The Gender Game Bella Forrest (best young adult book series TXT) 📖

thirty minutes in case you can't leave me that quickly. Promise him that you will meet him."

Again, I nodded.

"The cameras will catch him heading to the security room. Soon after that, the cameras on the ground floor will stall. And fifteen minutes later, the first round of bombs will detonate at the back of the banquet hall."

"First round of bombs?" I asked, frowning.

"Yes," Lee said. "Plans changed in the last week—we will be blowing not just the ground floor, but also upstairs. Not only will this create an additional distraction, but it will choke the sky more thickly with smoke which, as you'll see, will be important."

"And where will we be?"

"Up until the bombs go off, we will be attending the banquet, of course. We will arrive at the lab at about six-thirty. Everyone will be chatting and relaxing in the lounge until about seven-ten, when we'll head to the dining hall. The banquet will be served at seven-thirty—which is when the first bombs are due to explode. I'll be watching the clock, and four minutes before, at seven twenty-six, I will receive a blank call. We'll be in the main hall, which is large. The bombs have been installed within the walls of the furthest end of the room from the door. We'll use the blank call as an excuse to stand by the exit, on the opposite corner of the explosives. I'll tell them that your aunt, who is sick, has called and you need to take a few minutes to talk to her. I'll accompany you to the door, where we'll hold an imaginary conversation in view of everyone.

"Then, as soon as the bombs go off, you'll rush to the egg's lab using the staircase, while I'll head off in a different direction to arrange transport for us…" I listened carefully as he began to explain how to set up the bombs around the glass casing of the egg and have them implode without blowing myself up.

He made me repeat the process three times until he was satisfied that every detail had sunk in, though I would've appreciated a practice run.

"Then," he went on, "all you'll have to do is retrieve the egg, hurry to the stairs, and head up to the roof. You will find the door leading out to the rooftop open, and I'll be waiting for you there. From the time you leave me downstairs, you'll have exactly fifteen minutes. You mustn't be any later than that."

Fifteen minutes was tight for all that. The light fitting hiding the package was fiddly. At least I'd opened it once already. I had to hope the second time wouldn't take me as long.

"So," Lee said, clasping his hands together, "that's all you'll have to do. Alastair is due to call to check in on us in about fifteen minutes. And we'll make the call to Viggo in an hour."

I sat in the kitchen opposite Lee, clutching his phone in my hands and staring down at Viggo's number. I pressed dial. My palms grew sweaty as it rang.

"Mr. Bertrand?" Viggo's deep voice spoke in my ear after five rings.

"Mrs. Bertrand," I replied.

Viggo went quiet. So did I.

Lee widened his eyes at me.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," I said, wetting my lower lip, "but I need to talk to you about last night."

There was a beat before he replied, "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"It probably isn't," I said. "But I need to speak to you. I'll be at the lab's banquet with Lee tonight. I need to… get something off my chest."

"Where is your husband now?"

"Taking the dog for a walk. He's off work today."

"Then why can't you tell me now?" Viggo posed.

"It's something best said in person."

Another span of silence. Then I heard him drawing a breath. "All right," he muttered. "I'll meet you, but after that, I think it's best that we don't see each other again. I doubt your husband will ask me to have a lot more to do with you."

"Okay," I said, my voice going a tad scratchy.

"Where do you want to meet?"

"In the lab building. Outside the camera room."

"Hm. Okay."

"At seven-fifteen. I'll do my best to arrive at that time, but if I have some trouble getting away from Lee, could you wait for up to thirty minutes? If I don't arrive by seven forty-five, feel free to leave."

Asking anybody to hang around for thirty minutes was disrespectful. I could hear his reluctance, but he agreed. He was probably regretting ever having gotten involved with me in the first place.

"Okay, I'll see you later," I concluded. "Goodbye, Viggo."

"Goodbye, Mrs. Bertrand."

33

Lee was pleased by my performance.

"Now you can relax for the next few hours," he said. "We will be leaving here at five-thirty to allow us some leeway with the traffic, but I suggest you get ready in good time. And wear something nice."

I wished that we didn't have hours to wait. I wished that we could leave now and get it all over with.

But the time passed quickly. Before I knew it, I was in my room getting ready. I chose the same blue dress that I had worn for Lee's and my wedding. When I ran, I would have to hike it up, but the only thing suitable for an occasion such as a banquet would be a long dress, according to Lee. I would wear my heels too. Those would definitely have to come off.

After I finished dressing and trying to make my hair look presentable, I left my room and found Lee sitting at his computer again. He was already dressed in a black tuxedo. His hair was gelled back, his face clean-shaven. He looked bland, nondescript. The polar opposite of Viggo’s rugged style.

He looked me over as I eyed him, then reached into a drawer and handed me the same pack of tools that I'd used the last time I'd ventured into the egg's lab. Screwdrivers for the light fitting.