Chapter 10 - THE HIDDEN DRIVE
Marcus immediately pulled a tactical radio from his vest.
"Team Alpha, secure the black sedan in the driveway," Marcus ordered over the frequency.
"Locate the encrypted storage drive hidden under the floorboards."
Static crackled on the radio receiver before a voice answered back.
"Sir, the sedan's engine bay is rigged with an incendiary charge!" the radio operator reported.
"It's on a silent countdown timer!"
Rachel’s eyes widened in horror as she remembered Ethan’s final smirk.
"He set a fail-safe," Rachel whispered, realization hitting her like a physical blow.
"If he failed to capture us, the entire car burns along with the evidence!"
"How much time is left on the charge?" the Admiral demanded into Marcus's radio.
"Less than forty seconds, Admiral!" the voice over the radio yelled.
"We can't disarm it from the outside without triggering the detonator!"
Without hesitation, Marcus sprinted down the corridor toward the front door.
"I'm going to cut the main battery harness!" Marcus shouted over his shoulder.
"Marcus, wait!" the Admiral called out, reaching for his tactical gear.
"If you sever the wrong wire, the charge will detonate instantly!"
Rachel looked at her daughter, who was still sitting safely inside the open panic room doorway.
"Stay here, Lily," Rachel whispered gently, kissing the little girl's forehead.
"Mommy has to help Grandpa."
Rachel ran after her father and Marcus, charging straight into the pouring rain outside.
The dark sedan sat in the middle of the driveway, smoke beginning to trickle from under the hood.
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Inside the vehicle, a red digital clock on the dashboard was ticking down rapidly.
00:18... 00:17... 00:16...
