I squeezed through the opening, dragging the carriers behind me into the dark.

Behind me, the door to the vault slammed open.

“She’s in here!” a man shouted.

Flashlight beams sliced through the darkness of the vault.

I ran down the concrete passage, the twins bouncing in their seats.

The tunnel sloped downward, leading toward the bright, tiled walls of the State Street subway station.

I could hear the screech of metal brakes on the tracks ahead.

The platform would be empty at this hour, but it was my only chance.

I burst through a set of metal maintenance doors and onto the tiled platform.

The station was dimly lit, the yellow fluorescent lights flickering.

A train was idling at the platform, its doors wide open.

I ran toward the open doors, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

Behind me, the maintenance doors burst open.

Three men in dark coats stepped onto the platform, their eyes locking onto me.

One of them reached into his coat.

I leaped through the closing doors of the subway car just as they began to slide shut.