Page 346 of Hidden Depths

Somewhere above us...

A door slammed.

Nathan froze.

Then came a muffled cry.

Mom.

He moved before Ward could stop him.

“Nathan,” Ward hissed.

But Nathan was already climbing the concrete stairs.

Ward followed.

Ben grabbed my arm and kept me behind him.

We reached the first floor seconds later.

A long corridor stretched ahead.

Numbers were painted on the doors.

Nine.

Ten.

Eleven.

Twelve.

At the far end...

Fourteen.

Nathan reached for the handle.

Ward caught his shoulder.

“Wait.”

Every muscle in Nathan’s body locked.

“There could be a wire.”

Ward knelt and inspected the doorframe.

A nearly invisible filament ran from the handle to the wall.

Ben followed it with his flashlight.

“Grenade?”

Ward shook his head.

“Alarm.”