The Lock Assignment (A Janet Markham Bennett Cozy Thriller Book 12) by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“And that’s what happens when the agency fails to set things up properly,” Veronica said.

She reached past Janet and tapped on the wall. A panel slid back to reveal a computer screen. Veronica typed in a code and the alarm stopped ringing.

“Intrud...” the voice trailed off.

“Give me a minute,” Richard said.

He was working on a laptop that had appeared from somewhere. Janet watched as he tapped through multiple screens in rapid succession.

“Here we are,” he said. “Janet’s retina scan was uploaded but not added to the security database.” He looked at Janet. “You’re fortunate that they added your fingerprint. Otherwise, you’d be stuck outside trying to prove your identity.”

Richard did some more things on the computer while Veronica entered a series of codes into the screen on the wall. Janet felt her heart rate start to fall as the metal doors slowly opened.

“It was a good test for the system, anyway,” Veronica said.

“As if we need to test the system,” Richard replied.

Janet watched as Richard worked. After a few minutes, he grinned at Janet. “Try again.”

“Do I have to?” she muttered.

“Everyone has to scan his or her retina in order to get through the door,” Veronica told her. “It only allows a single person through at a time.”

But I’m married, Janet thought, smiling to herself as the silly thought flashed through her head. She took a deep breath and then lined up with the box again. This time, after the flash of light, the door slid open. Janet walked through it. It shut immediately.

While she waited for Veronica, Janet glanced around the next room. It was small. The only furniture was a rectangular table with eight chairs.

“This is where we eat,” Veronica said as she walked in behind Janet. “That’s all that this room is used for, really, although it could be used for meetings if we ever had meetings.”

“How many people work here?” Janet asked.

“There are seven of us – eight, now that you’re here.”

“So just the right number of chairs,” Janet remarked.

Veronica nodded and then led her across the room. “Retina and fingerprint here,” she said. “Get your eye lined up first. Putting your finger on the fingerprint scanner is what activates the retina scan.”

Janet nodded and then moved into position. A moment later, the door in front of her slid open. She walked through the door. Veronica slipped in after her.

“Technically, I should have done my own scans,” Veronica said. “But this isn’t a high-security area.”

“It isn’t?”

Veronica laughed. “I tell everyone at the agency that requiring both retina and fingerprint scans on that door is completely unnecessary, but they don’t listen. Go ahead and open either door. You’ll see why I tell them that.”

There were two doors on opposite walls. Janet opened the door on the left and looked into the small loo. The door on the right revealed an identical space.

“They’re unisex,” Veronica told her. “There is a man who comes in every afternoon at three to clean them. We all do our best to keep them clean in between his visits.

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