Page 264 of Scars of Fate

Hawk nodded.

“Something designed to become active inside the human body.”

Silence settled over the hangar.

Something alive might be waiting inside those sealed compartments.

Something General Kane intended to release.

I looked toward the airfield workers.

“How many people live near here?”

Ghost translated my question.

Colonel Demir answered.

“Thousands.”

Wynn’s face lost its color.

“If those containers open…”

“Everyone downwind could be exposed,” Hawk said.

“Could be?” Boone asked.

“I’m not opening one to find out.”

The clock continued counting down.

16:58.

16:57.

16:56.

Adam pulled against the restraints around his wrists.

“We need everyone free.”

Colonel Demir shifted closer to Wynn. He twisted awkwardly, exposing the edge of something concealed beneath his waistband.

A thin ceramic cutter.

Beside it sat a small black card.

Not the key card the false colonel had stolen.

A backup.

Wynn carefully removed both.

Demir said something to Ghost.

“He says every airfield commander carries an emergency card separate from the primary one.”

“Smart man,” Wynn said.