Chapter One

The footsteps thumped above her head. Dust filtered down with each thud.

Elda Ainsworth lay in the dark crawl space beneath her DC office, with an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth to mute her breath sounds.

She reached up and ensured the hatch locks were in place. She inspected her darkened phone. It was powered off. There would be no electronic signals or light for them to detect.

Crash. Her pulse quickened. That was above her head. She reflexively put her hand on the ceiling above her.

She had no way to get help. Sweat gathered on her upper lip. She was hot. She prayed the troops above were not burning the office down.

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