Page 403 of Scars of Fate

At the two laboratories.

Fate and Aegis.

Weapon and failsafe.

Two systems designed to oppose each other.

“Because Kane has something Minser needs.”

“The original tag,” Hawk said.

“Yes.”

Lucas understood.

“Minser has the birthplace of Fate. We have the encrypted source files and the one-use duplicate. Kane has the physical key.”

“And Minser used us to bring all three pieces together,” I finished.

Hawk’s tablet chimed.

A message appeared across the screen.

No sender.

No traceable source.

Only six words.

KANE CANNOT LEAVE THE FACILITY ALIVE.

A second message followed.

LEVEL NINE.

Then the surveillance cameras went black.

The helicopter banked toward the mountains.

Below us, the abandoned research facility appeared through the clouds.

And on the roof of the largest building stood Evan Minser.

Watching us arrive.

37

LUCAS

Evan Minser stood on the roof of the laboratory.

No weapon.

No attempt to hide.

Blood covered one side of his face.

He watched our helicopter descend through the clouds as though he had been waiting for us.