Part 19 (1/2)
She spotted the conduit. It was painted brown like the brick, but the color was different enough to prove that it wasn't original construction. The conduit went down to a metal box attached to the wall. The junction box, she thought. It had an oversized padlock. With all the people wandering around, there was no way to pick the lock without attracting attention.
The conservative solution was to come back much later, when it would be dark and quiet. However, that plan required patience and she hated to wait. The attentive police officers gave her an idea.
She went over to a fireman who was giving orders to the rest. He was a tall, handsome man with a bushy, brown mustache.
”Hi!” She gave him her friendliest smile.
His eyes lit up and he returned the smile. ”Hi. What can I do for you?”
”I'm Deborah Page, from Sure Safe Security. We received an emergency alarm signal from this location.”
”There was some kind of small explosion.”
”I hope n.o.body was hurt,” Marina said.
”No serious injuries so far, but we're still searching the building.”
”Thank G.o.d.” She smiled again, making sure he got a nice look at her perfect teeth. Aligning and whitening those teeth had required a lot of painful dental work. ”I wonder if you could help me with something. I need to reset the security system.”
”Go ahead.”
”The control panel is inside that box.” She pointed at the phone junction box. ”And I forgot the key. I was hoping one of your fine, young men could snip off the lock.”
”Oh.” He glanced at the box. ”Should we check with the manager first?”
”I tried calling but he's not answering. I'm sure it won't be a problem. Sure Safe Security is preauthorized for situations like this.” She tilted her head and smiled a third time. She projected innocence and sweetness.
He gave orders to his men.
Another fireman grabbed a hydraulic cutter from the back of a truck. Marina led him over to the box, and he chopped off the lock easily. The cutter simply sliced through the thick, steel hasp.
She opened the box and found a confusing nest of wires inside.
”Is that all you need, miss?” the fireman said.
”Yes, thank you. I'm all set. Good bye.”
He hesitated, then left her alone.
Marina called Edward. ”I'm looking inside the junction box.”
”OK,” he said. ”There must be a form or a printout which will tell you which numbers are in use.”
”It's on the cover. I'll take a picture with my phone.” She snapped a photo of the printout.
”Got it. I'll get right to work on these numbers. What's your plan?”
”There's nothing else for me to do here, so I might as well go home. Tell Aaron to meet me at the apartment for a late dinner.”
”Yes, ma'am,” he said. ”Good night.”
A door buzzer woke Aaron. The clock showed 7:30 AM. Somebody was ringing his apartment from the front door of the building, but there was no good reason for anybody to visit, certainly not at this hour. n.o.body outside the Society even knew he or Marina lived here.
Marina got out of bed at once. ”It could be a solicitor. Go check it out while I get dressed. We should head over to headquarters anyway. We've slept enough.”
Still naked, he went to a speaker by the front door and pressed the reply b.u.t.ton. ”h.e.l.lo? Who is it?”
”Aaron? Is that you?” a woman said.
The voice was very familiar, but hearing it was such a shock that his mouth just hung open.
”Say something. I know you're there.”
”Yes, Mom,” Aaron said at last. ”It's me.”
Chapter Thirteen.
Marina hurried over, still in her underwear. ”Is that really your mother?”
Aaron nodded. ”What do I do?”
”How did she find you? This is very bad. Wait! Who was that guy we met on the street a few days ago?”
”Pete Sanborn. s.h.i.+t! He saw us come out of this building. He knew my parents were looking for me.” He shook his head. ”We made a huge mistake. We should've never come back here.”
”We were distracted by the mission, but that's no excuse. d.a.m.n it.” She squeezed her eyes shut. ”Ethel will be so p.i.s.sed.”
”I have to talk to my mother.”
”No!” Marina said. ”We should sneak off before more damage is done.”
”But I never said goodbye to her. I owe her one, final conversation.”
”Terrible idea.” She shook her head.
”I have to.”
”You'll be the one who explains it to Ethel.”
”I understand.” Aaron pressed the reply b.u.t.ton on the intercom. ”Come on up.” He buzzed her in.
He hurried back to his room to put on some clothes, but he had no idea what to wear. What was appropriate for a surprise reunion with an abandoned parent? He settled for simple slacks and a s.h.i.+rt.
Marina put on a black dress that was surprisingly formal and elegant. She also wore diamond earrings.