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And her sister.
She needed to look at anomalies in the data. Weird log-in times. An IP address moving through the network in unusual behaviors or going somewhere it wasn’t supposed to go. She set up the available cybersecurity tools to run analytics. She created queries to search the data, the activity, and even company emails. Because ... she needed to know the real hidden treasure Hanstech held. Someone wanted something. What was it? And why?
Mackenzie was grateful Nora hadn’t returned yet. That would give Mackenzie time to get all the needed queries running so she would have data to look at in the morning. While the initial analytics were running and before Nora returned, Mackenzie needed to explore to see if there were actually additional floors that Nora hadn’t shown her. Something about Nora’s reaction to Mackenzie’s joke about mad scientists left her wondering. And since no other employees were here—except for the two security guards—there would never be a better time.
Mackenzie grabbed her bag and the new keycard and headed for the elevator. She left the office door unlocked. Nora hadn’t given her a key yet. Inside the elevator she used the keycard and pressed the button for the first-floor level. Once there, she could look for exits to another level. Maybe try the stairwell. If she knew more about Hanstech, if she knew what Nora was hiding, then Mackenzie could know how best to help.
Lights flickered. Gears ground as the elevator stopped suddenly.
Huh?
She pushed down the panic. This wasn’t a skyscraper. But if she had to guess, she was stuck between the second and third floors. She could definitely suffer an injury if the elevator dropped. In the meantime, how did she get out of here?
An alarm went off. The elevator? The building? Was there a fire somewhere?
Her heart rate jumped. She gulped for air. What about the elevator fail-safe, where the battery kicked in? It’s going to be okay. She wouldn’t panic yet. Using her cell for light, she spotted the alarm button, but there was already an alarm blaring somewhere. She pressed the red button on the emergency elevator phone. Not really a phone but the image of a phone, a speaker and instructions that read “push to talk.”
She held it down to speak. “Help! Anyone there? Hello? I’m stuck in the elevator. Please get me out!”
She released the button and heard nothing. No static. No response. Her breath hitched, and she repeatedly pressed the button as if that would make a difference.
Do not panic.
Remain calm.
Just wait.
Right. That wasn’t going to work. Panic flooded her despite her determination. She pounded on the door. “Help! I’m in the elevator. Help me out!”
Mackenzie looked at her cell. No reception.
I’m in a small box in the dark. There’s no reason to be afraid.
A facility like this should have backup generators.
Unless. Was someone already in the system and messing with them? With her? Could this be a cyberattack? This was a smart building with a lot of vectors for attacks, including—a chill swept through her—an elevator. Building codes required real-time voice and video in every elevator car. And yet no one seemed able to hear or see her.
Please, no.She was letting fear get the best of her. Still ... using the light from her cell since the elevator fail-safe had so profoundly failed, she glanced up and spotted the camera. That terrified her more.
Was the cybercriminal watching her even now?
The air in the small car suddenly grew stuffy. She yanked off her jacket. Sweat beaded at her brow.
Think, Mackenzie.
She positioned herself so she could try to pull the elevator doors open, but they didn’t budge. She glanced up at the top of the elevator to the emergency hatch. That provided a way in and out of the box, but there was no way she could reach it.
“Mackenzie? Are you in there?” Through the elevator doors, the familiar voice was muted, but it sent relief flooding through her.
“Alex? Alex! Yes. Please, can you get me out?”
“Hold on. You might want to stand back.”
Why? Was he going to press C-4 against the doors and blow them open? Her wild imagination certainly wasn’t helping. But she wouldn’t question his advice, so she stood against the far corner and covered her head—just in case.
She heard Alex groaning. Actually, she heard two men grumble. A flashlight beam shone from behind the legs of two people as the doors slowly began to separate. With the doors pried open a good distance, she could see the car had stopped between floors. Alex crouched to look down at her. Relief surged through her, but she wasn’t out of danger yet. His expression told her that he was concerned as well.
He thrust his arms through the space they’d opened up—apprehension in his eyes, concern carved across his features. “Come on.”
