My heart flip-flops. The noise comes from outside, sounding like a car door slamming. I whip around, squinting into the night outside the bathroom windows, poised to jump at the slightest rustling of leaves, but all is silent.

Garrett keeps talking like nothing happened. “Simon is a minimalist guy. Look at this place. He doesn’t seem like he’s in to accumulating ‘stuff,’ so why give up space to a car collection? Even if he secretly likes driving, why wouldn’t he subscribe to a service that lets him borrow antique cars any time he wants?”

“Did you hear that?” I hiss, wishing he would hurry up and figure out how to open the wall.

“Hear what?”

“Nothing.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. Am I losing it?

“It’s weird I’ve never heard of his collection,” he continues. Spreading his fingers, he runs his palm over the wall and frowns. “The closet has a knock lock, right?”

“Yes. The map has the code from Stewart, but it doesn’t say where to knock.” Impatient, I dig my nails into my palms to keep from pounding on the wall myself.

He traces a line to a spot near the ceiling. “This feels like a false panel, and, judging by the dirt smudges, I’m guessing the lock is here. What’s the code?”

Consulting the map, I chew my lip. “Three knocks, pause, seven knocks, pause, one knock, pause, nine knocks.”

“Okay. Count with me.” Balling his fingers into a fist, Garrett lets his hand hover over the wall.

“Go,” I say, and together we count, “One, two, three,” as he raps on the wall.

“Pause,” I say, my pulse thundering in my ears. I silently count to two. “Go. One, two, three, four…”

When he gets to the final knock, we hold our breath. To my amazement, with a click, the wall slides open, revealing a small lounge with a large wall screen and two leather loungers—one red, one dark brown. The only other furniture is a reclaimed wood bar. I squeal as Garrett grabs my hand.

Together, we step inside.

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

March 20X6, Menlo Park

“The red chair is biometric.” Garrett clicks on his penlight and kneels to examine it. “Simon has to sit in it to open the safe—wherever that is.”

“There aren’t many places it could be,” I say, shining my flashlight around the sparse space. “How are Chloe and Vick going to get Simon to sit in the chair if it’s in here?”

“What does the map say?”