Page 88 of Peak’s Code

Peak smiled. “I really like your sister.”

Maeve gave him a look. “Focus.”

“Right.” Wren ran toward a narrow passage. “This way.” They followed her. The service corridor was barely wide enough for two people. Pipes and electrical conduit covered the walls, and the concrete floor vibrated beneath Maeve's boots. The facility was dying around them as lights blinked out, fans slowed, and somewhere behind them came a deep metallic groan. Maeve tried not to think about what would happen if the structure collapsed. Peak stayed close behind her and Warden brought up the rear. Wren stopped at an unmarked metal door and slapped her palm against a black panel—nothing happened.

“Come on.” She tried again, and still nothing.

Peak moved beside her. “Move.” He pulled a cable from the tablet strapped to his forearm and connected it beneath the access panel.

“I need thirty seconds,” he said.

“We don't have thirty seconds,” Maeve breathed.

“I know.” His fingers moved quickly, and the panel flashed red, red, and then green before the doors opened.

Warden slapped Peak's shoulder as they crowded inside. “Useful little bastard.”

Peak glared at him. “Little?”

“Not the part you should've focused on,” Warden grumbled.

Wren hit the button for the lowest level, and the elevator dropped fast. Maeve's stomach rose into her throat. Peak looked at the countdown on his tablet. 03:12. “Where exactly is Captain?” he asked.

Wren stared at the descending floor numbers. “B-twelve.”

Warden went still. “You're sure?”

“Yes,” she said, rolling her eyes at him.

“How do you know?” he asked. Wren hesitated, and Maeve knew immediately she wasn't going to like the answer.

“Because they kept me there when I refused to work.” The air inside the elevator changed, and Peak's jaw tightened. Warden looked toward the doors as his expression hardened. Maeve reached for Wren's hand and her sister squeezed back.

“We'll talk about it later,” Maeve whispered. Wren nodded.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. Warden stepped out first. “Stay behind me.” For once, Maeve didn't argue. They moved quickly through the lower corridor. No mercenaries appeared, and that worried Maeve more than if they'd encountered twenty.

“They abandoned this level,” Peak said.

“Why?” she asked.

Wren answered. “Because they know what's coming.” The countdown continued. 02:41. They reached B-twelve, and the door was closed.

Warden reached for the handle, and Peak grabbed him. “Wait.”

“Why?” Warden asked. Peak pointed toward the floor. A nearly invisible wire stretched from the frame into the wall, and Warden swore.

“It’s a trap,” Peak said.

Maeve's blood went cold. “Is Captain inside?” Wren nodded.

Peak crouched to inspect the wire. “I can disarm it.”

“How long will that take?” Maeve asked.

“Depends,” he whispered.

“On what?” Maeve asked.