LITMIR.BIZ

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let that happen. They’ve invested too much money. Between Amy and me, we’ve saved them millions finding oil leaks and potential leaks.

      I take a quick tour of my room, but I have nothing to pick the lock, not so much as a loose paper clip. I punch my palm in frustration.

      “Joel?”

      I walk to my cot and sit down. “Hey, Ames. You’re awake.”

      “I’m locked in.” Even through the wall, her voice sounds forlorn.

      The muscles across my shoulders tighten. I force myself to relax. “Me, too. Let’s figure out how to get out of here.”

      “Permanently?”

      I hear hope in her voice.

      “Soon. Right now we need to get to the computer lab.”

      “How?”

      “Good question.” I lean against the cool wall and look around my tiny cubicle. Besides the cot, there’s a tiny chest of drawers, a commode, a small sink and a shower that I can barely turn around in. Amy’s mirrors mine.

      “I don’t suppose you have a paper clip?”

      “No.”

      “I know you don’t have a credit card.”

      She snorts. “Good one.”

      “Yeah.” At least she hasn’t lost her sense of humor.

      “A pen?”

      “No. Wait. Maybe.”

      I straighten as hope rises.

      “Yes. I do.”

      “Does it have a cap?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Yes.” I punch the air. “We’re in business. Take the metal clip off the pen cap.”

      “Okay.”

      “Put the metal holder into the lock and push.”

      Silence follows. Then she says, “Nothing happened.”

      “Did you turn the lock clockwise?”

      “You didn’t mention that.”

      A chuckle rumbles in my throat. “You’re right. I didn’t. Try it again.”

      A few moments later, my door opens.

      I jump up. “Good girl.”

      She hands me the metal holder.

      I slip it into a corner of my top drawer. “Never know when we’ll need that again. Let’s go to the computer lab.” We walk quietly down the dimly lit hall, our shadows thrown in front of us along the wall.

      “What’s up?”

      I put my finger over my mouth. Even though it’s the wee hours, you never know when someone might be roaming the ship. Amy and I are a well-kept secret. We’ve been spotted occasionally, but what we’re doing on board has never been explained to the crew, at least, to my knowledge.

      When we finally reach the computer room, I crack the door a hair and peek inside. Crap. Someone’s using one of the computers. I stealthily shut the door and motion Amy back into the shadows. By now, it’s three. I’ll give it one more hour and if they don’t leave, we’ll have to pack it in for the night.

      Time crawls, fifteen minutes, half an hour, finally at three forty-five the door opens and a young crew member steps out yawning, a cup of coffee in hand.

      God I’d kill for coffee, or better yet, a latte. I remember the coffee pot in the computer lab and mentally rub my hands. Thank goodness for human addictions.

      We slip inside. The first thing I do is make my way to the coffee pot. It’s been shut off but it’s still warm. I pour two cups, load them with creamer and sugar, and hand one to Amy, who’s already booting up one of the five computers in the room.

      She absently pushes back blue-black hair that falls across her face then reaches for the cup. I don’t know where she got her lovely olive-colored complexion. We share the same mother but have different fathers. I was four when my mom and I were taken to the labs. Amy was born there.

      “Thanks. So what are we looking for?” She takes a swallow and gives a contented sigh.

      I settle into the next desk and lean toward her. “Something that can interfere with a tracking device.”

      Her breath catches. “You mean it?”

      “Oh yeah.” My voice comes out grimmer than I intend.

      “Why now?”

      There’s so much to tell her. I glance at my watch. “I’ll tell you, I promise, but we’re running short of time.”

      “Does this have anything to do with Piper?”

      I give a choked laugh. That would be a yes. “You’re such a female, insatiably curious,” I tease.

      “You’re such a male, trying to make everything into one big mystery.”

      We grin at each other before I say, “Let’s get to it.”

      We both start searching. Though I manage to keep it light, tension crawls like a fast moving spider along my spine. There’s so much at stake, both my child and my sister.

      I try one false lead after another. There are a lot of wackos online. I glance at my watch. It’s nearly four-fifteen. My stomach spurts acid, either from the coffee or nerves.

      “Joel.”

      Something in the quality of her voice has me whirling in my chair. “What?”

      “Jammers. We can build them or buy them.”

      Chapter 3

      I snap my fingers. “Of course.” Then add, chagrined, “I’m a guy. I should have figured that out.”

      She snorts. “Oh, pu-lease.

      “We’d need them waterproofed.”

      Amy nods. She’s studying the computer. “There’s also a way to create fake GPS signals.”

      I jump out of the chair, scoop her up, and buss her on her forehead. “False GPS signals, now that’s information that could really come in handy. You’re the woman.”

      She preens. “I am aren’t I?”

      “You sure are.” Her gaze has already wandered back to the screen.

      The next time I look at my watch it reads four forty-five. “We better scoot. Hopefully, we can do some more researching tomorrow night.” I’m already moving toward the door. “Come on.”

      On the way out, I notice a pen on one of the desks and snag it. “Here’s the key to unlock your door.”

      She takes it, hiding a yawn behind her other hand.

      When we get back to our containment areas, I whisper, “Lock the door.”

      She nods, enters her room, and locks it. I do the same and lie down on the cot, hoping to get some sleep. A few minutes later, I hear the quiet snick of the doorknob.

      You didn’t want Leif to know you had us locked in, did you, you bastard? Still I’m relieved. I was beginning to feel the unwelcome tendrils of claustrophobia.

      My stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since yesterday lunch. It’ll be another hour before our breakfast arrives on the freight elevator.

      I lean my head against the hard, cold surface of the wall and close my eyes. My heart does a hard ka-thump as I picture the baby girl. For a little thing, she has a head full of downy, blond monkey hair. She’s so pretty. She’s going to have guys falling all over themselves when she hits her teens.

      I

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