Chapter 27 · Reset Protocol - Chapter 27: Lucas's Daughter Is Not a Hostage

"Daddy, please."

Lucas froze halfway across the warehouse floor. The voice came through every speaker at once, small and cracked and exactly the way Lily sounded when she was six and scared of the dark.

"Don't," Mark said. He had the scanner in one hand, Vera's wrist in the other. "That's not her."

"Daddy, it's cold. I can't see. Please come find me."

Lucas's hand went to the radio on his belt. His fingers shook. "Where are you, baby? Tell me where you are."

"Lucas." Vera pulled free from Mark and stepped between him and the speakers. "Look at me. That's a recording. She's not talking to you right now."

"You don't know that."

"I do." She pointed at the nearest speaker. "Listen to the background. No echo. No room tone. That's a clean studio file. They pulled it from somewhere."

"I don't care where they pulled it from." Lucas took a step forward. "That's my daughter's voice."

Mark moved in front of him. "And if you answer, you're giving them exactly what they want."

"Get out of my way."

"No."

Lucas's jaw tightened. The claws on his right hand scraped against his palm. "Mark. I'm asking once.