Page 114

“Uh, hey, Paige,” Dewey said, his voice hesitant.

Paige ignored him, still in search of the door leading to the archive.

“Paaaaige.”

She swung into another aisle and hurried along it, snaking toward the back of the building.

“Paige!” Dewey hissed.

“What?”

“What time is it?”

“I don’t know,” Paige snapped, digging in her purse and toggling on her phone’s display. “It’s 2:15 p.m. No, wait. It’s two in Shadow Harbor. Which means it’s… nine fifteen here.”

“Nine fifteen. The library closes at nine thirty. That’s what she was announcing.”

Paige glanced toward the tables. Most of the remaining patrons packed their bags and shuffled away from the tables.

“Shoot.” She swiveled her head in search of the restrooms.

“Find the bathroom and hide!”

“Yes, I’m trying!” she said as she hurried along, trying doors in the hopes that one of them led to a ladies’ room.

As she twisted the knob on a random door that wouldn’t budge, she spotted a woman emerging from across the room, wiping her hands with a paper towel.

“Bingo,” Paige said and hurried toward the door, then she pushed into the large, well-lit bathroom.

She dashed to one of the middle stalls and hurried inside. She settled on the toilet and pulled her legs up as another announcement broadcast throughout the library.

With the carrier balanced on her crossed legs and her tote hugged to her chest, she blew out a long breath.

“What time is it?” Dewey questioned.

“I don’t know,” Paige huffed. “Stop talking before we get caught.”

“No one’s in here, Paige. Oh, never mind. Forget it. We’ll just sit here in silence for however long it takes.”

“Fine,” Paige exclaimed.

“Fine,” Dewey hissed.

Silence settled around them as they waited. Paige fidgeted on the uncomfortable plastic seat. It squeezed in protest.

“Quit jumping around. You’re going to break the seat!”

“I’m not going to break–“

They fell silent, freezing as the door squeaked open and a pair of heels stepped onto the tiled floor.

Paige held her breath, afraid to move a muscle.

The heels crossed the floor, passing by them as they headed to the opposite side of the restroom. Keys jangled and a scraping noise sounded before a slamming door echoed throughout the space.

Paige pressed her lips together, afraid even her shallow breathing would alert the woman to her presence.

The door squeaked again, and a voice called through in Russian. The woman answered before striding back toward the door. The room plunged into darkness seconds later, and the door creaked closed.