Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25

Chapter 26: Harry Winston

Taylor only knew it was morning because a nasal voice over the room's speaker told her it was time to wake up. She was still lying in bed when the lock clicked and Tara walked in. Her arms were full of clothing. "Get up, sleepyhead."

Taylor sat up rubbing her eyes. "I didn't sleep much last night."

"Well, you'll have to nap later, because right now we have a lot of fun to get to."

She laid the pile of clothes at the foot of Taylor's bed. "Fortunately we wear the same size in everything so you can borrow my things for now."

Taylor looked down at her smock. "You mean I don't have to wear this thing?"

Tara stared at her. "You're kidding me, right?"

Taylor shrugged. "I don't know."

"Wow, you've got this place all wrong. This isn't a prison. That's just an examination smock. We all wore them on our first day when they were establishing baselines. But that was yesterday. Today's your lucky day. Dr. Hatch said to take you shopping for a new wardrobe. And guess where?"

Taylor shrugged.

"The Miracle Mile."

"Huh?"

"Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. Heard of it? If you're anything like me—and you are—you are going to have the time of your life."

"I don't have any money," Taylor said.

Tara laughed. "You don't need money here. Now get dressed."

Taylor looked through the clothes Tara had brought. None of them looked as if they'd even been worn. "Wow. These are some expensive brands." She picked up a pair of jeans.

"You can keep whatever you like; I'll just get more. Actually, you'll get whatever you need today." Tara held up a blouse. "I love this one, it looks great with my . . . our complexion. Do you like it?"

"Yeah."

"Try it on."

Ignoring the video cameras, Taylor slipped off the smock and put on the blouse.

"You look ridiculously beautiful," Tara said. "You're the most beautiful girl in this place." She laughed. "Oh, that's kind of like complimenting myself, isn't it?"

Taylor grinned. "Yeah, it is."

--

After Taylor was dressed, the two girls walked outside the cell to an elevator. Tara put her finger on a fingerprint sensor pad. The screen turned green and the elevator door slid open.

"We'll stop by the cafeteria and get some breakfast on the way out," Tara said. She pushed the button for floor one, and they ascended two levels to the main floor. "This way to the cafeteria," she said.

The cafeteria looked less like a school cafeteria than a restaurant in a fancy hotel. They were met at the door by the restaurant's maître d', a short, Italian man with silver hair and a black tuxedo. "Good morning, ladies. You both look bellissima."

"Yes we do," Tara said. "Thank you for noticing."

"Thank you," Taylor said.

"What will it be today? Crab Benedict and banana-and-candied-walnut oatmeal are today's chef specials."

"I just want a banana smoothie," Tara said. "We're in a hurry."

"I guess, me too," Taylor said.

"Will you be having that to go, then?"

"Yes," Tara said. "And fast."

"Yes, very well." He ran back through the kitchen doors and just a few minutes later a waiter brought out their smoothies in plastic goblets with small, silver spoons. Tara took both glasses and handed one to Taylor. "Let's go, sis. We're burning daylight."