“Sorry, the door weighs, like, a million pounds. It’s impossible to close gently.” Folding my arms over my chest, I hug myself, attempting to pull it together.

“That’s not what I meant.” He unscrews the panels above and below the steering column, and removes them, before using the screwdriver to point at my puffy pink skirt.

“It was a special occasion. I had to dress the part,” I say, smoothing the shimmery fabric over my thighs. “I didn’t know we were going to end up breaking and entering. Can’t you hot-wire any faster?”

“I’m going as fast as I can.” Sucking in his cheeks, he locates two red wires, cuts both, and strips the ends. “And your dress should be a lesson. Always be prepared.” He shoves the tool bag toward me. “Luckily, whoever planted the car for us thought ahead for you.”

Of course he had the foresight to wear all black. I frown and dig through the bag, finding my catsuit and mask. My eyes widen. “Where did they get this? Did they go through my stuff?”

“Is it yours?” He twists the wires together.

“Yes.”

“Then yes. They went through your stuff.” Pulling up two brown wires, he cuts them and strips the ends. “And you better hurry up and change.” He touches the two wires together, and the car rumbles to life.

I scramble into the backseat, crouching low as he drives out of the alley. Wiggling out of my dress, I stuff it into the bag, trying to cover myself with it as I stretch on the tight suit.

“No peeking. Nothing to see here.” I catch his eye in the rearview mirror as I zip up the suit as quickly as my jittery hands will let me.

“Tell me about it.” He arches an eyebrow.

I elbow the back of his seat, hard.

He laughs.

Merging onto the freeway, he cuts into the line of driverless cars headed toward Menlo Park as I climb into the front seat.

With a nod of approval, he tosses me a black kohl pencil to start disguising my face, but I don’t need it. I slip on my mask. Its pressure across my forehead helps to center me, and I close my eyes, wrapping my head around what we’re about to do. “How long until we get there?” I ask.

“About half an hour, but I’m aiming for twenty minutes.”

Okay. That gives us time. I’ll feel better if we have a plan. Breathing deep, I slow my racing heart.

The car skids left, and my eyes fly open. “Talk about inconspicuous,” I say as he speeds along, weaving in and out of cars. “You don’t think we stand out in this car? We’re the only ones manually driving.”

“Nobody is paying attention. Trust me.”