by Jeff Adams
“Keep moving!” I didn’t slow down. I took her by the elbow and forced her to keep pace. “We gotta go. That guy told them we were here.”
Some light leaked through the window in the kitchen door but not much. I adjusted again, so I had one eye with normal vision. Through the window I saw people at work apparently trying to store the food. Hopefully it was only hotel staff. Two battery-powered lanterns provided the light.
The staff paid no attention to us as I searched for the exits—one would go to the fire exit staircase while the other would go out into the lobby that serviced the ballrooms. I wanted the exit and since we were on the sixth floor we didn’t have too far to go down.
Sofia didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure if she was stunned or just letting me lead. As long as she kept moving, I didn’t care.
With all the prep tables and racks, it was difficult to get my bearings. “Which way to the exit?” I shouted.
A woman looked up from her task of covering trays of food with foil. “There.”
She pointed to a darkened exit sign. How had even the battery backup failed? None of the emergency lighting was on. This was a very elaborate setup.
Sofia tripped over her feet just as we got to the door. “You okay?”
“Not really.” I stopped and saw the fear in her eyes. “What the hell is happening? Where are we going?”
She righted herself and I pushed the release bar to open the door to the dark staircase.
“Whatever it is, we’re going to get out of here and it’ll be okay.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. We stepped into the stairwell.
There was no one above, but I could see people on the stairs below us. The nearest person seemed to be a couple of floors down, and the spots of white indicated they carried phones or flashlights. These were most likely guests trying to get out.
“Do you have your phone?” I pulled mine out and navigated to the flashlight app.
“No.” She sighed, and I felt her tremble under my hand. “It’s at the table.”
I deactivated night vision as I turned on the light.
“We’ll be okay,” I said with total confidence. “You should take off those shoes. Those heels can’t be easy when we’re trying to move fast.”
She thought about that for a moment and ultimately slipped them off.
I shined the flashlight on the stairs. Sofia followed without me keeping a hand on her. She kept up with my pace, which wasn’t quite a run but was on the faster side. I stopped us short of the third floor as a door burst open. A woman made an unexpected grab at me, and I jumped backward into Sofia, causing her to sit down on the stairs with an “oof.”
“I’ve got ’em. In the third floor, northside stairwell.”
She was dressed in a nondescript way—jeans, top, sneakers. She could’ve been anyone. We moved at the same time. I moved to kick, wanting to knock her into the wall. She stepped back, out of range. She produced a small gun from the waistband.
I froze.
There was no way she’d shoot unless provoked, so I relaxed my stance and put my hands up.
“That’s right,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt anybody.”
The door above us clacked open and, based on the loud steps, at least two people were coming down.
“All right, Sofia, get up.” The woman gestured with the gun. She pulled me close so Sofia had space to stand.
Sofia grabbed the railing and stood, looking defeated.
The only option was to let this play out. I hated that, but it was the safe way to go.
Two guys came up behind Sofia and one put their hand on her shoulders. The woman in charge of all this grabbed my arm and moved me to the door. The guys shoved Sofia, and she walked ahead of them.
“I’m taking this.” She plucked my phone out of my grip. “I’m sure when Oliver figures out she’s missing, your phone will be the first one that rings since you two were so chummy tonight.”
Besides Oliver knowing we fled together, Mom and Dad could find me easily. They could get in touch with Lorenzo to track the chip in my neck or the phone. It would give them the upper hand locating us wherever we went. Sofia and I had to stay together.
“Let’s get them to the room. We’ll hang out there until the power’s back, and then we’ll take her just like we planned. We’ll even take him as a bonus.”
“Won’t that be risky when everyone can see?” I asked.
“I suspect you two will fit quite nicely in laundry carts that we’ll wheel right out.” She looked between Sofia and me as she opened the door to her room, which she’d left ajar by swinging out the lock on the inside.
I moved toward the center of the room. I stopped between the two beds so that there was space to maneuver if needed. Sofia stayed close, looking even more terrified.
“Good to see you know when to play nice.” The woman looked at me like she was trying to figure out who I was. “Why’d you run with Sofia?”
I hesitated for only a moment. “We’re friends. Actually that’s not true. I just met her, but our parents are friends. When things got crazy, she needed help.”
The hotel room was standard—couple of beds with a nightstand between them, a dresser was under the wall-mounted TV. The woman in charge seemed very calm while her two men blocked the small hallway that led to the door.
“You almost knocked out one of my men upstairs.” She looked at me suspiciously. “And even now you don’t seem as scared as she is.”
I shrugged.
She made a noise, almost like a hum. She sounded like a mom considering a response she didn’t think was truthful.
Her air of cool cracked as someone banged on the door.
“Hotel security!” Dad’s voice bellowed from the hall. “We have to clear the building.”
“Move away from there,” she said quietly to her men. “Sit on the bed and look casual. Don’t be stupid.” That final remark was directed at us.
She got to the door just as it opened. I couldn’t see beyond her, though. She tried to block the view into the room.
“Thank goodness you’re here.” She sounded nervous. “What’s happening?”
