“Stay down,” Agent Chen whispered, her weapon drawn as she positioned herself near the vault entrance. “My team upstairs isn’t responding to radio calls.”
The bank manager, Mr. Henderson, huddled behind one of the larger safe deposit units, his face drained of color. “There’s only one way out of this vault,” he said, his voice shaking. “The elevator we came down in. If they control that—”
“Then we’re trapped,” Annie finished quietly.
She tightened her grip on the leather portfolio holding Eleanor’s documents. Inside it lay proof of murder, proof of inheritance fraud, proof that the Mitchell empire had been built on stolen blood. The birth certificate alone could dismantle nearly a century of lies. Sarah Mitchell wouldn’t hesitate to kill for it. She already had.
Agent Chen lowered her radio, frustration tightening her expression. “We’re getting some chatter. Multiple armed hostiles in the building—at least six. They’ve secured the main banking floor and are demanding access to the vault level.”
“How long before they reach us?” Annie asked.
“That depends on whether they override the security system or force their way through,” Chen replied, checking her ammunition. “Either way, we need to assume ten to fifteen minutes.”
Annie scanned the vault, forcing herself to think instead of panic. Thick walls. Limited access points. Heavy doors. A stronghold—if you were defending. A coffin if you were trapped.
“Mr. Henderson,” she said suddenly, “is there any other way out? Service corridors, maintenance tunnels, anything at all?”
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. “There is a maintenance passage. It connects to the building’s utility system and runs under the parking garage next door. It’s barely wide enough for one person, and I don’t even know if it’s still usable.”
“Show us,” Agent Chen said.
They moved quickly through the vault’s far end into a narrow corridor lined with aging electrical panels and humming machinery. Almost hidden behind one large box was a small metal door marked
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.
“This is it,” Henderson said, pulling out a ring of keys. “Installed in the sixties. It hasn’t been used in years.”
Chen tested the door and peered into the narrow darkness beyond. “It’s tight, but it’s a way out. Where does it come up?”
“Basement level of the parking garage. Near the utility room. From there, you can reach the street without going back through the bank.”
It wasn’t much, but it was movement. And movement meant survival.
“We go,” Chen said. “Together. And we assume they may know about this route.”
As they prepared to enter the passage, Annie’s phone vibrated in her hand.
Jack.
“Answer it,” Chen said quietly.
“Jack?” Annie pressed the phone to her ear, relief crashing through her so hard it almost hurt.
“Annie, thank God. Are you hurt? Are you safe?”
“We’re in the vault. They’ve taken the building, but we found another way out.” She spoke quickly, explaining about the tunnel as Chen signaled for Henderson to open the door.
Jack didn’t respond right away. When he did, his voice had changed. “Sarah called me. She wants a trade. Me for you and the hostages. She gave me ten minutes.”
Annie’s blood went cold. “No. Jack, no. That’s exactly what she wants. It’s a trap.”
“Of course it is. But if I don’t go, she’s going to start killing people—employees, customers, agents. Innocent people.”
“And if you do go, she’ll kill you,” Annie said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “We have the evidence. We can expose her. We can end this without you sacrificing yourself.”
“What good is the truth if people die while we’re protecting it?” he asked quietly. “I’ve already decided. I’m going in.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
