Beside it was a modern laptop, connected to a server tower by a thick gray cable.

I approached the desk, my heart pounding in my ears.

I tapped the laptop’s trackpad, and the screen came to life.

A progress bar was visible on the screen, showing a data transfer.

*Bennett Trust Liquidation: 84% Complete.*

I had less than fifteen minutes before the transfer finished.

I reached into my pocket for my phone to take a picture of the screen.

As I pulled it out, the phone vibrated violently in my hand.

It was a text message from an unknown number.

I swiped the screen to open it.

It was a photograph.

The image showed the interior of the north parlor where I had just been standing.

In the background of the photo, a dark figure was visible through the window, watching.

My blood ran cold.

Before I could move, the heavy iron door of the vault began to swing shut behind me.

The hydraulic arm hissed as it pushed the door into its frame.

I lunged toward the gap, but the lock engaged with a deafening metallic click.