Page 378 of Scars of Fate

Elise.

Every family inside the warehouse.

Lives.

Not outcomes.

The bank appeared at the end of a quiet street.

Stone exterior.

Tall windows.

Brass lettering.

Nothing about it suggested a biological weapon waited beneath the floor.

Roth’s team had cleared the surrounding buildings.

Two men in protective suits guarded the entrance.

He handed each of us a compact respirator.

“Wear these below ground. Biological sensors remain negative, but we aren’t trusting them.”

For once, everyone agreed.

We entered through the rear security door.

The bank’s upper floors were empty.

Telephones rang inside abandoned offices.

Computer screens glowed.

A cup of coffee sat on one desk, still half-full.

The evacuation had been fast.

Hawk connected his tablet to the bank-security network.

“Vault seal holding.”

“Elise and Camille?”

“Hostage-alcove oxygen stable.”

“Primary chamber?”

“No movement.”

We reached the elevator.

Roth pressed the button.

Nothing happened.

“Containment disabled it.”