Mackenzie stepped out of her office and eyed the elevators she did not want to get on. She couldn’t get down to that level without a keycard, but she had a plan. She had left her iPad on Nora’s desk as an excuse to get back into her office while she was gone. Maybe she could find the keycard she needed. She headed down the stairs to Nora’s office and stopped at Maci’s desk.

“Hey, I forgot my iPad.”

On the phone again, Maci waved her through. Maybe all the phone calls had to do with Rowan’s recent passing. Whatever they were about, they distracted Maci.

Rushing around to her sister’s desk, she tried the drawers. Locked. Nora really didn’t trust anyone. Mackenzie stood and searched the room. Nora probably had the keycard on her. Mackenzie was stupid to even try. She grabbed her iPad from the desk—and just in time.

“Did you find it?” Maci stood at the door.

“Yes.”

Mackenzie glanced behind the woman. “Where’s Cleo?”

“My ex came and got him.”

Mackenzie embraced her iPad to hide her shaking hands. She wasn’t meant for this clandestine stuff—unless, of course, it was on a digital plane. She’d snooped around in computer systems, but she couldn’t physically snoop around.

She moved to the large window and took in the expansive view.

Maci stood next to her. “It’s gorgeous. Listen, I won’t tell her you were looking for something in her office, if you won’t tell her that I let you walk right in.”

Mackenzie angled her head. Smart girl. A new ally perhaps? Except she and Nora weren’t enemies. But they would be if Mackenzie lost her sister’s trust. “What’s on the lower level?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve never been down there?”

“No.”

At least she hadn’t denied the existence of a lower level.

A sound drew her attention around. Nora blew into her office like a whirlwind. “What’s going on?”

“Mackenzie asked to wait for you in your office. We were admiring the view.”

Nora’s face brightened with expectation. She thought Mackenzie had something to report.

“Thank you, Maci.”

“I’ll leave you two alone now.” Maci tossed Mackenzie a subtle smirk, then left, shutting the door behind her.

“That was a fast lunch.”

“Carson got called away. A family emergency. So you learned something?”

“We both know this isn’t about this network. It’s about the other system that you’ve been keeping from me.” That all-too-familiar fear surged in Nora’s eyes again. Acid churned in Mackenzie’s gut. “This whole time you’ve been letting me play around, knowing I wouldn’t find anything.”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Nora whispered so low Mackenzie barely heard her.

“But I am here.” In this mess with you. “Now, let me into the other system.”