“We can’t leave,” Bill says. “There’s a backup pass somewhere.”
“In South Korea maybe. Or halfway into the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Bullshit,” Bill says. “Parker’s a control freak. It’s gotta be nearby. It’s gotta be close.”
It comes like lightning like I always knew the answer. “Guys, I think I know where the pass is.”
Archie and Bill, still arguing don’t hear me.
“I know,” I practically shout. “I know! I know where the pass is!”
They round on me. “What?” Archie demands. “How?”
“Mr. Parker has a tree safe,” I explain. “I bet the pass is there. I bet a bunch of stuff is there.”
Both of them keep staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“How…” Archie says slowly. “Would you fuckin’ know that?”
“Hello? Mr. Parker and I were engaged,” I snap, losing my temper. “He used to say a bunch of stuff in front of me because he thought I was a stupid schoolgirl.”
The twins look doubtful.
“Remember how he told his fiancée about the Orchard poisoning at the wedding? He took a call in front of me once about a safe he’d installed in a big tree in his backyard. He sounded really excited about it.”
The twins exchange glances. “We’ve never heard of a tree safe,” Bill says.
“Maybe Mr. Parker killed everyone who knew about it, like Archie said,” I urge. “If that’s where this special pass is, he wouldn’t want you to know, would he?”
Archie and Bill give each other another long, silent look and I can tell they still think I’m nuts.
“Is there a tree Mr. Parker’s weird about?” I ask desperately. “Anything like that?”
Archie’s forehead wrinkles. “There’s this old Oak on the other side of the compound I’ve heard guys talking about.”
“What were they saying?”
“Its roots were fucking up the plumbing nearby, but Parker didn’t want them damaged,” Archie says slowly. “Shit. Maybe you’re right.”
Relief washes through me but I don’t have long to enjoy it.
“You can’t be serious?” Bill demands. “That is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.”
“Think about it,” Archie snarls. “Parker doesn’t give a shit about trees. He’s ripped up everything that ever stood in his way. I think we should check out the oak.” He turns to me. “Question is, can we get there? Without being shot.”
“Holy fuck, you’re serious,” Bill presses a hand to his forehead. “Tree safe.”
Archie fixes his brother with a glare. “What other choice do we have?”
After that, there doesn’t seem to be much to say. This time Archie takes the lead, moving us through underground security passages like mice in a giant maze. We don’t see anyone, but it doesn’t feel lucky. It feels like a jinx. Like Mr. Parker’s waiting for us to fall into a trap.
Eventually, Bill leads us to a set of metal stairs, and we climb. By the time we hit a huge cement door, my calves are screaming.
“This is it,” Archie mutters. “Yard door.”
I cross all my fingers that luck, or the jinx, is still on our side as it swings open. The night air is deliciously sweet. I take a step forward, and Bill puts a hand on my arm. “I couldn’t cut off the cameras outside the buildings.”
“What should we do?”
