“Dr. Powell?” A nurse jogged to catch up with her. “Weren’t you off duty already?”


    Without even turning her head, Aria replied in Megan Powell’s signature detached tone, “I’m back for overtime.”


    Megan was always pretty aloof around here, but the nurse was used to it. She just said, “Got it. I’ll make a note of it.”


    “Copy,” Aria replied, her tone cool and distant.


    Overtime was routine at the hospital, so the nurse didn’t think much of it.


    Aria slipped into Megan’s office and immediately spotted the surveince camera.


    Without batting an eye, Aria changed into a whiteb coat, pulled her blonde hair back into a neat ponytail, and took a pair of stud earrings from her pocket to put on.


    Aria said quietly into her earpiece, “I’m in position.”


    “Got it, I’ll need another hour,” Vanessa’s voice came through, apanied by rapid keyboard cks. “Ivy Hospital’s system is more stubborn than expected.”


    “Take your time,” Aria said calmly.


    Aria strode to the filing cab, her sharp eyes scanning the rows of folders with practiced efficiency.


    There were no records of Tristan there, so nothing important would be kept in that ce either.


    Aria sat at theputer, waiting until Vanessa’s hack seeded. Only then did she power it on and insert the custom-coded sh drive.


    Just in case powering on theputer would trigger an alert and wake Megan, Aria had blocked Megan’s phone before leaving.


    Instantly, green code streamed across the screen.


    “Pretty sophisticated security system,” Vanessa whistled with a smirk. “But too bad it ran into me. Give me ten minutes.”


    Aria leaned back in the chair, her fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the desk.


    As soon as theputer unlocked, Aria swiftly installed the hacking toolkit and pulled out the sh drive.


    Aria ordered, “Run a scan for hidden files.”


    The screen automatically raced through pages, finally pausing on an encrypted folder.


    A soft chime signaled the decryption’s sess. Aria clicked open the folder.


    A bold ck headline red back at her: [WEAPONIZED GENE EDITING RESEARCH]


    Aria’s eyes hardened, knowing that the research targeted Huthailia.


    Vanessa already had the records logged, so Aria wasn’t in a hurry to check the contents. She exited the document and asked, “What’s the status on the top floor?”


    “The ward’s empty, but I can’t touch theb cameras-one wrong move and the rms go off,” Vanessa said, her tone grave. “That could be the research facility mentioned in the file we just found.”


    1928


    Suddenly, while Vanessa was speaking, the surveince feed abruptly showed theb door sliding open.


    A gaunt old man shuffled out in ankle shackles, nked by two heavily armed guards cradling rifles.


    Vanessa whispered, “Aria, Tristan’sing out.”


    Vanessa’s eyes went cold. “Those goddamn animals!”


    Vanessa synced the surveince feed to Megan’sputer, and Aria saw Tristan on the screen.


    He looked far more aged and emaciated than in the photos-the sight hit her like a physical blow.


    Vanessa said, “Once we get Tristan out, let’s blow up that damnb!”


    Aria unclenched her fist. “Let’s do it.”


    Aria nced at the clock-almost midnight.


    Another doctor was on duty on the top floor tonight.


    Aria rose to her feet, straightened herb coat cor, opened the door, and stepped out into the hallway.


    As she reached another office door, she came face to face with the male doctor on duty. “Dr. Garcetti.”


    The middle-aged doctor smiled at her. “Dr. Powell?”


    Aria’s eyes curved in a gentle smile. “Dr. Garcetti, would you mind covering my shift? I have something nned for the day after tomorrow.”


    After finishing, she handed him a gift-wrapped box with a polite smile. “Your birthday’sing up soon, so let me wish an early happy birthday. Thank you for all your help over the past few years.”


    “Thank you.” Miguel Garcetti took the gift-a luxury brand tie worth several thousand dors.


    His eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s too much-you really shouldn’t have!” he eximed.


    After the gift was given, swapping shifts was a piece of cake.


    you


    Aria obtained the ess pass and headed for the first floor. Just as she was about to swipe into the elevator, a voice called out behind her. “Hold on.”


    Aria turned slowly to face them.


    Two identically dressed figures approached her, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.


    One of them fixed Aria with a suspicious frown. “Why are you here instead?”