Little White Lies Extract
Sweat trickles down the back of my neck as I check the computer clock for the millionth time. ‘Hurry up!’
‘Patience, Titch.’ Kenny chides. ‘You can’t rush genius!’ He winks, his eyes the only part of his face visible through his balaclava.
My heart beats madly in the darkness. ‘This is taking too long.’ I hiss. ‘Are you sure you can do it?’
‘Piece of cake.’ Kenny assures me, his gloved fingertips dancing quickly over the office keyboard, illuminated by the unbearably bright computer screen. ‘Trust me.’
A woman laughs loudly outside, and my eyes fly to the unshaded windows.
‘Can’t you reduce the brightness or something?’ I beg. ‘Someone might see.’
‘Settle, Petal, I’m nearly there.’ Kenny clicks the mouse as it flickers quickly over the screen.
I glance again at the open blinds, then carefully pad across the dark office to the window. I reach for the cord – then headlights suddenly slice across the room.
I drop to the floor, my pulse racing. ‘Shit!’
Kenny looks over. ‘Titch. Seriously. Chill. No one can see us.’
I swallow hard and stand up.
‘Unless you stand in front of the window, of course,’ he adds. ‘Get back here.’
I scurry back to his side, but suddenly I freeze. ‘What’s that?!’
‘What?’ Kenny hisses.
‘I thought I heard something.’
He rolls his eyes. ‘You’re just para–’
A door slams noisily, cutting him off.
Kenny’s eyes widen as footsteps echo on the stairs.
‘Quick!’ He flicks the screen off, grabs me, and ducks beneath the computer desk, just as the fluorescent strips flicker on, flooding the room in glaring white light. I squeeze myself closer to Kenny, his heart thrumming madly against my ear.
‘Lucky we had to come back, eh mate?’ A man’s voice says. ‘Old Harris would’ve had your guts for garters in the morning!’
‘I don’t understand.’ A second man says. ‘I swear I set the alarm when I left.’
Kenny’s eyes meet mine as we both recognize the voice of Neil, the work experience mentor I’d shadowed for the past week, learning the ropes – including secretly memorizing the codes for the burglar alarm and computers. Turns out my careers advisor was right – work experience is invaluable.
‘You’re going senile!’ The first man chuckles.
‘Watch it, Trev – you’re older than me, remember?’ Neil says.
‘Older and wiser.’ Trev laughs. ‘At least I don’t forget stuff! Where’d you leave your phone this time?’
‘It must be on my desk.’
Shit. Neil’s desk. The desk we’re hiding beneath!
I hold my breath, my blood pounding deafeningly in my ears as his heavy footsteps thud towards us.
Oh my God, I’m going to jail. I’m going straight to jail. What was I thinking?!
I fold my knees into my chest, trying to make myself as small as physically possible as I squeeze my eyes shut, praying desperately, madly, hopelessly…
Please don’t find us. Please don’t find us. Please, please, please…
The footsteps get louder, closer, then a mobile phone bleeps.
‘Hey, Neil!’
The footsteps stop. I hold my breath.
‘False alarm. You left it at home, you plank!’
My heart leaps. No way!
‘What?’ Neil says.
‘I just got a message from your mobile – your wife’s got it, come on, let’s get out of here before you lose all your marbles!’
The footsteps move quickly away, and the door slams again.
‘Hey,’ Kenny nudges me after a few moments. ‘They’ve gone.’
I crack open an eyelid. The room is dark again. ‘What happened?’
He holds up a mobile phone, a text message shining on the screen.
Sent to TREVOR: Hi Trev, can you tell Neil I’ve got his phone at home?
‘Neil’s phone?’ I stare at him. ‘You sent the text?!’
He grins. ‘How much do you love me?’
‘Kenny, you’re a genius!’
‘Like, duh,’ he shrugs. ‘Should buy us some time to get out of here anyway. Let’s go.’
My heart sinks. ‘What about–’
‘This?’ Kenny winks, his dark eyes sparkling as he holds up a USB stick.
‘You got it?’ I stare at him. ‘You actually got it?!’
‘I never break a promise,’ he grins. ‘What’s it worth?’
I take the precious memory stick and throw my arms around him, adrenaline surging through my veins, unable to believe what I’m actually, finally, holding in my hands. It’s taken me a while to get here, but I’ve done it.
‘It’s utterly priceless.’ I whisper. ‘Thank you so much, Kenny.’
‘Thank me later,’ he smiles. ‘First we have to get out of here.’
Find Katie
Well, this definitely looks like a great book
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