Just as Daniel reached for the handle, we heard the electronic lock on the main vault gate click.

The heavy iron gate began to swing open behind us with a loud, metallic groan.

I turned my head and saw a shadow cross the threshold at the far end of the hall.

“Claire!” Graham’s voice called out, echoing in the enclosed space.

He sounded desperate, his voice strained with anger.

“Don’t do this, Claire,” Graham shouted. “Give me the ledger, and we can talk.”

I didn’t answer.

Daniel pushed the emergency bar on the exit door.

An alarm began to blare, a high-pitched siren that echoed off the concrete walls.

We burst through the door into a narrow, concrete stairwell.

It was pitch black except for the green exit signs above the landing.

We began to climb the stairs, our shoes slapping against the concrete.

Below us, the door we had just exited slammed open.

“They’re on the stairs!” a man yelled from below.

We reached the top of the landing, and Daniel threw his weight against the heavy metal door leading to the alley.