“No matter. We’ll get you there.” Natalie’s fingers moved at the speed of Lucy’s lips, and while she downloaded the program that would allow remote access to the Pulse server, she and Delia spoke in a language foreign to Maddie but that still fascinated her. Not because of the content but because of Delia.

Natalie closed the laptop. “Okay, so you’re logged in as me, Natalie Travest, for now, just so you can work today.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Natalie,” Delia said.

“Ah, we newbies have to stick together. In fact . . . maybe we could have lunch one of these days?”

Delia sucked in a breath. “I’d like that.”

Natalie sighed in relief.

Maddie watched, remembering how she hadn’t wanted to be paired with Delia or Lucy at the start of the program. Now she couldn’t do this without them—and wouldn’t want to. It was a feeling she hadn’t had about anyone other than her brother in years.

Lucy texted Maddie: You both have food poisoning from that ostrich sashimi they served.

A bit of bile rocketed up Maddie’s throat.

Maddie: I thought it was chicken. And cooked.

Lucy: So East Coast. Meet us in the parking lot. I got you covered. Can’t wait to see you guys.

Maddie:

Maddie couldn’t wait either.

THIRTY

DISRUPTING • When a product services a market that couldn’t be reached before; it’s nearly impossible for an existing company to respond to a disruptive product

“I NEED A HOTSPOT,” Delia said as soon as they crammed onto one long bench on the bus. Her head was bursting with what they’d managed to do. She flipped open her laptop and started pounding the keyboard. “Come on, come on.”

Lucy scrambled to turn on the settings on her phone that would allow Delia to connect to Wi-Fi. “What happened? What did you find out?”

“Shh . . .” Delia needed to concentrate. Compressed between Maddie and Lucy, she scooted forward for more space. She hunched over her computer, her fingers jamming letters and numbers, hoping the access would be enough to allow her to hack deeper.

Maddie leaned around her and said to Lucy, “She’s in.”

Lucy’s eyes widened. “She’s actually in in?”

As Maddie began to explain to Lucy, Gavin leapt up the steps and onto the bus. He placed a hand on the back of the seats on either side of the aisle and swung his legs forward, landing beside them.

When Maddie quickly slapped the laptop closed, Delia snapped her head up. “Maddie, I’m—”

“Taking a break. Really, you work too hard, Dee.”

Delia took in Gavin’s narrowed brow and slid her computer into her backpack. “Yeah, you know what, I do. Especially since things couldn’t be more on track.”