The sound of sirens filled the streets outside. Red and blue lights flashed through the shattered windows, painting the room in flickering colors. The entire building had been sealed off. Police vehicles surrounded the perimeter, and the voice of the chief blared through a megaphone. “Come out with your weapons up. You are surrounded. There is no escape.” The announcement echoed through the halls, cutting through the silence that followed the chaos. “Crap! Come in, you fools!” the boss shouted into his radio, but all that came back was static. His knuckles turned white around the walkie-talkie as he slammed it against his palm. “Damn it! Someone answer me!” Audrey sat among the hostages, her heart pounding. Her gaze fixed on the gun in the man’s hands. She could tell it had been disabled. The tiny red indicator on the weapon told her that Elena’s system shutdown had worked. But the man didn’t know that. Neither did the police outside. If they barged in now, they would see the g