Chapter 10: Colin's Code

I told Glenn the plan the minute he came downstairs for his shift.

"No," Glenn said.

"Yes," I said.

We were standing in the laundromat at six on Monday evening, between a row of dryers and a woman folding fitted sheets.

He had on his gray coveralls and a canvas jacket.

I had on a black sweatshirt and the one pair of jeans that did not have a hole in them.

"You're suspended," he said. "You're being watched. If you go into that building, you'll be arrested."

"I'm not going into the building as me."

"Then who?"

"As your wife, bringing you dinner."

He opened his mouth and shut it.

"I've worked late for four years," I said. "Your crew goes in the loading dock at six."

"The guard doesn't check the janitors. If I come in with a paper bag and a smile, nobody looks twice."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

I noticed, with a small unfair jolt, that his ears had gone pink.

"I don't want you in trouble," he said.

"I'm already in trouble."

"Jean."

"You want to find out who's selling the bids," I said. "So do I. I know that office better than you do."

"Why do you think I want to find out?" he said, a shade too sharply. "I'm a janitor."

"You're a janitor who asks questions about the sales floor."

"The other night I watched you read the printer log."

His mouth twitched.

"You noticed that."

"I notice everything."

That was truer than he knew.

He looked at me for a very long moment, and I saw the argument go out of him.

"Ten minutes," he said. "We go in, we look at one drawer, and we get out."

"Fine."

"And if anyone comes, you run."

"Fine."

"You'll actually run?"

"Of course not," I said. "But I'll say it was fine."

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