Chapter 19: Camera Nine

Gus had left a note taped across the middle of the monitor wall.

CAMERAS ARE OFF. I CHECKED TWICE. DO NOT TOUCH THE DRAWER. THE PRETZELS ARE FOR EMERGENCIES. G.

Underneath, in smaller letters, he had written: CAMERA NINE IS THE RACCOON.

"What's camera nine?" I asked.

"There are only eight monitors," Reed said.

He locked the gatehouse door behind us and turned the little brass bolt.

Then he stood with his back against it and looked at me in my new camel coat, and he did not say a word.

I could not stand it.

"It's a very nice door," I said.

"Take the coat off."

"You said you'd do that."

"I said I'd start with it." He came off the door in two steps. "I changed my mind. I want to watch you do it."

I undid the buttons slowly, one at a time, with my eyes on his face.

His hands were open at his sides, and a muscle in his jaw jumped on the fourth button.

I let the coat fall behind me onto Gus's swivel chair.

"Your lanyard is still on," I said.

"It's a good lanyard."

"Take it off, Monitor."

He lifted it over his head, and the laminated card swung at the end of it, with all nine rules in a bold font.

I took the card between two fingers and read the last one aloud.

"Rule nine. No physical contact with the monitor."

"I'm revoking it," Reed said.

"You can't revoke your own rule."

"I wrote it. I'll do what I like."

I dropped the card on the desk, face down, among the pretzels.

Then I took the front of his shirt in both fists and kissed him hard, with my whole mouth, and he made a low noise and lifted me against the door.

My legs went around his waist.

His hands slid under my sweater and up my ribs.

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