Chapter 21 · The Voice in Mira's Office

The door slammed into Celine's shoulder before she could get it open.

Mira stood on the other side with a pistol in one hand and Celine's stolen access badge in the other.

"You came for the files," Mira said.

Celine pressed her palm against the bruised spot on her shoulder. "You say that like it's a surprise."

"It is when you show up with a knife at my door."

"That was Ethan."

"You brought him."

"He followed me."

Mira's gun stayed pointed at Celine's chest. The office lights buzzed overhead, too bright and too white. Celine could smell hot plastic from the wall panels. Under it, something metallic. Blood, maybe. Hers, or somebody else's.

The interface behind her right ear gave a tiny click.

ACCESS WINDOW: 41:12:08.

The numbers flashed across her vision and vanished before she could focus on them.

Forty-one hours. Not seventy-two anymore.

"Move," Celine said.

Mira smiled without showing teeth. "Still giving orders."

"Your security team is coming up the stairs. If they find us standing here, you lose the files and I lose my head. So move.