“Yeah.Or maybe you’re still experimenting on animals here?That’s fine, too.Easier to deal with, I’m guessing.”
Franklin wasn’t sure he liked the way Carla was watching him.He knew where the prisoners were being kept, but he also knew they were well guarded.He’d need permission to go there because there was no way he’d be able to sneak into that area of the building.Of course, he might not have to.If he was able to get the mutants in, they’d lead the way, and he would just have to follow.That would be easier for him and everyone else involved.
He wanted to free everyone, but his priority was his brother.That meant he wouldn’t be able to focus on helping anyone else, which was where the mutants came in.It was why they’d be here.
“I’ll talk to the head of security,” Carla said.“He’ll let you know if he wants you to work with the test subjects.For tonight, you’re assigned to the outside of the building.”
Franklin blinked.“I’m sorry?”
“You have grounds to patrol around the building.”She held something out, and Franklin accepted it.It was his badge, with his picture and his name.
“Use this to open the doors.You can use any of the doors that will lead you outside, but the same doesn’t go for inside.Until I’ve talked to the head of security, you’re only permitted in the areas I showed you.”
Franklin nodded.He’d expected that, but it didn’t matter.He could get to Garrett even if he wasn’t allowed anywhere near him.
“We expect you to do your rounds once every hour.As I’m sure you will see from the outside, the facility is expansive.Cover all of it.”
“Of course.It’s my job, isn’t it?”
Carla looked him up and down again.It made him feel like he was an insect under a microscope or something.It felt like she was considering whether or not to make him a test subject, too.He might become one if they ever found out what he was up to, but he had no intention of sticking around long enough for that.He’d be out of here with Garrett before Carla could realize what he’d done.
He smiled at her again and tried not to look threatening or like he was plotting something, even though he definitely was.Carla stared at him for a moment longer before nodding.“All right.Well, you know everything.Most of your job will be outside, but you’re allowed to come in once you’re done patrolling and use the breakroom or the bathroom.I’ll contact you as soon as the head of security is back in so you can meet with him before going home tomorrow morning.”
“Great.In the meantime, I’ll get right to work.”
Carla sniffed and turned.That was a dismissal if Franklin had ever seen one, which he was grateful for.He had work to do, and it wasn’t the work Carla expected.
They’d made his job easier without meaning to.He’d expected to be stuck in the breakroom talking to the head of security for a few hours, but this was better.With the key card in his hand, he could open any of the outside doors.That included the door Reed had pointed out as the best one to let the mutants in.
Franklin tried to act inconspicuously as he moved through the facility.A few people gave him curious stares, probably because he was new, but no one stopped him.He didn’t think anyone would.Everyone was too busy, and he was wearing a guard’s uniform, which meant he belonged here.The guards distracted by the replay of a football game in the breakroom meant that they wouldn’t look at him twice.
He found the door he was looking for and paused in case someone stopped him, even though the hallway was empty.He used his key card, and the light on the lock turned from red to green.Franklin pushed open the door as he reached for his earbud.
Showtime.
* * * *
REED COULDN’T REMEMBERthe last time he’d been so nervous.It had probably been when he’d escaped the lab.He’d expected someone to catch him every second of the time it had taken him to get to the outside door.
He was surprised it had been so easy for Franklin to get in.He’d expected security to be tighter after his escape, but it had been six months.If he knew the people who worked there, they’d been more vigilant for the first few days, maybe weeks, but when nothing else happened, they’d relaxed.Most of the guards were lazy and only worked there because it paid well.Others liked feeling the power over the prisoners.Whatever the reason, most of them weren’t that smart.
That would play in their favor.Hopefully, Franklin would be able to convince these people that he was on their side and eager to work with them.They just needed one opportunity to get inside the lab.Everyone hoped it would happen today, although there was no way for them to know for sure.It might take a few days, or even longer, for Franklin to be able to open the door they’d chosen as the best entrance.
It was at the back of the building, away from the labs and the area where the prisoners were kept.Most of the stuff in that area was cleaning supplies and closed offices, so it should have less security.Unfortunately, there was no way to know for sure.It was why they’d had to send Franklin in.They needed to know for sure what was going on before they could sneak in.They couldn’t afford to lose any of the prisoners or for information to be deleted from the database, not when they were hoping to take down what remained of the Glass Research Company, or at least the part of the company that was associated with the labs.
“How are you holding up?”Moore asked as he slid into one of the empty chairs at the kitchen table.
The house was so full of people waiting for a sign from Franklin that it was a miracle he’d found an empty seat.He probably would have anyway since this was his house, but it felt like people were coming out of the woodwork, and Reed didn’t know what to do with that.He could feel everyone watching him, no doubt because they didn’t know who he was.From what Moore had said earlier, he hadn’t told anyone that Reed had worked in the facility.The only thing these people knew was that he had information on the facility that he’d escaped six months ago.They knew he was a mutant, just like them.
That was it.
It made Reed nervous.He didn’t want people to judge him for what he’d done, but he also knew that eventually, they’d find out.Would it be best for him to tell everyone now?That way, the people who would decide they wanted nothing to do with him could stay away, and the people who were willing to give him a chance would know what he’d done.It wasn’t the right moment, though.Moore wanted to keep the peace, and Reed agreed.It would be best not to rock the boat right now when they were waiting for Franklin to call them.
“It feels like an eternity,” he told Moore.
Moore nodded.“I get that.I can’t say I’ve ever had to experience anything like that since my mate doesn’t go on raids, but plenty of my friends do.It’s hard.”
“Franklin is a little bit more than a friend for me.”
