Haley

Alone at a table in the cafeteria of the Zenith training center, I nibbled on my salad and immersed myself in the novel on my phone. Even though I'd read the story countless times, I always enjoyed it, finding comfort in Mr. Darcy’s and Elizabeth Bennet's familiar slow-paced courtship. The guaranteed happy ending didn't hurt either.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for my own love life, the fate of which remained in the balance. The guys had insisted there was a path forward, but I still struggled to see it.

I shook my head, not wanting to dwell on a seemingly impossible situation. Although spending last night with Chase had given me a renewed sense of hope, I was seconds away from falling apart, something I refused to do in front of my fellow trainees. So, when my phone vibrated, alerting me of an incoming text message, I was grateful for the distraction.

Kara: Want to grab dinner tonight to celebrate surviving KJ's strategy course?

Me: I still have to complete the final assignment. But, yeah, dinner sounds good. Want me to pick you up after training?

Kara: Perfect.

Me: I'll text you when I'm leaving.

Kara: Okay.

Realizing how late it was, I slipped my phone into my purse and tossed the rest of my mostly uneaten lunch in the trash. I navigated the hallways to the classroom, wondering what Kenneth had in store for our final assignment. In spite of his brusque manner, I'd actually come to like him over the past few weeks. He was an excellent teacher, and I respected his opinion.

He glanced up from his tablet when I entered the room and gave me a warm smile. I slid into a seat next to Ben and silenced my phone while the rest of the trainees joined us.

“Good afternoon,” Kenneth said. “As I'm sure you're all aware, today is the last day of our course, and I wanted to tell you all how much I've enjoyed teaching this class. Thank you for being so welcoming and so teachable.

“As you know, I have a special challenge prepared for each of you. With that in mind, I’m going to keep today’s lecture short.”

He hadn’t connected his tablet to the projector, for which I was grateful. I was anxious to get started on the final project and even more ready to conclude it.

“As a society, we have become increasingly reliant on technology, and it enables us to do more than ever before, giving us access to information in the palm of our hands. But we've also come to depend on it to an alarming degree. You never know when power will fail, a device will malfunction, or service will drop.

“When I was in the field, we didn't have cell phones or tablets. While technology vastly improves our ability to operate, we have to ensure it doesn't become a crutch. My hope is that each and every Zenith trainee will appreciate the value of technology without becoming overly reliant upon it. So, you will not be permitted to use any electronic devices for your assignment today.”

There were murmurs from my fellow trainees at his announcement, and while I wasn't thrilled by the idea, I saw his point. Technology should be viewed as one of many available resources, not the entire arsenal. Considering my dad's emphasis on maps and being innovative with the supplies on hand, I had a feeling he'd agree with Kenneth's training tactic.

“Please remove your phones, tablets, laptops, and any other devices from your bags and place them in the marked bins on this table.” He gestured to a table next to the lectern, where five labeled bins were waiting. “I will collect them for safekeeping until you return.”

We lined up, and I reluctantly parted with my iPhone while my fellow classmates deposited their laptops, phones, and tablets.

“Ben.” Kenneth inclined his head toward Ben's wrist. Ben hesitated a moment and then removed his smartwatch and deposited it in the bin along with his other items.

“Thank you, everyone,” Kenneth said as we returned to our seats.

“Now, I'm sure this doesn't need repeating, but your final assignment is crucial to whether you pass or fail this class. Your ability to complete it within the time limit, and with satisfactory results, is paramount. I have prepared a basic dossier for each of you.” He placed a folder and a canvas bag on each of our desks.

“You may take anything from the bag, as well as your assessment form, into the field. As we’ve discussed previously, it’s not uncommon to memorize the specifics of your assignment, so the dossier will remain here. Once you’ve completed your review of the documents, please return them to me on your way out.

“You have until five o'clock to complete the assignment. Anyone who does not return by then automatically fails and will have to contact building security to collect his or her personal belongings. The clock is ticking, so I suggest you get started.”

Papers shuffled as the five of us opened our folders, eager to discover what was inside. According to the file, my client was an up-and-coming biotechnology firm known for its radical, and often controversial, research. With construction soon to commence on their new headquarters in Silicon Valley, they had contacted Zenith regarding security.

The location selected was once the home of a legendary tech company that had gone bust. The campus was distinctive but outdated, and the client intended to gut the building and breathe new life into it. Before beginning an expensive renovation, the client wanted Zenith to assess the current layout and determine what, if any, changes needed to be made.

Employee safety was a priority, as was the protection of their research and trade secrets. They would require physical as well as technological barriers to access. And, of course, there was always a budget to consider. Although, when it came to protecting highly lucrative biotech, the budget was astronomical.

My objective was to assess the site, including the parking garage and visitor lot, and provide a comprehensive plan for security. Specific emphasis was to be paid to certain research labs and executive offices, and a basic layout of the building had been included.

