Oh.
I took a slight step back out of Sophie’s line of sight. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my cell phone. Booker wasn’t making casual conversation. He had thrown down the gauntlet and relied on me for bringing in the cavalry. Janson obviously knew our secrets—did Sophie? At this point, Booker must have had suspicions about why I had access to somebody capable of breaking into Synergy's security system.
Drew: Connor, I need your help.
Connor: Everybody does.
We’d need to have another talk about the arrogance.Just because he was the smartest person in the room, he didn’t need to remind us.
Drew: Can you figure out why Redford’s security footage is missing?
Connor: Sophie’s good. For a human.
Drew: How do you know Sophie?
Connor: She plays League of Heroes with me.
Of course, she did.
Drew: We’ll be over in a few.
Connor: This feels like an email situation.
I gave Booker a nod. If only I could climb inside his head and hear his thoughts right now. How close was he to figuring out I worked with a team of misfits willing to bend the law for the common good?
“Sophie, could we have somebody inspect the camera itself?” Booker asked.
She turned in her chair and smirked. The blood-red lipstick emphasized the curl of the lip. “Tell Connor we raid at eight.”
“Uh.” How did she know? Maybe thesehumansweren’t as bad at their jobs as Connor thought. “I’ll let him know.”
Booker moved, putting a hand in the small of my back, pushing me along. We had come busting into the securityoffice, and now we retreated with our tails between our legs. He waved to Janson as we reached the door. He leaned close, whispering, “They’re good.”
Maybe, but I’d bet they weren’tConnorgood.
“I need to prepare you.”
My anxiety continued to rise as we waited for the elevator to the third floor. It was one thing to whip out my phone and call one of the guys, but taking Booker to the office? A man as perceptive as him would know something was off. From Janet’s sexual harassment to Wyatt’s frequent “Earthling” comments, there was no way he wouldn’t figure out our collective secret.
“Janet is a little… are we allowed to say insane? Be warned, your butt will be touched.”
“What?” The disbelief on his face as the elevator dinged and the doors opened would be hysterical if my anxiety weren’t pumping. “She can’t be that bad.”
“Worse. Wyatt has a quirky sense of humor. Don’t mind him. Then there’s Orion. Maybe you shouldn’t look him straight in the eye. If he mentions lizard people?—”
“Lizard people?”
“Or the mole men in the subway. Definitely don’t ask him about the Illuminati. In fact, just smile and nod.”
“Why do I feel like you’re about to introduce me to your parents?”
I froze. He wasn’t wrong. I spent months trying to bond with my co-workers. But they weren’tjustco-workers anymore. I wanted to fit in at the office, even when we went out on missions, but they had become an extended family. I wanted their approval not because of any insecurity, but because it mattered. It wasn’t so different from what I wanted from Booker.
“It’ll be alright,” he said. “I’ve dealt with off-the-wall co-workers before. Though there isn’t much butt-pinching. The government frowns on that.”
Levity.
We exited the elevator as my powers worked to keep my cheeks from turning red. I knew the moment we crossed into the office, it’d be insanity. I’m sure they were ready for Booker, but I don’t think he had any idea what he had gotten himself into. We stood at the glass door, my hand resting on the handle.
