Page 57 of Slap Shot
Travis's office door was closed but not locked. She slipped inside, pulse hammering as she approached his desktop computer.
The login screen prompted for credentials she didn't have. But Travis had made a mistake. He wrote his log in information on the corner of his blotter. Amateur.
The screen unlocked, revealing a desktop cluttered with encrypted folders and communication apps she didn't recognize.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside.
Heather froze, listening to voices approaching. Travis's laugh, followed by Jack's more serious tone. They were heading this way.
She grabbed a USB drive from her bag, jamming it into Travis's computer and initiating a rapid data extraction. Financial records, communication logs, encrypted files, everything downloading as fast as the system could process.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, getting closer.
Heather's pulse spiked. The USB was only halfway through the download. She needed more time.
The footsteps stopped right outside Travis's door. She could hear voices. Travis was talking to someone about a meeting starting soon.
The download bar crept forward: 78%... 82%...
The door handle turned.
Heather dove under Travis's desk, her heart hammering so hard she was sure Travis would hear it. This was insane. She was a cybersecurity professional hiding under a desk like some amateur criminal. But the USB drive was still downloading, and she'd come too far to stop now.
If he saw it or her, she wouldn’t have to worry about Ivy in HR anymore.
"Just need to grab my jacket," Travis said, his voice much closer now.
Through the gap under the desk, she could see his shoes moving across the office toward the coat closet. The USB drive was hidden from this angle, but barely.
85%... 89%...
His shoes moved back toward the door, then stopped. Heather held her breath as Travis paused, probably checking something on his phone.
92%... 96%...
"Travis, you coming?" a voice called from the hallway.
"Yeah, just a second," Travis replied, still standing in his office.
99%... Complete.
The download finished with a soft chime that made Heather's heart stop. But Travis was already moving toward the door, apparently focused on whatever was on his phone screen.
His shoes disappeared into the hallway. Heather waited, counting heartbeats, then carefully extracted the USB drive and crawled out from under the desk.
She moved toward the door and peered out. Travis stood in the hallway, still frowning at his phone, blocking her path to the elevator.
Heather pressed herself against the doorframe, trapped. If she stepped into the hallway, he'd see her immediately. But she couldn't stay here. Travis might come back any second.
Footsteps approached from the opposite direction. Phoebe appeared around the corner in her full penguin costume, carrying a stack of promotional flyers. The mascot spotted Heather hiding against Travis's doorframe and seemed to understand the situation immediately.
Without hesitation, Phoebe picked up her pace, apparently struggling with the oversized costume and armload of materials.
"Travis!" Phoebe called out cheerfully, her voice muffled by the penguin head. "Perfect timing!"
Travis looked up from his phone just as Phoebe collided with him, sending flyers exploding in all directions. The impactknocked Travis off balance, and he stumbled backward, his phone clattering to the floor.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!" Phoebe's voice carried exaggerated distress as she flailed around in the costume, sending flyers all over the place. "The costume makes everything so hard to see! Are you hurt? Is your phone broken?"
