1:25… 1:24…
Nathan's pulse thundered in his ears as the countdown ticked closer to disaster. His hands pressed down on the bleeding suspect's shoulder, the man grimacing but still conscious. The device beside them blinked with menacing finality.
Morrison burst into the room, hair disheveled, gun still in her grip, clothes streaked with gunpowder residue. Her breath came in ragged bursts as she locked eyes with Nathan.
"I've got the override codes! Ellen's files—maintenance backdoors for the ventilation!" She knelt beside him, voice sharp with urgency. "Hold him. I'll handle the device."
Nathan shifted his grip, pinning the suspect's wrist tighter. Blood slicked his gloves.
"Common," Morrison muttered, fingers flying across the panel. "Password. Confirm. Pulse rate deactivated—damn it!"
1:12…
The suspect gave a ragged laugh, lips curling in a defiant smirk despite the pain.
"Too late," he hissed through his teeth. "You can't—"
