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

e outside," Elba countered, pulling her hair into a pon

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

ne's voice crac

sixty seconds before the cameras go live. Exit no

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.

etched into an eternity, Sloane's reli

erent floor. They must have hit the wrong

of the apartment, took the service elevator back dow