Snatching the data from Brianna´s offline device had turned out to be a lot easier than Danielle expected. Disguised with meeting papers, she had visited the Scientists office, which she knew it was empty for the next 15 minutes. Like shown in an online tutorial to pick a lock, she tried her luck to open the container in which she suspected the external drive with two bent paperclips. To her surprise it needed no more than two attempts before it´s inside eventually turned.
Back at her desk she felt a strange mixture of pride as well as irritation about her action. While she knew that John and Mr. Finch only had the best intentions, it was her own offer to be involved in something illegal that made her wonder about herself.
"20 minutes to go and still no sign of this Swedish project manager. Shouldn't he have been here half an hour ago already?", her co-worker Hayley attracted her attention
Averting her gaze from the two strange-looking men in front of the entrance to the opposite conference building, Danielle looked over to her colleague, who, motivated by her ongoing probationary period, was nervously looking back and forth the clock.
"Probably he´s stuck in traffic jam. Anyone who makes it to a meeting in this town on time deserves a medal", she tried to calm the young woman who was no older than 24.
"Maybe you are right. However, I´ll use the time to check the conference room for anything we might have forgotten."
Smirking at her Hayley´s commitment who, unlike her, seemed made for this job, Danielle turned her attention back to the window. Although she yesterday had planned to go to bed as early as possible, she wasn´t able to fall asleep after John's surprising visit. While her mind still refused to accept that Brianna also seemed to be in imminent danger, she furthermore had to admit that seeing back the person she owed her life to had triggered a feeling which she wasn´t able to put into words. Oddly concerned for Johns safety, her thoughts every now and then wandered to him and Mr. Finch over the past few months. As less as she was able to understand the idiosyncratic duo, it was their unselfish nature that impressed her up to this day.
Snapped back to reality by seeing their guest getting out of a cab, her gaze slid to the two men who took position with a barely noticeable nod beside the entrance. Realizing how also Arvid Svensson took notice of the strangers, he passed the opposite entrance to the building driven by an immediate escape reflex. Another nod from the men at his heels sent her up behind her desk.
"Damn", she blurted out in an involuntary reaction.
Reflexively grabbing the mobile phone that John had given her the night before, Danielle stormed towards the exit.
"Where do you go?", Hayley stopped her returning from the meeting room visibly irritated.
"I'll be right back. If I don't make it in time, it´s your chance to shine", she let her know before quickening her steps again.
Speed dial 1, she remembered John's words, which made her press the key combination as she left the stairwell.
"Pick up, please pick up", she pleaded when, fortunately, he answered her call on the second dial tone.
"That was faster than I expected", he greeted her, apparently alluding to the callback regarding the data.
"John, I think someone is after this Swedish project manager, Arvid Svensson", the cut him off more agitated than she intended to.
Not sure if he even understood what she was saying by making her way between the angry honking of cars, it was his instant alertness that strangely calmed her.
"Where are you and where is Svensson?", she heard a sudden focus in his voice.
"We are at the conference building called Loggia right across from LabTech. Svensson got in there, but two guys are after him. The building has five floors, but I don't know where they exactly are."
"I'll be right there. Call Svensson and tell him to hide."
"I´m not having his number with me. If I´ll find him before the two, I'm going to let you know where you can find us."
Obviously realizing what her plan was, he paused for a moment.
"It's too dangerous. Go back to LabTech and get his number", John urged once more.
"And what shall I tell myself if he is murdered in the meantime? I wanted to warn him, but unfortunately, he didn't answer my call?"
Danielle shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do that. These guys don't know me, which is in my favor. Please just hurry up", she asked him before interrupting the conversation.
"Mr. Reese, good of you to call. We just got another number", John heard Harold's voice via the secured line.
"Let me guess. It's Arvid Svensson", he surmised, accelerating once more.
"That's right, but how do you know...?"
"There´s no time to explain now but two unknown guys are after him. I'm on my way. They´re at the conference building next to LabTech. Danielle is trying to find Svensson before they do. I need your help by getting into the camera system to tell where the three of them are exactly located."
Harold frowned.
"I better won´t ask how Ms. Benson is involved in that", he stated.
"Call my disposable cell phone. Danielle will pick up", John instructed his partner, ignoring the reproaching undertone in his voice.
"Hold on, I'll contact her on another line, so you'll be able to follow the conversation… and it seems like I found, Mr. Svensson."
Pressing the speed dial button to Johns disposable mobile phone that he must have given Danielle without his knowledge, he suppressed the arising questions in his head.
"John?", it was her sudden agitated voice that made him snap back to reality. "I can't find Svensson. The building is too huge for a proper overview", she let him know before having the chance to say a word.
"Ms. Benson, this is Mr. Finch. You will find Arvid Svensson on the first floor. However, I need a description of the two men you´ve mentioned to John to locate them as well", he explained.
"Mr. Finch! Even if the situation seems to be inappropriate right now, it´s good to talk to you again."
Harold couldn´t help but smile. Admittedly a hello like this was not an everyday occurrence, but nonetheless a pleasant diversification.
"The two guys look like a weird mixture of bad-tempered body builders and Secret Service members. One of them is dark-skinned, the other dark-haired. Both are tall, wearing penguin like suits and have quite a scowl", she summarized.
Harold scanned the screen, which provided a fitting description of the men.
"The two gentlemen seem to have split up. Number one is in the stairwell from the basement towards the ground floor. The second, on the other hand, seems to work its way through from above and is now on the fourth floor. Mr. Reese is listening on a second line, so it will be easier for him to find you", he let her know.
"Alright, I´m on my way to Mr. Svensson, so we can try to find a place to hide until John is here", Danielle answered as she took the stairs to the first floor.
Ignoring her pounding heart, she only could hope to make it to the Swedish project manager in time.
