Chapter 31 · The Name He Burned

"Don't touch that switch."

Knox's hand froze above the red plate.

The green light over the fire-control panel had gone solid. The vault timer still read 47:59:12, frozen with the black vapor crawling around our boots. The steel floor felt slick beneath my shoes.

I tightened my grip on the evidence tray. The bloody match stem rested under clear film, one bad move away from being ruined.

"Take your hand off," I said.

His jaw flexed. "That switch controls the purge."

"No. It controls the next lock."

"You don't know that."

"I know the timer stopped when the voice took your line." I lifted the tray between us. "And I know you recognized him. Stop acting like you're the only person in this room who can read a panel."

The speaker hissed.

"Knox. Burn the list."

He went still.

Not confused. Not surprised. Still.

His eyes shifted to the narrow cabinet beside the control panel. A strip of paper stuck out from the slot. FAMILY WASH ROUTE was stamped across the top in black block letters.

My stomach tightened. "What list?"

He didn't answer.

I stepped toward it.