Chapter 16 - FIVE MINUTES IN UNIT 17
Heat flooded the sealed room faster than Giovanni expected.
The refrigeration system had been reversed into an industrial heater.
Clarissa stayed outside with police while Giovanni, Luca, Emilio, and Dr. Chen were trapped inside.
The timer dropped below four minutes.
Dr. Chen said Elena's body could not remain at that temperature without destroying the capsule and the biological evidence of poisoning.
Giovanni searched the room for a manual release.
Emilio found a maintenance panel behind the coffin rack.
Luca tore it open with a metal bar.
Inside were three emergency cables, all unlabeled.
"Pick wrong and we lock it permanently," Luca said.
Giovanni looked at Emilio.
His son was shaking but refused to step back.
"Mom always said red was for panic, not answers."
He cut the blue cable.
Nothing happened.
The timer reached two minutes.
Then Clarissa's voice came through the intercom.
"Dad, Sofia is running."
Giovanni answered, "Let her run. Stay with the police."
A second panel opened when Luca pulled the remaining white cable.
Behind it was a manual wheel.
They turned together until the steel door lifted six inches.
Emilio crawled out first and pulled Dr. Chen through.
Giovanni and Luca carried Elena's coffin out seconds before the timer reached zero.
The room erupted in flames behind them.
Outside, Clarissa held up Sofia's discarded phone.
One message was still open.
It was from Sebastian Vale.
"If they save the body, move to Plan B. Take the daughter."
Giovanni looked up.
Smoke began leaking beneath the door while the metal handles grew too hot to touch barehanded.
Giovanni wrapped his jacket around his palms and kept turning the wheel until the fabric scorched.
Emilio refused to leave him behind even when the gap was wide enough to escape alone.
For once, Giovanni did not order his son away; he simply said, 'Together.'
May you like
Clarissa was standing beside him.
Then the warehouse lights went out.
