Free Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix Page A

tiptoed forward, as graceful and silent as the cats Nina had seen on TV. When Alia got to the top, she turned around, waved back at them, and mouthed the words, “All clear.” Percy and Matthias stepped forward, and Nina followed.
    â€œShe’s done that before,” Nina whispered. “She’s used to being the lookout.”
    â€œShh,” Matthias said over his shoulder.
    By the time they reached the door to the officers’ suite, Nina was convinced she was hanging out with a bunch of professional thieves. Maybe she was. What did she know about the other three kids, anyway?
    I knew they were going to die if I didn’t help them, Nina told herself. That’s what matters. And anyhow, it was wonderful to have Percy, at every door, select the exact right key, without any hesitation, any noisy fumbling. It was wonderful to have Alia slipping forward, always watching, always ready to warn them. Nina felt safer with the other kids.
    But at the door to the officers’ suite Matthias held Nina back.
    â€œIsn’t there another way out?” he asked.
    â€œNot that I know of,” she answered. “Why?”
    He pointed to gray wires running along the doorframe, so thin and nondescript Nina would never have noticed them on her own.
    â€œSecurity system,” Matthias muttered.
    Panic welled in Nina’s chest. How could they turn back now, when they were so close?
    But how could they get past a security system?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
    N ina blinked hard, trying to hold back tears.
    â€œThat’s it, then,” she said in a voice clotted with disappointment.
    But the others weren’t turning around. They didn’t even look upset.
    â€œHow many more doors are there before we’re out?” Matthias asked.
    â€œJust one,” Nina said. “Into the interrogation room. Then we can go out the window. I mean, we could have.” She looked down, scuffing the toe of her boot against the filthy floor.
    When she looked up again, Alia was scrambling up onto Matthias’s shoulders. She swayed, raising her arms toward the security system wire.
    â€œSteady,” Percy said.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Nina asked.
    â€œCutting the wire,” Alia said. She reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a knife.
    â€œIsn’t that dangerous?” Nina asked. She didn’t know much about security systems, but Gran and the auntieshad always warned her to stay away from outlets and wires.
    â€œYeah,” Alia said. “That’s why I’m being careful.”
    It didn’t look like she was being careful. It looked like she was sawing at the wire, making the cut as jagged and rough as possible. Alia had scraped the plastic coating off a wide section of the wire. Some of the gray coating was even floating down to the floor.
    â€œThey’ll notice that right away,” Nina said.
    â€œThey’ll notice as soon as their monitors go black,” Percy answered. “But this way, it’ll look like some mice chewed on the wire, not like some prisoners were trying to escape.”
    â€œGot the key ready?” Alia asked through her clenched teeth.
    â€œReady,” Percy said, standing as close to the door as possible. He glanced back over his shoulder at Nina. “As soon as she makes the final cut, we run. Got it?”
    Nina nodded and moved over to stand behind Percy.
    Alia jerked the knife one last time, letting out a stifled “Ooh!” of pain. Percy stabbed a key into the lock and turned. Alia jumped down from Matthias’s shoulders and rushed through the door beside Nina. Percy was already attacking the door into the interrogation room.
    â€œIt’s our lucky day,” he breathed. “It’s unlocked.”
    Nina ran through the door and shoved open the window. All four of the kids tumbled out together. The branches of the shrubs scratched Nina’s arms and pulled at her dress, but she kept moving,