Chapter 40 - THE MAN WHO NEVER RAN
The alarms echoed relentlessly through Level D.
Red emergency lights swept across the underground courtyard, painting long shadows beneath the enormous oak tree.
Arthur Hale immediately looked toward one of the classroom buildings.
"We have to move."
Daniel frowned.
"If Voss is already here, shouldn't we leave?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Every exit has already been sealed."
Almost as if confirming his words, a deep metallic rumble spread throughout the underground complex.
One after another, massive steel blast doors slammed shut somewhere beyond the tunnels.
Alex counted them unconsciously.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Each impact echoed through the concrete structure like distant thunder.
Detective Bennett checked her phone.
"No signal."
Daniel wasn't surprised.
"They've isolated the entire level."
Arthur pointed toward the oak tree.
"Follow me."
Alex looked confused.
"The tree?"
Arthur nodded.
"It isn't here for decoration."
He knelt beside the thick trunk and brushed away decades of fallen leaves.
Hidden beneath the roots was a small bronze plate.
No lock.
No handle.
Only a circular indentation.
Arthur looked toward Alex.
"Your hand."
Alex hesitated.
"Why mine?"
"Because Donovan changed the authorization years ago."
Daniel looked at Arthur sharply.
"You knew?"
"I helped him."
Alex slowly placed his palm against the bronze plate.
Nothing happened.
For several seconds.
Then...
A soft blue light spread beneath his hand.
ACCESS ACCEPTED.
The earth beneath the tree vibrated.
Ancient gears awakened somewhere below.
With a low mechanical groan, part of the stone platform surrounding the trunk slid sideways.
A narrow spiral staircase appeared beneath it.
Cold air drifted upward.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Donovan was smarter than any of us."
Before anyone descended, a calm voice echoed across the courtyard.
"You always admired him too much, Arthur."
Everyone turned.
Standing nearly fifty yards away stood Elias Voss.
He wasn't surrounded by guards.
He carried no weapon.
He simply stood with his hands folded behind his back, watching Alex with the same unreadable expression he had worn in the airport footage.
"I've waited eighteen years," Voss said calmly.
May you like
"I'm in no hurry."
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