e atmosphere crackled with the

utfit, her long hair pulled back into a severe, pract

that displayed the security schematics for

ne said, her voice tight with anxiety. "They claim it

ss the screen, pulling up lines of code. "Every system

l device that looked lik

se to the main server, it will trigger a three-minute loop on the security feed. Three m

"I've pre-cleared the service elevator's logic board. The moment you t

oane earlier was now slotted into the base of a micro-camera, the whole unit expertly disgu

he one going in," Sloane mut

tside," Elba countered, pulling her hair into a ponytail. "

ed with a news alert. A photo of Landon Sterling, smiling and

Sloane confirmed. "No way he

sk. She looked at Sloane, her eyes conveying a silent trust. "Keep an

r off a block away. Elba slipped into the shadows, approaching the

visible security cameras, and made her way to a f

end club membership card Landon had given her as a gift. A small, foolish token he never imagi

electrical room. It was where the physical

the main server cabinet and activated it. On Sloane's tablet

ighty seconds," Sloane's voice crackled

e service elevator, using a second pre-programmed c

into the apartment. The same apartm

. Seraphina's scent. A wave of nausea washed over Elba, a visceral reaction to

telpiece above the fireplace, directly across from the king-sized bed. A

original diffuser with her own, the one con

app. The screen immediately showed a crystal-clear, pan

stic is running early. You have sixty seconds before the cameras

backpack, her eyes darting around the room

andle, when she heard a faint whirring s

a frantic bird beating against her

ng the door almost shut, and held her

slid open. Silence.

d voice came through the earpiece. "False alarm. It was a neighbor on a differe

of the apartment, took the service elevator back dow