*Beep.*

*Beep.*

Arthur’s smile widened.

“It wasn’t a thermite charge, Allison,” he whispered.

“It was a signal.”

My phone in my pocket vibrated continuously.

A new notification banner appeared across the screen, flashing in red letters.

*EXTERNAL ACCESS DETECTED.*

*SECURE NETWORK COMPROMISED.*

I looked from the phone to Arthur’s face.

The back door of the carriage house creaked open behind him.

The wind blew a gust of rain into the room, scattering the papers on the workbench.

A shadow fell across the threshold.

The shadow moved into the light of the single overhead bulb.

It was Grant.

His tie was undone, and his collar was soaked with rain.

He held a black tablet in his left hand, the screen glowing blue against his pale face.

“He’s right, Allison,” Grant said, his voice trembling. “It’s over.”

I did not lower my pistol.

“Step inside, Grant,” I said. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”

Grant looked at Arthur, then back at me.

“We took precautions,” Grant said, pointing the tablet toward the blinking lockbox. “That signal bypassed your blockades. The buyer’s server just received the decryption keys.”