I tucked the ledger and the letter firmly under my arm, inside my wool coat.

I could hear footsteps again, but these were faster, heavier.

“We need to go,” Daniel whispered, turning back to me. “There’s a fire exit at the back of the vault lobby.”

“Does Arthur know about it?” I asked.

“Arthur is likely detained,” Daniel said grimly.

We heard a man’s voice echo from the stairs.

It was muffled, but the tone was sharp and commanding.

“Search the basement,” the voice said. “She has the book.”

My blood ran cold.

I recognized that voice.

It wasn’t Graham.

It was Vance Harrison himself.

“They know we are here,” I whispered.

Daniel grabbed my hand, his grip tight and reassuring.

“Follow me,” he said. “Keep low.”

We stepped out of the small viewing room into the main vault corridor.

The air was freezing, and my breath misted in the dim red light.

We moved quickly past the rows of brass boxes toward the rear exit.

Ahead of us, a heavy steel door with a glowing red ‘Exit’ sign stood at the end of the hall.