Page 91 of Jude

“It’s either that or you wake up with a sore head and no job.”

“Two doors down on the left,” grumbled the dark-haired guy.

“Let’s go.” Jude marched them along the corridor before gagging them with cleaning rags and pushing them in the closet. He slammed the door in their faces and then jammed the lock. “Let’s go.”

They hurried to the next locked door. The passes they’d stolen worked perfectly.

Inching the door open, Jude checked the way was clear before gesturing the others through.

“The room we need will be right around the next corner,” whispered Tobias.

Octavia could feel the hum of power lines beneath her feet as they stopped by a door.

Tobias scanned the card over the access panel. The light remained red.

He cursed and tried again. The same thing happened.

“We’ll have to break the lock,” said Tobias. “Those idiots we found don’t have clearance to get in here.”

Jude ducked and looked at the panel. “There’s no easy fix to this lock. The quickest way will be to blast the panel.”

“And bring guards to see what we’re doing?” Tobias shook his head.

“Octavia, check the end of the corridor. I’ll go to the other end. We’ll make sure no one’s nearby,” said Jude.

“What about people on the other side of the door?” asked Octavia.

“It’s automated in there,” said Tobias. “If there’s anyone, it will only be a technician. They’ll be easy to deal with.”

Octavia ran to the end of the corridor, her weapon tight in her grip. She looked both ways. It was empty. She turned and gave a thumbs up sign to Tobias.

He nodded.

Octavia held her breath as Tobias aimed at the lock and blasted it with his pulse laser. She waited a few more seconds before checking again. It was quiet. Hope slid through her. They’d gotten away with it. She raced back and joined Tobias and Jude.

Tobias had the door open, his weapon raised as he looked inside.

In front of them was a bank of computers.

“We need the main power line.” Tobias walked in ahead of them. “Keep an eye out for any workers. I doubt they’ll be armed.”

Octavia felt Jude’s reassuring presence by her side as they looked around the room. They were so close to success.

“This is it,” said Jude. He stopped by a wall of lights, a series of cables fed into the panel. “Tobias, over here.”

Tobias joined them. Octavia watched as he checked the power lines. “This is perfect.” He removed his backpack and set the first explosive.

“Put this at the end.” He handed Jude an explosive. “We’ll trigger them at the same time. If one fails, the other won’t.”

Octavia hurried alongside Jude to the opposite side of the room, tracing the power lines as they walked. She jumped as a switch activated, sparking a computer into life.

Jude glanced up as he activated the explosive. “We’ll be out in a few seconds. Don’t worry, this will work.”

She let out a sigh. It was if he could read her thoughts. “I know. I trust you.”

“All set?” Tobias walked over.

“Let’s do this.” Jude slid the door open and checked the corridor was clear before the three of them hurried out.