She forced herself to focus.
“Okay, you pull open the cabinet, and I’ll insert the locket. We need to do this in sync.”
She took a breath and turned. “Get ready.” Brian nodded.
“Okay, we’ve disarmed it,” she called out as they both turned to look at the door on the other side of the vault. “You, but only you, Preston, can come in. The pressure pads won’t take anyone else’s weight.”
“You’d better not be telling me a lie, young lady,” Preston warned, his voice deadly. “Because I’ll have your mother killed first.”
“Just step on the second tile, though, as I can’t stop the first trap,” Lila told him, hoping to build his confidence in her instructions.
Preston nodded slowly. His gun was still in his hand as he carefully stepped into the vault.
“Walk in a straight line,” Lila instructed, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
“Lila,” David hissed from behind Preston.
She glanced at him, then deliberately let her eyes slide to Milly.
“It’s okay,” she said clearly. “I’ve disarmed theknockoutgas.”
She saw Milly’s eyebrows rise slightly. The woman gave the slightest of nods, understanding flashing in her eyes.
Preston was halfway down the vault now, moving carefully, following Lila’s instructions.
“Now,” Lila whispered to Brian.
They spun in unison.
Brian slid the cabinet door open.
Lila slammed the locket into the circular hole.
There was a mechanical grinding sound.
Suddenly, the vault door slammed shut with a deafening clang.
“One, two, three,” Lila counted.
They both drew in a deep breath.
“What on earth...” Preston started.
A trapdoor opened beneath his feet.
He stumbled.
“Oomph!”
A ball swung from the left, hitting him in the shoulder.
“Thud!”
Gas began pouring from vents in the ceiling, filling the vault with thick white vapor.
“Go!” Lila yelled to Brian, cupping her hand over her mouth
They ran toward the door, weaving between the swinging balls, jumping over the floor traps they’d so carefully avoided on the way in.
