The shrill, piercing ring of the black smartphone echoed violently off the mahogany walls of the study. My hands shook so uncontrollably that I almost dropped the heavy device onto the Persian rug. The screen glared with that single, terrifying word: UNKNOWN.
"Miss Aria?" Dr. Aris asked, his calm demeanor instantly fracturing. He took a cautious step toward me, his intelligent eyes fixed on the glowing screen. "Mr. Thorne was explicitly clear. That device runs on a closed, encrypted satellite network. It is physically impossible for an outside line to dial that number."
"Unless someone on the inside gave them the access codes," I whispered, my voice completely devoid of any moisture. The ghost of Marcus, the traitorous lieutenant, suddenly felt very present in the room. Had he leaked the
