I dropped to my knees, where the air was slightly clearer.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and my hand instinctively went to my stomach.

I had to protect myself, and I had to get the evidence.

I crawled toward the refrigeration unit, the heat searing the skin of my bare arms.

The glass door of the fridge was hot to the touch.

Using the hem of my dress to protect my hand, I gripped the handle and pulled.

The door opened, releasing a brief blast of cold air that was immediately swallowed by the heat.

Inside sat three small glass vials containing the clear, unadulterated food compound.

Beside them was the black external hard drive with the original chemical analysis.

I grabbed the vials first, stuffing them into the deep pockets of my coat, which I had left draped over a stool earlier.

The hard drive was heavy, its metal casing already warm from the surrounding air.

I tucked it under my arm, pressing it close to my body as I lay flat on the floor.

The overhead sprinkler system suddenly activated, hissing as cold water rained down on the room.