“Get her off me,” Vanessa hissed, her eyes darting to the tactical team. “She’s going to kill me.”

I stood up slowly, keeping my weapon lowered but ready.

Two agents immediately moved in to take custody of Vanessa, pulling her arms behind her back.

“Are you secured, Evelyn?” Harris asked, his flashlight beam illuminating my face.

“I’m clear,” I said. “The child is safe.”

I knelt on the cold concrete and pulled Lily into my arms.

She was trembling violently, her small hands clutching the lapels of my tactical vest.

“It’s over, baby,” I whispered into her hair. “You’re safe now.”

She didn’t cry, but her grip on my vest tightened until her knuckles turned white.

I lifted her into my arms, standing up to survey the hangar.

The red emergency strobe continued to flash, but the siren suddenly cut out, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and wind whistling through the open door.

An agent was already bagging the shattered pieces of Grant’s laptop.

“He managed to crack the casing,” the agent said, looking at Harris. “But the hard drive looks intact. The chip isn’t destroyed.”