much longer?” Alex asks.
“Right about . . . now.” I pause, staring at my screen. There’s the slightest blip in the video before Milo’s video takes effect. I wait, listen. Nothing. No alarms, but maybe they’re silent?
I tilt my head toward the bedroom door. “Try it again. See if I triggered a lockdown.”
Alex crosses the room and tries the handle. It glides open just like normal and Alex lets out a long breath. She peeks into the hallway, waits for a beat, then turns to face me. “In another life, we would’ve been great partners, you know that?”
My laugh is a single, short bark. “Don’t thank me yet.”
I leave the cell and take my bag from the bed, glancing around our room once more. Is there anything here that can help me once we’re on the outside?
There isn’t of course. Looking Glass is excellent at providing everything we need as long as it’s on their terms.
I look at Alex. “You’re not bringing anything?”