Page 81 of Love Under the Microscope
“And what if Nigel is in there?”
“I called UnoPharm earlier and made sure he was in the office today.”
At least that’s something. I point around too. “Can you get in without Mr. Grim noticing?”
“Yes, I think I remember where his office is. If we back up now, I’ll be in his blind spot.”
I get the feeling she’s bluffing. “Think or know?”
“I know.”
I survey the area. No cameras, which surprises and worries me at the same time. Maybe they’ve hidden something much more high-tech. “Security?”
“Sensors on the doors, but I’m pretty sure they’re only activated when the alarm is on, and I don’t remember them activating the system if someone’s home.”
She also remembered a pool, but it’s best if I ignore that. “Okay, you go, and I’ll come in once I’m sure he hasn’t seen you.”
Zelda slowly backs away until she’s out of my peripheral vision. I nervously wait a few minutes to ensure she hasn’t been spotted entering the house. When no one yells about a burglary, I go to the door she pointed out as Nigel’s bedroom.
I poke my head around the door into a plain, boring bedroom. “Hey, find anything?”
She slowly puts a painting onto the bed. “I found a safe.”
“Behind a painting? How cliché.”
Zelda smirks. “Jealous he has a safe?”
I roll my eyes. “Hardly. He’s a dick. So you found a safe, but how do we open it?” I knew this would happen. “I told you we should have gotten in touch with my bank robber friend.”
“Not necessary.” Zelda pushes up her sleeves.
“Well, you don’t know how to crack a safe, and I certainly don’t.”
“Maybe not.” Zelda wiggles her eyebrows. “But YouTube does.”
When she holds up her phone and presses play, I’m sure we’ll get busted. I only hope someone will post bail for us. Nate, maybe?
CHAPTER 20
ZELDA
I can’t believe Jack doesn’t think I can open the safe. “You have such little faith.”
“I’m sure you can open it. You tend to succeed at most things.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “I’m just not sure you have time for this.”
“Well, if you stop distracting me, I might.” I aim my thumb at the safe behind me. “Can I carry on and prove just how damn brilliant I am?”
He looks behind him and then at me with a resigned expression. “Okay, but hurry. I hear voices and don’t want to be the news instead of writing it.”
Jack keeps looking over his shoulder. His hand grips on to the door so tightly his knuckles are white. Breaking and entering into Nigel’s room certainly doesn’t seem to give him the same buzz as breaking and entering into Nigel’s office.
“You won’t go to jail, Jack.” I try to soothe his nerves. “If we get caught, I’ll tell the police what Nigel stole from me.”
Jack gives me a look that says that’s a crap plan, which it is since that wouldn’t negate our current crime. Besides, I’ve already established the police are unlikely to believe me as I have no proof of my theft. If I can’t find the pages, then how are they supposed to? And I was wrongly accused and proven guilty of stealing my own research in grad school. I don’t think that’s part of the public record, but somebody from back then might see my mug shot and remember what happened.
“Maybe you should tell them,” Jack suggests. “It might keep us out of jail if you tell them before Nigel realizes we’ve been here.”
“You worried that maybe you’re so pretty you’ll end up as someone’s wifey in jail?”