“We’re evacuating the building, ma’am. Con Ed is here to figure out what’s happened with the power and it’s safer outside.”
The cavalry was here! I made sure not to react, not even the slightest hint to Sofia.
“Now if you’ll come with us, ma’am, we can lead you out.”
“But I—” She gasped and moved back as Dad, along with two others, entered.
“I’m sorry. Everyone out—now. No exceptions.”
The woman lost control of the situation as Dad kept barking out orders. He moved close to Sofia and me while the men he was with ushered the woman and her guys out.
“Come on, you two. Let’s go.” Dad lifted his arm and gestured toward the door. “Let’s get you down to the street.”
Sofia played along. I went first, and Dad put Sofia between us.
By the time we got into the hall, the guards who’d come in with Dad were out of sight with the people who’d captured us. “Stop,” he said quietly as the door to the room closed behind us. We huddled around him. “Get to the other staircase. Opposite end of the hall. Up four flights. Your mom’s at the door.”
Neither of us had light. I’d lost track of my phone--either the woman had it, or it was somewhere in the room. I went back to having one lens on night vision since Dad illuminated the hallway with a big flashlight.
“Let’s go.” As I’d done so often in the past few minutes, I took Sofia’s arm and brought her along with me. We didn’t want to be on this floor if any of that woman’s people came back.
We got to the staircase, and I went into full night mode. We moved carefully. I stayed behind Sofia with my left hand on her lower back and my right on the railing. She held the rail also as she climbed carefully but deliberately. I counted the floors and stopped us at the right door.
“Get behi
nd me. Just in case.” There was no one in the stairwell, and I had no reason to think Mom didn’t have the situation under control, but better to be safe.
I opened the door a crack and got blinded by a burst of light. Quickly, I adjusted the lenses.
“Theo,” Mom whispered, “come on.”
I moved aside so Sofia could pass. Mom and I flanked her as we moved rapidly down the hall to a room with its door ajar. Mom waited until Sofia and I entered before coming in behind us and shutting the door.
“Thank God,” Marcella said as Sofia went to her. Oliver joined them for a hug.
The room, identical to the one we’d been in downstairs, was illuminated by two lanterns, which cast strange shadows across the walls. The curtains were drawn, and since they looked like the blackout kind to let guests easily sleep past sunrise, no one would see our lights shining.
“You okay?” Mom asked quietly.
“Yeah.”
Mom studied me in the low light. She watched me close whenever I came back from something TOS related. It started when I got snatched off the bike last fall, and it hadn’t changed in the months since. No matter how much of an agent she was, she couldn’t shake being Mom.
“I’m really fine. Not even hurt.” I lowered my voice further even though I was sure it would still travel. “She’s a little shaken up, though.” I gestured with my head toward Sofia. “But I don’t think she’s injured.”
Mom nodded and pulled me into a hug, which I happily accepted and returned. “They’re all a bit shaken right now.”
“Are you okay? You kicked some butt down there.”
That was the first time I’d seen Mom in action. While I had trained periodically with Dad and John, Mom had never taken part. To see her take down somebody tonight was kinda cool.
She chuckled softly as she nodded. We were on topics we probably shouldn’t talk about in front of the Glenwood’s. I’d steal some time with her later.
The lock clicked on the door, and Mom and I turned, adjusting our stance. I had to suppress a grin. I liked that we reacted in the same way at the same time. Just before the door opened there were rapid-fire taps against it. An identifying code that was private to the three of us—not even John knew it. We relaxed as Dad opened the door, stepped in quickly, and closed it.
“This hallway’s clear.” He looked to me. “You okay?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “That’s all anybody asks.” I smiled. “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for the rescue.”
“My pleasure.” He pulled my phone from his pocket and handed it over. “Figured you’d want this back.”
“Awesome. Thanks.” I pocketed the device.
“The room’s probably a dead end. We’re pretty sure she broke in when she needed to use it because there were signs of forced entry. Subtle though it was. We’re dusting for prints to see if we can get identification.”
“So, they’re in custody?” Oliver asked, not leaving his family’s side.
“Yes,” Dad came farther into the room. “The woman and two men who were holding them are in NYPD custody. They also have three of the four who invaded the ballroom. I’ll be kept updated on what they find out.”
“Thank you. Thank you all.” Oliver sounded emotional. “I don’t know what we would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. My security guys were next to useless. And you”—he stepped to me and put his hands on my shoulders—“I don’t know how you could see, but you kept Sofia safe, and I owe you for that.”
I didn’t know what I should say. I hadn’t exactly kept her safe. I got us captured although it did work out in the long run. “You’re welcome. If we have to do this again I’ll try to avoid capture.”
“Dude, I’d have been toast if it wasn’t for you.” Some of Sofia’s swag reemerged, and it was good. “Even when they got us, you stayed chill.” She looked between the adults in the room. “He talked to her real smooth. Like he knew it was all going to be okay.”
“Thank you.” Oliver squeezed my shoulders as Marcella stepped closer.
