Ultraviolet Catastrophe

Zella nodded. “My parents are on board with us helping at the lab tomorrow night. They won’t be there, conveniently. Danvers has called a meeting with all of the senior personnel at eight o’clock. We should plan on making our move then.”

“We’ll only have about an hour, so we should split up. Max and Zella can break down the wormhole machine and set the explosion before anyone gets back to the lab. Lexie and I will break into Danvers’ office and hack into Branston.”

Max’s eyebrows pulled together, and he frowned. “It seems a little too convenient.”

Asher shrugged. “Danvers probably wants to make sure they’re still on target so she’s got her death ray by Christmas. She’s losing a whole testing window next week when the conference starts.”

The car slowed as we pulled up in front of Amy’s house. I stared at the light spilling from the huge bay window and pushed away the pang of worry that shot through me. Amy deserved everything about to happen to her. This was going to work.

She had the front door open before we were even out of the car and skipped down the walk to greet us. She pressed a kiss to Asher’s cheek before wrapping an arm around his waist. “I haven’t seen you forever, Ash. I’ve missed you.”

He untangled himself from her and stepped away. “Hey, Amy. Been busy with the project. Sorry.”

She pouted for a moment, then remembered the rest of us standing awkwardly on the sidewalk. “So glad you guys wanted to hang out. I was getting lonely over here. Mom and Dad won’t let me go back until Danvers figures out what happened.”

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to keep my face expressionless. “Thanks for having us over. We have so much to talk about.”

“Yeah, that’s what Z said. Come on in. My mom made us snacks. And then we can get to work.”

Amy’s house was new and shiny and fake, just like she was. Her mom, a brainy-looking blonde with long hair and glasses, waved at us from her office as we tramped through to the kitchen. A huge tray of veggies and dip sat on the counter, along with another tray full of cookies.

Max groaned and immediately started loading up a plate. Zella raised her eyebrows.

He threw up his hands. “What? Lunch was hours ago. I’m starving.”

“Help yourself, guys. I set up our stuff in the basement, so we can head down there when you’re ready.” Amy leaned closer to Asher, lowering her voice. “But you already know all about the basement, don’t you?”

Asher moved around to the other side of the island like he hadn’t heard. A faint tinge of pink colored his cheeks.

Jealousy twisted my gut, and I clutched the edge of the counter until my fingers turned white.

“Want a plate, Lex?” Max asked, gesturing to the veggies.

I nodded as he loaded up piles of broccoli and mini carrots, and then we followed the rest of the group down the stairs into another immaculate space. This one had a huge L-shaped couch; a TV that filled the entire wall; and, at the back of the room, a full lab set up with sink, burners, computer, and projector. A QT station smack-dab in the Green’s house.

“Pull up a chair.” Amy slid onto a stool and waited for the rest of us to follow. She brushed her hair back off her shoulders and turned to Asher with her fake smile again. “What’s going on?”

Asher had moved his stool close to mine, and he nodded in my direction. “It’s your discovery, Lex. Tell her.”

I grimaced at him. He so owed me for this. “After the explosion last week, I knew I’d been right with my original calculations. Then I did some more poking and discovered they’ve been using the wrong information all along.”

Max nodded. “It doesn’t seem possible, but we rebuilt the simulation and Lexie’s right.”

Amy narrowed her eyes. “I don’t get it. How can the top scientists in the world miss something like that? And how is it someone like Lexie didn’t?”

I clenched my fists at the sneer in her voice. I think I might have punched her if Asher hadn’t put a hand on my arm.

“If by that you mean someone who just started at QT, I think we’re lucky Lexie came along when she did. Obviously, she has a different perspective on things. Maybe that’s exactly what QT needs.”

She shrugged, her lips pulled into a pouty frown. “I don’t care if she’s related to Einstein himself. There’s no way that equation is wrong and she’s the only one who found it.” Amy turned on the computer sitting beside her. “I want to see this.”

Asher pulled the USB drive from his pocket and moved over to the computer. “Just give me a sec to get everything set up.” He bent over the keyboard.

For the first time since we’d entered the house, Amy turned her full attention to us. Along with her fake smile. “What have you guys been up to? I haven’t heard from any of you since before the explosion.”

The words burst out of me, sarcastic and full of anger. “Some of us have been a little busy. You know, since my dad’s in the hospital after almost being killed.”

Amy’s eyes widened. “How is your dad? Is he home?”

“He’s coming home this weekend.”

“Oh, that’s good.” She glanced at Asher. “And where have you been, Ash?”

“Busy. Project lead and all that. You know Danvers won’t let a little thing like an explosion stop this project.” He didn’t even bother to look up from the keyboard.

“That’s why she gets paid the big bucks. I wouldn’t want her job for all the grant money in the world.” Amy slid from her stool and draped her arms around Asher’s shoulders so she could peer at the computer screen. “Aren’t you done yet? I’m so curious.”

He shrugged her off. “I’m working on it. Just give me a few more seconds. You’re going to be amazed at how the machine works using Lexie’s calculations. She’s a genius.” Our eyes met across the lab table. The room fell away until there was just the two of us for a moment.

Then Amy tugged at Asher’s arm. “It’s done. Let me see.”

Max and Zella moved around the table so they were grouped at the computer, too. But I stayed where I was. I was more interested in Amy’s reaction.

Asher clicked play, and the humming of the computer filled the room as everyone watched in silence. I let my gaze drift innocently over the group. Amy’s face was expressionless for most of the playback until we got to the end. A small, secret smile played on her lips. She looked like she’d just won something.