And Elle had helped put him there.
How was she to know aliens were real? This was supposed to be a cushy job that sent her on fruitless chases around the world for an insane amount of pay. Hell, she’d even daydreamed through the “training” videos they’d shown her, and only recently had she read the full protocol manual—and that was only out of boredom.
Though he didn’t communicate, she instinctively knew there was something more behind his eyes. He was not an animal. This was an intelligent being—and he needed her help.
Elle clutched Hanklen’s keycard in her hand. This might be the biggest mistake of her life, one that would not only get her fired but would piss off some very powerful people. It’s not like you could tell your millionaire boss to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine without a little retaliation in return. Franky “The Heart Attack” Milano wasn’t exactly the forgive-and-forget type.
Then there was the fact she was working off her impressions of this alien man, not actual facts. She could be projecting herself and ignoring evidence. Facts were: he was an alien, he’d shown great strength and the ability to fight, she knew nothing about him or his people, and—most importantly—he was a freaking alien.
“I’ve lost it. I’m a mental case. If I do this, there is no turning back. I’ll lose my job. I could be sued for breach of contract. Maybe not since they’d be looking for Ellen Sharp. The alien could suck my face off and eat my insides.”
Even as she whispered the words to herself, Elle kept her fast pace. She tried to stay low as she moved down the hall passed laboratory doors with small windows. Her feet barely made a sound. She paused to listen before glancing around a corner and continuing.
The way she saw it, there wasn’t a choice. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t try to help. Rounding up innocent people who hadn’t done anything wrong was not something she wanted on her life resume.
Or maybe she really was having a mental breakdown.
Good money would bet on the breakdown.
Elle slipped the keycard into her back pocket before turning the corner to the guarded cell. She pursed her lips, feigning annoyance. Jim Berry guarded the cell door. He was an amiable man though a little slow on the uptake and only a mediocre fighter. But he was dependable. He always showed up on time and always brought the supplies he was told to. He was a man meant for taking orders.
Unlike last time, the alien was kept in a metal room with no windows. Even though it was supposed to be a temporary holding cell, they jokingly called it solitary confinement, and the term wasn’t all that far off from the truth.
“Hey, Berry,” Elle greeted, her tone flat. “How’s he doing today? Any trouble?”
“Quiet as a church mouse,” Berry answered. “Sorry I missed out on all the action. Figures the one time something interesting happens around here, I’m off duty and sleep through it.”
“It was something,” Elle agreed with a nod. “I’m betting in a few weeks you’ll get your chance.”
The man actually looked hopeful.
“But for now, I’ve been sent to relieve you of your post.”
Berry’s expression fell. “But I’m on duty for another,” he glanced at the watch on his wrist, “three hours.”
“And I’m on shift for the next twenty.” Elle smirked and gave a humorless laugh. “Apparently, they don’t like it when you incite a prisoner, and he causes damage to company property. I just spent the last hour getting my ass handed to me by Hanklen. If I want to keep my job, I have to pay for the window out of my checks, and I’m on permanent guard duty until otherwise instructed.”
“Whoa, that’s rough,” Berry swore.
Elle shrugged. “What can you do? Orders are orders.”
“Did they say where they wanted me to report?” Berry looked hesitant to leave.
“Sounds like they’re going to be making another run out tonight. If I were you, I’d go to the mess hall and grab something to eat while you have the chance.” Elle leaned her back against the wall by the metal door and sighed. “Rumor has it they’re doing a Southern theme today—biscuits and gravy, chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, fried everything.”
Berry nodded. “Want me to sneak you something?”
“Nah, I’m good, thanks. I’m going to take my punishment like a champ.” Elle didn’t move away from the wall as she yawned and looked up at the ceiling.
Berry left, walking much slower than she would have liked. Any other person would have run the second she’d said she was relieving them of boring guard duty. Berry would probably get to the mess hall and have his first bite of biscuits and gravy before getting worried and coming back to check that it was honestly all right for him to leave.
She needed to have the alien gone by then.
She waited a few seconds after he disappeared around the corner and prayed that she’d timed this right, when no one would be manning the security feed.
Elle grabbed the keycard from her pocket and pressed it to the door pad. The unit beeped, and she heard the metal door unlatching.
Elle took a deep breath and told herself, “This is the right thing to do.”
