The light on the reader blinked red.

I tried again, pressing the plastic card flat against the sensor.

The red light remained solid.

My breath caught in my throat.

They had revoked my access to this section of the building.

I looked down the hallway.

Two security guards were walking in my direction, talking in low tones.

I stood there, frozen, as the guards turned the corner and looked straight at me.

The guards stopped five feet from me.

The taller one, Officer Harris, squinted at my badge.

“Problem, Ms. Bennett?” he asked.

His hand rested near his utility belt.

“The card reader isn’t responding,” I said, keeping my voice soft and slightly breathless.

I let my shoulders slump, playing the part of the overwhelmed assistant.

“Mr. Reed needs the hard copies of the Crane capital restructuring files from the archive closet,” I lied.

I showed them the empty folder in my hands.

“He said if they aren’t on the boardroom table in ten minutes, we’re both going to have a very long day.”

Harris looked at the other guard, Miller.

Miller sighed and rubbed his temple.