8
ALIX LAY IN HER BED under moonlight, trying to make sense of the strange new world she seemed to inhabit.
If she pulled back the curtains, she could make out the surveillance van parked on the street. Somewhere, there were others, too. All of them waiting for… what? An attack? A kidnapping?
It felt so melodramatic to think that anything was wrong at all. The street looked so safe. Graceful oaks. Broad swathes of manicured gardens and lawns. A few lights still glowed at the entrances to various homes, marking pathways up to arched doorways. Peaceful.
And yet a stranger was out there, and, if Dad was to be believed, maybe something bigger. Maybe a whole group bent on kidnapping her or Jonah. People who wanted to use the two of them to get to Dad.
It was like the stories she heard that came from places like Bangkok or Mexico. When Alix went to Cancun for winter vacation, she remembered being warned that Mexico was dangerous. When she went online, it was full of reports of people who had been kidnapped and ended up in shallow graves. Even Guillermo del Toro’s father had been kidnapped, and del Toro was a movie director. The guy had done Hollywood movies, and because of that, people had targeted his family for kidnapping and ransom. Alix remembered thinking that things like that happened in Mexico but didn’t happen here.
Except now maybe it did.
She got out of bed and slipped downstairs. She was wearing a long T-shirt that she liked to sleep in, but the air was chilly in the house. The day had been hot, but now everything had cooled off. Her skin turned to gooseflesh as she tiptoed down the stairs.
2:12 flashed on the stove clock, green light casting across the kitchen.
She slipped into Dad’s office, not even sure what she was looking for.
Ask your father.
This was absurd. She could practically see Jonah mocking her for being a silly girl. She sat down in her dad’s chair. Touched the trackpad on his computer. The screen flickered alive, showing a password challenge.
There was another computer in the den, which Jonah was allowed to use, out where Mom and Dad could look over his shoulder and make sure he wasn’t surfing for porn. This computer was Dad’s. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Just touching the keys felt like an invasion.
Alix felt a chill of self-consciousness and glanced toward the windows. The night was so dark outside. The house felt dark, too.
A scuffling came from the kitchen.
Was someone inside the house?
Alix held her breath, suddenly afraid. The scuffling came again.
The light of the computer screen with its password challenge bathed her, and Alix suddenly felt very exposed. There was only one light on in the entire house, and it was right beside her, and she wasn’t wearing anything except an XXL T-shirt. She wished she’d put on sweats at least before she came downstairs.
She glanced at the windows to the backyard and tugged her T-shirt down over her thighs. Williams & Crowe was supposed to be out there. Are they looking in?
She eased out of the chair. It creaked as she came off the seat. She realized she was still holding her breath and tried to make herself breathe silently. Was she being stupid? Was she just imagining the sound?
If 2.0 was in the house, he’d know she was there because of the light from the computer. He’d know right where she was.
Get a grip, Alix. There’s no one here. Security would have caught him. They’re supposed to be watching.
Alix slipped to the edge of the study door, straining to hear over the pounding of her heart. The refrigerator started to hum. The computer monitor went back to sleep, plunging her into darkness. Blinded, Alix froze. She blinked her eyes, trying to force them to adjust, listening for more movement in the kitchen. Still nothing.
Nothing at all.
Feeling stupid and crazy, but unwilling to let her caution go, Alix slipped out from behind the study door. She peered into the kitchen. Now that her eyes had adjusted, the light from the stove clock gave a dim view of the room. Tiles and stainless steel surfaces. Smooth bamboo floors. The Sub-Zero fridge against the clean modern lines of the granite countertops.
Nothing.
She listened, but she couldn’t hear anything.
You idiot. You were imagining it.
A shadow moved behind her and Alix spun. Her breath caught.
He was right there, looking through the glass door.
Hands to the glass as he peered inside. Shadow and eyes, looking in, seeking. Then pausing.
Alix tugged her shirt down again, trying to make herself disappear. To hide. She froze as his gaze swept across her and held.
They stared at each other. She felt pinned by his gaze. His expression was solemn.
Don’t panic don’t panic don’t panic.
Suddenly he smiled. He held his finger to his lips. Shhh. The message was unmistakable. Shhh. Let’s keep a secret. And then, absurdly, another motion: one hand atop the other, forming a T.
Time-out.
Seriously?
He made the motion again, smiling. Time-out.
No. Suddenly Alix knew exactly what he was saying.
Truce.
The thing he’d suggested when he’d caught her in the smoke.
How about we call a little truce?
Unbelievable.
Alix knew she should scream. She should call the cops. She should turn on all the lights. However he’d gotten past Williams & Crowe, all it would take was one loud scream to bring them down on him.
But something about his demeanor held her. The rakish confidence. The lack of shame or fear. She’d busted him, and he didn’t even have the grace to act embarrassed. Instead, he was smiling at her and signaling for a truce, as if they were playing some game of tag or hide-and-seek. Grinning at her like it was all a big game and he’d just happened to be caught.
Alix walked over to the door and stared at him through the glass. He was dressed entirely in black. He barely stood out against the night beyond. He pointed at the door lock.
Alix shook her head, but she couldn’t help grinning at the guy’s chutzpah.
“No.” She mouthed.
He just grinned and made the T again with his hands. His lips said truce.
Suddenly her heart was pounding.
I’m insane.
She flicked the lock and stepped back. He reached over to slide the door open. Alix was suddenly horribly aware of decisions she couldn’t take back. She retreated behind the granite island.
2.0 eased inside.
“Truce,” he said.
Alix nodded. “Truce.”
They regarded each other warily. It was as if they were both mindful of crossing a solemn boundary, a line that turned out to be more important than they’d realized.
Alix cleared her throat. “How did you get past our security guys?”
“Oh, you know. Williams and Crowe…” He peered back outside, seeming to check on something. “They got systems. It makes them predictable.”
“And you’re not.”
“Try not to be.” He was gazing around the kitchen, taking everything in. “You’re kind of a surprise, yourself.”
“Because I let you in?”
“Dumb move for such a smart girl.”
“I could scream. I’ll bet Williams & Crowe have a system for that.”
“Bet they do.” His eyes locked with hers. “You won’t, though.”
“No.”