“Yes, thank you.” She nudged her husband aside, so she could hug me. She held me for a few moments and then moved on to my parents. “You were all amazing tonight. I’d doubted Oliver’s decision to bring in outsiders, but it was clearly the right choice. I’ve no idea how we’re going to repay you all.”
Dad hugged her back. “I’m glad we could help.”
Dad’s phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. It suddenly dawned on me that he wore a hotel security uniform. How did he get that? Pretty amazing. The debriefing the three of us would have later would be interesting.
“Great. Thanks,” he said into the phone. “We’ll be right down.”
“There’s a car downstairs that will take us back to Brooklyn. It’s in the hotel’s loading dock.”
“Good,” Marcella said. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Nine
DESPITE THE excitement of last night and the debrief we had once we got back to the house, I was still up early. It was too ingrained for me to do otherwise. I did exactly what I would do if I was at home—worked out.
Since I was playing roller hockey, I’d brought skates with me. I shot a text to my parents to let them know Prospect Park was my destination. The morning had a cool edge to it, which felt so good—a slight reminder of the fall weather I liked so much. The sun was already up and it filtered through trees casting shadows. As I skated into the park, last night was on my mind.
Someone went to a lot of trouble to black out an entire building. The damage was bad enough that they didn’t think the hotel’s electrical system would be restored for a couple of days between sorting out the crime scene and repairs.
TOS was now officially involved. Dad contacted Lorenzo when I wasn’t at the contact point and had him find my chip.
Having TOS on board would significantly speed up the facial recognition analysis of everyone I captured with the lenses. I uploaded the images last night.
I surrendered to the skate and started up a pretty significant hill. It didn’t occur to me to check the elevations before I went out. I’d assumed the park would be flat. But the hill became a righteous workout. I was glad I only went out in shorts and a T-shirt because I’d considered sweats to combat the coolness.
Hitting the top of the hill was a relief. I squatted down to keep my center of gravity low as I headed downhill. The speed provided a perfect mix of terror and awesomeness. I did another full lap and was satisfyingly exhausted when I returned to the apartment.
Just as I unlocked the door, my phone vibrated with Dad’s text signal.
Come to the Glenwood’s kitchen when you get back.
There must be news. I went in my apartment—it was still weird thinking of it that way—pulled off the skates and slipped on sneakers. I also grabbed a towel from the bathroom, so I could wipe off some of the sweat as I headed next door.
I knocked and tried the doorknob, but it was locked so I pressed the intercom button. The intercom sparked to life almost instantly.
“Hello?” It sounded like Christian.
“Hey, it’s Theo.”
A buzz sounded, and the door lock clicked. “Come on up.”
Mom and Dad, Oliver, Marcella, and Sofia were all together, seated around the dining room table. Marcella talked animatedly about something while everyone else smiled and nodded. The families had merged, as if last night hadn’t happened and today was a normal morning with everyone gathered for breakfast.
“Morning, Theo.” Mom smiled. “Good skate?”
“Yeah. The park was pretty epic. I don’t think I’ve ever gone that fast on blades. I wish I had my bike here because that loop through the park is great. So, what’s up?”
“Please, join us for breakfast.” Oliver held up his coffee mug and gestured to me.
“No thanks on the coffee,” I said taking a seat next to Mom. “I’m more of a soda guy, or water.”
Christian buzzed around the kitchen, and in short order there were f
our cans of soda in front of me to choose from. They even had Dr Pepper, which instantly made me like this family even more. Spread across the middle of the table, was an array of eggs, toasted bagels, bacon and some very flat, orange something I didn’t recognize. A plate and silverware were handed to me, also from Christian, so I could dig in.
“It seems,” Mom began, “that this may be about some sort of industrial espionage.”
Last night was a distraction? But aren’t there easier ways to manage that than going after the owner? Unless, instead of money, the wanted the Glenwoods to pay by handing over a company asset.
“At the same time the group made their move on us last night, there was an attempted hack on the Glenwood Music distribution system,” Oliver said. “It controls everything from how music is mastered and then released to digital sellers, streaming services, radio stations and CD pressing plants.”
“You said attempted. Your team was able to stop it?” This suddenly got a lot more interesting since apparently there were computer systems involved. “Was it inside or outside?”
“Outside. Our team caught it before any disruptions occurred.” Oliver looked concerned but not freaked out, which I liked. Too often victims of a hack reacted in a knee-jerk way that caused more issues. “What I don’t know is what they could gain from this.”
“Is there any customer data in the system? Credit card details or anything like that?” Dad asked.
Sofia, who sat across from me, stayed quiet but looked intense as she seemed to pay close attention to the conversation.
“Theo, you really should eat.” Marcella smiled at me. “This is serious but not serious enough to not eat.”
“She’s right,” Dad added. “We’d mostly eaten our fill before Oliver got the email with this information.”
I smiled as I served myself a little bit of everything. I was starved after the skate. “All right. Back to Dad’s question. What kind of info can be taken from the MDS?”
Oliver detailed how the system worked as I ate. There wasn’t any kind of customer data or way to access money. It held the library of music, encoded for each of the systems it distributed to, and kept a record of purchased downloads and streams.