Page 91 of Mastermind

“What’s up?” I ask.

Theo glances over his shoulder and speaks in a lowered voice. “It’s a kind of contact-tracing app I made. I installed it when we were back in DC.”

“What does it track?”

“MAC and Bluetooth addresses we’ve been in contact with. I think we might have someone following us,” he replies.

“Who?” I ask without turning around.

“I don’t know. It just keeps track of phone IDs, not the people attached to them. But I think these are government phones.”

Would Gerald have put a tail on me? I trust him . . . but does he trust me? Are we being followed by our own people?

Whatever. It’s out of my control. I need to focus on why we’re here. I turn my attention back to the building.

“The Acropolis has a good view of the city from the top floors. When I was on that helicopter, I saw a lot of people at their windows and some on the roof. This building has a sky penthouse that’s owned by a real estate investment firm,” I tell him.

“And you think that’s where Heywood wanted to watch the Void from?” asks Theo.

“Given that it had power and seems to have one of the best views in the city, yeah. Hopefully there’s security camera footage, although I doubt it, or someone remembers seeing him. If it were me, I’d have disguised myself as maintenance or security. I don’t think the security inside the building would stop him.”

“You’re stalling,” says Theo. “You don’t want to go inside.”

Busted. “We’ve come this far, and I’d hate to fall for one of his pranks . . . or worse.”

“You’re worried that it might be a trap?” asks Theo.

“I’m afraid the moment I touch that door, the whole building is going to collapse on me.” I can feel the shortness of my breath and my knees going soft.

“That’s not going to happen. Come on. Let’s see if he slipped up.” Theo reaches down and grabs my sweaty palm and holds open the door to the lobby with his other hand.

I step inside and take a breath of the air-conditioned air. The concierge, a twenty-something woman with the looks of a fashion model, stands at a counter to the right.

“Welcome to the Acropolis. Are you here to visit someone?” she asks.

I let go of Theo’s hand and take out my badge. “My name is Agent Blackwood. I want to see about access to the penthouse.”

“May I take a look at that?”

I hold the badge so she can see that it’s authentic. She types something into a computer. “No problem.” She reaches down and pulls out a small plastic card. “Just use this to access the elevator.”

This was easier than I thought. “Is it currently unoccupied?”

“I don’t know. But Mr. Heywood left specific instructions that you were to be given full access when you arrived.”

My heart stops. The last time I stepped into one of Heywood’s secret lairs was the first time he tried to kill me.

Theo’s hand wraps around mine again. It’s the only thing stopping me from hyperventilating.

We walk to the elevator lobby, and I turn to Theo. He can read the question in my eyes before I even say it.

“Should we go up?”

“That’s up to you,” he replies.

“You’re not helping. Should I call the bomb squad? Bring in reinforcements?”

“It’s your call. I’m with you either way.”