“Security alert. Lockdown initiated in Sector Four.”

“That’s this building,” Reyes whispered.

The heavy electronic lock on our door clicked shut with a loud, final thud.

A shadow blocked the small glass window of the door.

The shadow against the frosted glass of the office door remained still.

I held my breath, my hand automatically reaching down to touch the strap of the diaper bag where Owen’s pacifier was tucked.

Jake stepped in front of me, his shoulder blocking me from the door.

His boots made no sound on the thin grey carpet of the military office.

“Who is it?” Hayes asked, her voice low but steady.

The doorknob rattled once, a sharp metallic click that echoed in the small room.

A blue plastic keycard swiped against the electronic reader outside.

The light on the lock stayed red, beeped three times, and died.

“The terminal lock is complete,” Reyes said, his fingers tapping frantically on the tablet screen. “My network access just dropped to zero.”

“Vance didn’t just lock the door,” Hayes said. “He cut our line.”

A voice spoke from the other side of the thick glass, muffled but recognizable.