“Did you check the door?”
She nodded. “Didn’t see any alarm wires. The striker plate and latch look pretty standard.”
“Well, we’ll know for sure in about five seconds,” Sam said, then inserted the key into the lock and turned the knob. Silence. No whooping alarms, no blaring Klaxons.
“Still could be a silent alarm,” Remi said.
“True. Hurry, over there.”
They sprinted to the corner and ducked down with the guard’s body. One minute passed. Two minutes and still there were no pounding footsteps or loudspeaker announcements.
“It can’t be this easy,” Remi said. “Can it?”
“No chance. No turning back now. Unless you want to, that is?”
“Me?” she replied with a smile. “I’m just starting to enjoy myself.”
“That’s my girl.”
On the other side of the door they found a ten-foot-long corridor painted in pure white and lit by recessed overhead fluorescent lights. At the far end of the corridor was another door, this one made of heavy steel and controlled by a wall-mounted card reader.
“Very tricky,” Sam said. “See that quarter-sized clear screen above the reader?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a biometric thumbprint scanner.”
“Which means there’s probably a security control center somewhere.”
“I agree. It looks like we need our friend. Wait here.”
Sam stepped out the first door then reappeared dragging the guard behind him. He handed Remi the card key, then together they hoisted the man up so Sam could wrap his arms around his waist and Remi had access to his cuffed hands.
“We might get as few as two chances at this before we trip something and attract some more company,” he said.
“Swipe first, then the thumbprint?”
“Right. I think.”
“Great.”
Sam spread his legs wider for leverage, then shuffle-walked the man’s limp form to the reader. Remi swiped the card, then grabbed the guard’s thumb and pressed it to the scanner.
The reader emitted a squelchy beep.
“Strike one,” Sam said.
“I’m nervous.”
“Second time’s the charm. Hurry, this guy’s getting heavy.”
She took a break, then tried again.
The reader let out a soft, welcoming chime, followed by a metallic snick as the lock disengaged.
“Open it just an inch before the lock reengages,” Sam said, backing away and laying the guard down. “Be right back.” He dragged the guard back out the first door, then returned.
“See anything?” Sam asked.