Unless. Was someone already in the system and messing with them? With her? Could this be a cyberattack? This was a smart building with a lot of vectors for attacks, including—a chill swept through her—an elevator. Building codes required real-time voice and video in every elevator car. And yet no one seemed able to hear or see her.

Please, no. She was letting fear get the best of her. Still . . . using the light from her cell since the elevator fail-safe had so profoundly failed, she glanced up and spotted the camera. That terrified her more.

Was the cybercriminal watching her even now?

The air in the small car suddenly grew stuffy. She yanked off her jacket. Sweat beaded at her brow.

Think, Mackenzie.

She positioned herself so she could try to pull the elevator doors open, but they didn’t budge. She glanced up at the top of the elevator to the emergency hatch. That provided a way in and out of the box, but there was no way she could reach it.

“Mackenzie? Are you in there?” Through the elevator doors, the familiar voice was muted, but it sent relief flooding through her.

“Alex? Alex! Yes. Please, can you get me out?”

“Hold on. You might want to stand back.”

Why? Was he going to press C-4 against the doors and blow them open? Her wild imagination certainly wasn’t helping. But she wouldn’t question his advice, so she stood against the far corner and covered her head—just in case.

She heard Alex groaning. Actually, she heard two men grumble. A flashlight beam shone from behind the legs of two people as the doors slowly began to separate. With the doors pried open a good distance, she could see the car had stopped between floors. Alex crouched to look down at her. Relief surged through her, but she wasn’t out of danger yet. His expression told her that he was concerned as well.

He thrust his arms through the space they’d opened up—apprehension in his eyes, concern carved across his features. “Come on.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” She rushed forward and let him pull her through the opening. Dim lights flashed in the hallway. Then the power came back on, and lights flickered bright in the corridor. The elevator doors closed, and the car sounded as if it were going down to the main floor.

What would have happened if she had been climbing out and the elevator started again?

Alex pulled her to her feet and gently gripped her arms. He peered at her, distress exploding from his intense gaze. “Are you okay?”

Now that you’re here. She was terrified moments ago. A ridiculous, unreasonable terror. Seeing Alex’s face had surprised and relieved her, but there was another, more powerful emotion that she couldn’t put her finger on as he held her gaze for far too long.