All Chapters of Anna’s Dilemma : Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

THE weight of the LEDger.ANNA’S POVMatt switched off the engine in the alley behind a walk-up of bricks. The sound of rain was beating the SUV roof and the sirens were drowned out. I had my hands flat on the folder in my lap. Brass key pierced my thigh with my blazer pocket. I was breathing evenly. I timed the seconds between Matt glancing in his mirrors and Michael surveying the street.We are all clear, said Matt, in a low voice. "Cameras loop in forty seconds. You have to move.Michael opened his door first. The cabin was struck by cold air. He didn't wait for me. He got out, looked around the alley, and held the back door open. I slipped down, with feet on wet sidewalks. I drew the blazer close and walked with him towards the back door.The door was opened, and Sofia was there. She had dark sweatpants and a loose knit sweater, with short hair behind her ears. She didn't smile. She simply moved aside and allowed us to enter.You are like you ran through a fence, you know, she sai

ANNA’S POVMatt left us three blocks outside the gates of the estate. The SUV drove away without Headlights. I held my shoulders down and walked with Michael. The rain had now fallen to a slow drizzle, and soaked through my blazer and stuck my hair to my neck. I didn’t care. I concentrated on the cameras on the perimeter, and counted the sweeps, how we moved between the blind areas.Michael proceeded, inspecting the chain-link fence around the service driveway. He didn’t hesitate. He simply slipped under the bottom rail, and motioned me to come with him. I fell on one knee, plucked through, and was on my feet before the mud seized my footwear. He did not turn his head back. He simply continued to walk towards the side door.You are aware of the blind spots, I said, and I kept my voice low.“I grew up here.” He had a look at the keypad next to the steel door. My mother rearranged the codes with the merger. She forgot that I had memorized the previous order before she began to trust gua

ANNA’S POVThe boat was cutting the rough water and Matt kept his hands locked on the wheel. The windshield was struck by hard sheets of rain. I was holding on to the edge of the console and the city skyline was becoming smaller behind us. My blazer was wet through. My shoes left pools of water on the floor. I didn’t care. I simply stared at the ledger on my knees.Michael was close to the stern with phone close to his ear and his voice low. He was discussing with his head of security, routes, mapping exits. He hung up and walked back inside. He didn’t sit. He simply leant against the bulkhead and stared at me.You are gazing at it as though it were going to bite you, he said.“It already did.” I tapped the cover. Your mother approved the routing. She did not merely cover it up.“I know what it says.” He rubbed his wet hair. I simply did not anticipate that she would put it down in writing.“She didn’t write it for us.” I looked up. She wrote it to insure it. In case Don Basano would