It was the main security desk.

“Mr. Whitmore,” the voice from the speaker said.

“We have a power failure in the express shaft.”

“The elevator has stopped.”

“Between thirty and thirty-one.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“Jane,” I whispered.

“She’s in there.”

“With the files.”

Nathan stood up, his face grim.

“I’m going down,” he said.

“No,” Mr. Hayes said, grabbing his arm. “The shaft is locked.”

“The automatic brakes have engaged.”

“If Richard controls the system, he can drop the cab.”

The screen showed two minutes and forty seconds.

The red light cast a bloody glow over the faces of the board members.

Nobody was speaking now.

They were all staring at the countdown.

I looked at the black pen still in my hand.

I looked at the unsigned resolution.

And then, the phone on the table lit up with a text message from an unknown number.

It was just four words:

*I have the code.*

I stared at the screen of the phone.

The blue light reflected on my hands, which were shaking.

Nathan leaned over my shoulder, his breathing shallow.