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“No,” Daria said somewhat patiently. “I’m getting you out. With a certificate that says you’ve completed the program.”

That was different. Alli’s heart started to beat a little faster. But she was a businesswoman. “A thousand.”

Daria squinted at her, chewing the inside of her cheek. “You want out or not?”

Five thousand pounds to not have to spend the next week and a half here. It wasn’t that much, she supposed. “Three thousand.”

“Four.”

“Deal.”

There was a moment of silence, as though they were both thinking about what they’d agreed to.

“So, when do we start? Now?” Alli asked hopefully.

Daria sniffed. “We start when the money’s in my account. You can put the cash on a pre-paid Visa and have it sent to my email.”

“Right.” Alli waited a heartbeat. “Um, I’ll need my phone to dothat.”

“That’s your lookout,” said Daria, turning to the door. “Get someone on the outside to do it for you and pay them back.”

Which she would if she thought anyone would actually do that for her.

“Otherwise, deal’s off,” Daria added, turning the door handle.

“No, wait, I’ll get it,” Alli hurriedly said.

Daria pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. “Here’s the email. I’ll come get you once I see the money.” And she slipped out of the door.

Alli breathed deeply, the paper crumpled in her hand. Alright, this was what she’d wanted. She could get out, she could go back to her own life, not have to worry about this anymore. It was almost like a dream come true.

Even thinking the word dream made her legs feel weak and her center feel hot and liquidy.

She swallowed. Alright. She could do this. She could be out and putting all of this behind her by tonight.

Opening up the door, she went out into the corridor. Out tonight. As long as Bea came through and got her her phone like she promised. Alli grinned to herself. Bea would do it. She thought back to the session with Lex. Bea would do it because she was afraid of Alli.

Yet somehow that thought didn’t make her feel an awful lot better about things. How odd.

Chapter Sixteen

It was five o’clock, which meant that technically, Bea had seven hours left in which to get Alli’s phone. Otherwise, well, the otherwise was too awful to think about. Trying to imagine telling Liz that she couldn’t pay back the deposit on the flat made Bea feel a little bit sick. Actually, a lot sick.

Which was why she was pulling on a pair of gloves that she’d taken from the kitchen. She’d been a bit worried about that part, but Celine, the cook, had just shrugged in disinterest and pointed her to the box of gloves on the counter.

Her hands felt dry and strange in the plastic. Once she had them on, she realized that she had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to do now. She’d covered the leaving no fingerprints part. She had most of the code to the padlock on the trunk, thanks to Alli’s observance. Getting into the locked room was another matter entirely.

The programmers were meditating, so the halls seemed empty as she made her way to the room. She got there, looked over both shoulders, then tried the handle. Locked. Obviously. Why had she thought any different?

She peered at the lock like she might be able to magically open it. No such luck. She needed the key and Luke had the key. Which meant—

“What on earth are you doing?”

She looked up to see Josh with his hands on his hips. “Um…”

He rolled his eyes. “You know it’s locked, right?”

“I know, I know, but…” She had precisely zero excuses.