If I had to guess, the time limit was going to be my biggest challenge. It could take weeks to properly complete an assignment of this magnitude, and Kenneth wanted me to do so in an afternoon. Fortunately, I already had some ideas, and seeing the space in person would help. If anything, I was feeling excited, adrenaline pumping through my veins at the challenge ahead.

Having finally reviewed all the documents in the folder, I turned my attention to the canvas bag. I unzipped it to discover an inventory sheet, which I cross-checked with the contents. There was a watch, a map of the area, and a pen. A glance at the watch told me it was nearly two o'clock, and I secured it to my wrist. I officially had three hours to access the site, conduct my assignment, complete the enclosed Zenith assessment form, and return it to Kenneth at the training center.

After mapping out a route, I studied the address one last time before returning the folder to Kenneth. I gathered the remaining materials and headed to the Jeep, focused on my task. I drove down the highway in the direction of Palo Alto, finally spotting my exit. Even though it was on the outskirts of Silicon Valley, the area was surprisingly rundown, and the Jeep rattled over the uneven roads with their patchwork repairs. People milled about, some pushing shopping carts full of trash bags beneath the faded signs of small neighborhood markets and restaurants.

Confident that I'd recalled the directions correctly, I drove on, waiting for the scenery to change. I crossed a set of train tracks and turned onto the street provided as the address for the client's new headquarters. From the looks of it, the area was on the cusp of redevelopment, but it was still in the early stages.

Construction dominated the neighborhood, from street repairs to building demolition. It was noisy, messy, and not at all what I'd expected. There were no landscaped sidewalks or high-end headquarters. No parking lots filled with employee cars. It was mostly industrial, with a few office buildings sprinkled throughout.

I pulled into a drive, passing a large granite sign covered with graffiti. I knew from the large etched numbers that I had the correct address, even if I didn't want to believe it. The parking lot was empty, the grass dead and littered with trash. The building looked nothing like the glossy picture in the dossier.

What the heck? It wasn't like I'd expected to be greeted by a corporate representative and offered a coffee and a tour of the campus, but . . . geez. Based on the exterior, I'd be lucky if roaches and mice were the only inhabitants.

I put the Jeep in park and ensured my doors were locked before closing my eyes to recall the address once more. Doing so merely confirmed what I already knew—this was the correct location. Somehow, I had a feeling that Knox would kill me if he knew where I was. I swallowed past the lump in my throat, burying my feelings about Knox for the time being. Kenneth wouldn't have sent me here if he didn't think I was up to it.

I skimmed the assignment form again, even though I didn't need to, wasting time I didn't have in an attempt to escape the inevitable. With a sigh, I shut off the engine, grabbed a flashlight from the glove box, and shoved my purse under the passenger seat before exiting the car. Keeping an eye on my surroundings, I hastened toward the front door and slipped inside.

Unfortunately, it was even worse than the exterior. Debris was scattered everywhere, the few light fixtures that remained dangled from the ceiling, and there were random holes in the walls. In short, it was the perfect setting for a horror film. I shook my head, wondering what I had gotten myself into. I could only assume this was all part of the test.

Even from inside the building, I could still hear the raucous noise of construction—jackhammers pounded in the near distance, adding to the cacophony of sounds from the demolition. When a pigeon burst forth from an alcove, its wings flapping madly, I nearly jumped out of my skin. With my heart beating at a rapid pace, I careened around, looking for any other surprises.

Once I'd assured myself I was alone, I took a deep breath and tamped down my anxiety. I needed to stay focused, stay calm, and get the job done. The sooner I finished, the sooner I could leave.

After reviewing the lobby, employee cafeteria, and interior courtyard, I spent some time evaluating the location for the research labs and executive offices. I felt confident in the suggestions I’d developed so far, trying to incorporate many of the lessons Kenneth had taught us. I addressed a few of the weaknesses within the planned layout and could only hope that I’d considered every angle.

Planning to wrap up my inspection soon, I walked briskly toward the back of the building. I just needed to assess the loading docks and storage area, and then I could leave.

The toe of my boot scuffed against broken glass, and I ignored the trash and fragments of cardboard scattered around. The light from my flashlight flickered, and I banged it against my palm a few times, wishing I'd brought backup batteries. It wasn’t so dark that I couldn’t see without it, but it did help. And just carrying it was reassuring.

Everything went black, and the split second it took me to realize that a cloth had been thrown over my head was a second too long. I screamed into the darkness, even more terrified when two pairs of hands grabbed my arms. I flailed around, struggling to free myself.

When my attackers tried to pick me up, I kicked with all my might and my knee connected with something. I heard a grunt and felt one less pair of hands, but I still couldn't see anything. I could feel the panic rising within me as my breath came out in hot pants against the scratchy cloth. Before I could react, before I could attempt to defend myself, something hit me. Hard. Everything faded away.