Free Crossing the Line by Meghan Rogers Page A

she was wearing. “You sneak into our archives and we’re supposed to believe you’re not a spy?”
    â€œI didn’t sneak,” I said. “I used my code. Simmonds’ll know all about this by morning.” And he’d given me every indication that he was trusting me as much as I was trusting him.
    She relaxed slightly, her face turning curious. “What are you up to?”
    I glanced up at her reluctantly. This wasn’t something I ever planned on discussing with anyone. It was too personal. “It’s none of your business.” I turned back to the screen and continued flipping through the folders.
    â€œSimmonds may be okay with this, but what makes you think the rest of us will be?”
    I spun on my chair to face her, a panic rising in my chest. “I’m not doing anything wrong,” I said, speaking through my teeth.
    â€œMaybe not, but your history is just a little too sketchy for me to take you at your word.” She crossed her arms. “I said I’d give you a chance. Now you’re going to give me one. If you tell me what you’re up to and it’s as innocent as you say it is, I’ll keep your secret.”
    I let out a deep breath. I didn’t have a choice. “I was looking for my parents’ files.”
    Her eyes widened slightly. I’d surprised her. “Your parents? That’s what this is about?” I looked away, feeling far more exposed than I was comfortable with. “No, it’s good,” she said. “I just wasn’t expecting that.” She came and sat at the computer next to me.
    My defenses went up. “What are you doing?”
    â€œHelping.” She smiled a small fraction as she logged into thecomputer. “What clearance level are you? I need to set the computer so I don’t give you anything above your clearance.” I answered her question, but I was stunned. It must have showed because her smile got a little wider. “Your parents had the same last name as you, right?”
    I nodded, still trying to comprehend what was happening. Nikki got to work quickly, and a few seconds later she came up with two files side by side on her screen. She slid over so I could see and my breath caught when I read their names; Alexa and Christopher Steely.
    She opened my father’s file without another word and passed the mouse to me. I glanced at his picture, but couldn’t bring myself to study his face too closely. I scanned the file, taking in the information quickly. “Most of this is blacked out,” I said, not looking at Nikki. She came a little closer and I didn’t try to stop her. There wasn’t anything too personal for her to see, just basic information—when he started, how long he worked there, and a handful of his more minor missions.
    â€œIt’s probably above your classification level, which isn’t too surprising.” She flipped back to the front of the file. “Yeah, look here.” She pointed at a small number next to one of the blacked-out sections. Seven. My mom’s was the same. Nikki squinted at the number, seeming perplexed. “That’s interesting.”
    â€œThere’s something off about that?” I asked.
    Nikki shrugged. “I don’t know if there’s something
off
, but it looks like your parents were involved in some pretty big things. Most files this old aren’t above level four.”
    I opened my mom’s file. Her picture, I couldn’t look away from it. We didn’t look too much alike—her features were much more delicate than mine—but we had the same hair. It was crazy and curly and nearly impossible to manage. Her file was even more blacked outthan my dad’s. The only details I could make out were what I already knew—her employment time, and that her body was found in South Korea. I closed the file quickly, angry that she was dead and that I couldn’t get any more