Chapter 14 - INTO THE LION'S DEN
Two hours later, rain was still falling steadily over the towering glass skyscrapers of the financial district.
The main Sterling Tower shot up into the dark clouds like an obsidian needle.
At the base, heavy security patrols scanned every vehicle entering the perimeter.
Underneath the foundation, in the deep maintenance sub-basements, Leo and Lily squeezed out of a ventilation duct.
They dropped onto the tiled floor of the central server facility.
The room hummed with the high-pitched sound of thousands of cooling fans and blinking blue lights.
"The central terminal is on the top floor in his private office," Lily whispered, pointing up at the high-speed elevator bank.
"We need a keycard to access the executive express lift."
Leo looked across the room and saw a lone technician working on a terminal desk.
"Stay here," Leo whispered.
He silently crept behind the technician, grabbing a heavy brass wrench off a nearby tool rack.
Before the man could turn around, Leo slammed the heavy wrench into the server rack beside his head.
The loud metallic clang shattered the quiet room.
The technician jumped back in shock, tripping over his rolling chair and falling hard onto the floor.
Leo lunged forward, pressing the sharp edge of a screwdriver against the man's throat.
"Give me your executive security pass!" Leo demanded, his voice cold and steady.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" the technician squeaked, fumbling frantically with his lanyard.
He ripped the plastic keycard off his neck and handed it to Leo.
Leo grabbed the card, shoved the technician into a supply closet, and jammed the door shut with a metal pipe.
"Got it," Leo said, turning back to Lily.
They ran to the executive lift, swiping the card through the scanner.
The heavy glass doors slid open with a soft chime.
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As they stepped inside, the elevator began its rapid ascent to the 80th floor.
Suddenly, the lift ground to a violent halt halfway up the skyscraper, leaving them suspended in pitch darkness.
