Page 120 of Dose

“Second threat,” Marcus says. “Korte assumed personal direction of the Isla search six hours ago.”

Three clusters appear around greater Chicago.

The hunt is not new. Korte issued the first retrieval order after Ashford, and Ezra’s model warned that the program could eventually narrow me to Chicago. What changed is the priority.

“Vale transmitted an emergency packet after Seattle,” Marcus continues. “Cascade’s dormant access was detected during the same review. Combined with Atlanta, Phoenix and the records removed from Seattle, the program now assesses with high confidence that Isla is alive and working with us.”

My photograph appears beside the new bounty notice.

Five million for live capture. Two million for confirmed death.

The previous language preferred recovery. The new order calls either outcome acceptable.

“Three contracted teams entered the Chicago region under commercial cover over the last five days,” Marcus says. “Dominic’s Cleveland access identified the first. Travel and vehicle records exposed the other two. They do not have our address. They are building a search pattern.”

“Capabilities?” Damon asks.

“At least two former subjects in enforcement roles. Current augmentation unknown. The rest appear conventional but trained.”

Theon takes my hand beneath the table. His grip is hard. When I press my thumb into his knuckle, he loosens it without looking at me.

“Korte isn’t searching for escaped Architects anymore,” I say. “She’s trying to recover her pharmaceutical asset.”

“She’s trying,” Theon says.

Nikolai turns off the bounty notice.

“No external deployment for Isla during the next twenty-four hours,” he says. “All local movement shifts to pairs. Jenna moves into the protected medical suite. We review the threat at oh-eight-hundred tomorrow with Isla present.”

Twenty-four hours. Not until Korte is dead. A defined interval.

“Where do I spend it?” I ask.

“Your choice between the secure level here and the secondary safe house. I recommend the secure level. Moving you through the city creates the exposure these teams are waiting for.”

“If I go below, can I leave?”

“Your biometric has been added to the emergency release. Opening the level triggers an alert and an escort response. It does not lock you in.”

I look at Damon. “Operationally?”

“I support the secure level for the current window,” he says. “Your Seattle role succeeded. That does not make targeted travel acceptable while three teams are establishing surveillance.”

Darius leans forward. “Planning access remains full?”

“Yes,” Nikolai says. “No reduction in intelligence, chemical or strategic access.”

“And if field conditions require her specific knowledge tomorrow?”

“Then she presents the case and the council reviews it. No standing clearance. No standing prohibition beyond this window.”

It is protection. It is also a restriction. No one asks me to pretend otherwise.

“I choose the secure level,” I say.

Theon looks at me then. “I’ll stay with you.”

“Unless you’re needed elsewhere.”