Nathan didn’t look back.

His eyes were fixed on the monitor.

*89% completed.*

The screen flashed.

A new window opened, displaying a live connection log.

*Federal Bureau of Investigation – Secure Portal.*

*Receiving stream…*

The metal door groaned as the heat began to warp the outer locking bolts.

The intercom speaker erupted in a storm of static and Vanessa’s furious voice.

“You bastard!” she shrieked.

“Julian, cut the hinges!”

The monitor screen turned bright white.

The monitor screen turned bright white.

I pulled the girls closer to my chest, shielding their faces against my woolen coat.

The smell of scorched paint and hot iron filled the small vault.

“Nathan, please,” Vanessa’s voice crackled through the wall speaker again.

“Tell Julian to stop the lance,” Nathan called out, his voice suddenly thick with exhaustion.

He slumped his shoulders, letting his hands fall away from the keyboard.

“I will give you the routing codes,” he said.

“And the administrative access to the trust,” he added, staring at the camera mounted above the monitor.

The screeching sound of the thermal lance stopped.