A HEART REBORN IN RUIN
I slowed, pressing my ear against the cold steel, quieting down my ragged breathing, listening with every fiber of my being.
Nothing. Absolute silence.
A cold dread settled in my stomach.
I dropped the briefcase, popped the latches, and from a foam slot, retrieved a slender, multi-tipped lock pick.
I slid it into the keyhole of the heavy handle, moving my trembling fingers with practiced precision.
I fiddled with the pins, feeling for the sweet spot, until I heard a soft, definitive click.
I then took a breath, pushed the door open slowly, and stepped inside, ready for anything.
Bab Populer