Page 45 of Hollow Trace

Neve pursed her lips. “Correct, but retrieving Brea is our main focus.”

“And that should definitely remain our priority. But I can’t stress enough how valuable those items could be. If there’s a way to tie Finch to Pryce’s facility…”

Quinn studied the map, looking at Scout before he nodded. “The general’s right.”

Neve didn’t hesitate. “And if there’s time after we recover Brea, then we’ll grab some samples.”

“But what if Darwin can’t help Brea without knowing what Pryce poisoned her with? What if she’s got vials of the stuff in that lab? A blueprint of what she did?” Quinn sighed. “Rescuing Brea won’t mean much if she dies from whatever Pryce infected her with.”

Neve glanced at Scout silently asking her opinion.

Quinn shuffled on his feet, looking like he was prepared to wage war against the entire complex on his own. “This is about more than just saving Brea. This is about all the people you could save if you can stop Finch, and you can’t do that without proof.”

Scout moved in beside Quinn, still watching the entrance for movement. “Quinn’s right. We can split up. I’ll go with him to find Brea while you four grab hard drives and specimens.”

Neve huffed. “Coulter can go with you⁠—”

“And leave you to guard both Zadie and Wynn while they have their hands busy? Likely in separate rooms? No. You four go.” She motioned to Quinn. “We’ve got this.”

Neve glanced at Quinn, then Coulter. “I don’t like this.”

Scout smiled. “You rarely like any of my plans.”

“That’s because they always involve you taking the biggest risk.” Neve grunted, and Scout knew she’d come to the same conclusion Quinn had. That this was bigger than one life. “Fine. Zadie? Any other exits?”

Zadie moved the map around, spinning the structural layout a few times before highlighting an area on the screen. “Here. There’s a shaft in what looks like the staff quarters. It’s an emergency exit.”

“Okay. That’s Plan B if this airlock is blocked.” She looked directly as Scout and Quinn. “Or if you two can’t safely make it back. Meanwhile, we each have twenty minutes to go in, secure our assets, and haul ass back here. Verbal check-ins every five minutes, assuming it won’t get you killed, and no one gets left behind.” Neve clicked the comms, double checked everything worked. “And for god’s sake, if you need backup, bloody well call for it. Brea’s safety is more important than samples and intel.”

Scout shifted over toward Quinn. “We’ll be fine. Twenty minutes. We’ll signal in five.”

Neve swept her gaze the length of them one last time before turning and taking point as they headed down the right passage, boots squeaking slightly, their dark outfits making them look like shadow figures moving through the brightly lit hallway.

Scout waited until they’d vanished before turning, striking off down the opposite corridor. She kept to the side, weapon at the ready, scanning for any possible threat.

Quinn stayed on her six, his deep, even breathing soothing the prickly feeling between her shoulder blades. How this place felt less like a lab and more like a manicured maze with them running the gauntlet.

The harsh white light dimmed as they moved farther from the entrance, only a muted glow lining the floors, allowing the immensity of the rock walls to close in around them. Nothing moved within the complex, the oppressive quiet gnawing at her nerves.

Quinn stepped in close, his breath feathering across her ear. “Where is everyone?”

She slowed, glancing at him over her shoulder. “I was just wondering the same damn thing.”

“This feel like a setup to you? Because I’ve got that same clenching in my gut that I get every time some gang banger tries to ambush me.”

“I won’t lie. It’s a bit too quiet for my liking.” She clicked her comms, gave her second check-in, then slowed as they reached a junction, another one of those larger airlocks jammed into a small chamber. “This can’t be good.”

Quinn hooked her arm. “If you think, for a second, this is wrong…”

She nodded, inched ahead, head on a swivel, her inner voice shouting at her. The door slid open as she neared the entrance, bright lights blinking on once they’d crossed the threshold. Another hallway lit up off to their left, one side pressed up against the rock, the other lined with several doors. A light illuminated above each one, all but the last one glowing red.

Scout waved Quinn ahead, guarding his six, stopping every time he paused in front of a door and peered through the square glass panel inserted chest high before moving on. Scout chanced a quick look inside, noting a bed with restraints and a shiny leather chair angled toward it.

Quinn didn’t speak, just continued down the hallway, clearing each door — moving on to the next. They’d reached the last few when he stopped. Inhaled. “There's someone inside.”

He tried the button, but the light flashed red, the magnetic seal holding the door closed. He removed his rabbit tool, pumping the handle, increasing the pressure until the seal hissed open. The keypad flashed an error code, the red light above the door blinking continuously. Scout divided her attention between him and the hallway, preparing for Hackett’s men to materialize out of the damn walls at any second.

Quinn tapped her shoulder, shaking his head at her arched brow as he slipped out behind her, moving on to the next cell. Scout glanced back at the woman who she suspected was the other patient Darwin had mentioned. The one who’d been showing encouraging signs until recently. It wasn’t hard to imagine what Quinn must be thinking.