Of course. She can do anything with a computer. “Did Alexei kidnap you?”
“Yep,” she says. “He actually doesn’t seem that bad, and the system is pretty ingenious, but I’m ready to get out of here. Although, I could use the money if he wants to hire me without kidnapping me.”
My friend’s claustrophobic, and I panic for her. “You’re not in a small area, are you?”
“It’s a pretty big penthouse, but like I said, I need to escape. Now.”
“Okay. All right, so he has no idea you’re calling?”
She snorts as if I’ve offended her. “No. It took me this long to hack the system, and there’s a laptop here I’m bringing with me. It’s top of the line.”
“I wouldn’t steal a laptop from Alexei.”
“He kidnapped me,” she bursts out.
Yeah. She should do what she wants. “Good point. All right. Take whatever you want,” I say. “Are there any valuables there?” Maybe we can fence a couple of baubles. I figure a kidnapping negates any crimes in response.
“Not really. Place came pre-decorated.”
That’s unfortunate. But impressive that Alexei is already buying up property with his money. If the funds are frozen again, it’ll take several extra and difficult steps to secure real estate holdings. “Okay, tell me what to do.”
“The security he has here isn’t bad, but he doesn’t trust enough folks yet. That’s why I have to make my move now. Once he takes full control of those people, I’ll never get free.”
I gulp. Will I ever get free? Do I want to be free of him? Questions to handle later. “Agree. Tell me your plan.”
“Currently, he’s got one guy in the control room and one guy on the main floor entrance. It’s a little central area with a main hallway next to it that goes to the shops. Then there are businesses on the next five floors and residences after that.”
“Okay,” I say. “I don’t know exactly how to help you.”
“This is what you’re going to do.” She very carefully lays out a perfect plan.
My friend is a genius, and anticipation runs through me. It’s time for Alexei to lose one in this stupid game we’re playing. I grab my purse and hurry to the door. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. This is going to work, right?”
“Oh, fifty-fifty chance,” she says. “Just be careful and be ready.”
Great.
I dash to the elevator and down to the main floor where I run outside and hail a taxi. So far so good. I get in the back and give directions to the high-rise. “I need you to park right near the tarot card store.”
My driver has to be about eighteen, with earnest blue eyes and slicked-back blond hair. “Okay, but I can’t park there for long.”
I slip him a hundred-dollar bill.
“Whoa,” he says.
“Believe me, it hurts.” The bill constitutes exactly half of my emergency fund.
His tires squeal as he hits the gas pedal. “No problem.” Within minutes, he reaches the tarot card store, and I open the back door. “I hope you have a good day,” he says happily.
“I’m not leaving.” I scoot back over.
He frowns and looks at the open door while we idle at the curb. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
Seconds later, Ella barrels out of the front door, runs across the sidewalk, and leaps into the cab, slamming the car door. “Go, go, go,” she says.
“Shit,” the driver yells, hitting the gas. “What’s happening? Where are we going? Who’s chasing us?”
